News Story

New Zealander Kicks BYU Rugby Team to National Title

With the score 24-24 and the clock ticking away, Brigham Young University freshman, New Zealander Jonny Linehan, drop-kicked the ball between the uprights to help his team win the Rugby Varsity Cup U.S. national championship last Saturday [4 May].

BYU defeated University of California, Berkeley in the national final 27-24.

Linehan was asked how he felt about the game that some are calling one of the most exciting in BYU rugby history.

“I just wanted to play my game, and my best game. That’s probably the best I’ve ever played. I’m lost for words at the moment,” he said.

Linehan scored 22 of BYU’s 27 points during the game.

Read more about the game and his final-seconds-kick to win the game at the Deseret News website. Watch a video about the game at the Daily Herald site.

Linehan is from Auckland, New Zealand and has been studying at BYU since January this year. 

Prior to Linehan’s enrolling at the Church-owned Brigham Young University, he served a mission in Adelaide, Australia for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Images courtesy of Jonathan Hardy/BYU Photo.  Additional resources provided by Jared LLoyd, Daily Herald.

 

Style Guide Note:When reporting about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, please use the complete name of the Church in the first reference. For more information on the use of the name of the Church, go to our online Style Guide.