Zack Test
2022
Inductee
Playing and starring in all the age grade USA Men’s 15s teams from the young age of 16, Zack Test set the standard as one of the greatest international players to represent the USA Eagles.
Test’s rugby career began with the Peninsula Green Rugby Club in Woodside, California. At 16 years old, Zack would be identified as a USA prospect and represented the USA U19s in 2006 in the North American and West Indies Tournament in Georgetown, Guyana, helping the team qualify for the IRB World Juniors in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Following that, Zack played in the U20 World Championships in Wales. He completed his age grade career with the USA U20s in the 2009 World Trophy in Nairobi, Kenya, helping the team finish second.
“Zack had tremendous natural athleticism, speed, balance and agility. What was equally important and critical to his development was his strength of character and inner drive to compete and contribute to the team. He had and still has the discipline and demeanor to set high expectations for himself and teammates. Those leadership qualities really emerged for the USA 7s where Zack led by example and helped the USA earn core status on the circuit,” said coach, Salty Thompson.
Test attended the University of Oregon, where was invited to play football for the Ducks as a preferred walk-on. After one season at Oregon, he made the leap across the pond to play collegiate level rugby for Loughborough University in Loughborough, United Kingdom. Zack quickly rose to USA Eagle ranks and would be a force in 7s for years to come. From 2009 to 2017, Test appeared for the Eagle 7s squad in a total of 307 games, earning 63 caps as a utility player. He was a member of the 2016 Olympic team in the Rio Olympics. Test’s accolades include: 143 career tries; 721 points scored; eight tournament dream team selections; 2015/16 World Series Season Dream Team; leading the USA as top try scorer and being recognized as the Men’s 7s Player of the Year in 2012, 2013 and 2014; play in the 2013 7s Rugby World Cup; earn a Pan-Am Games bronze medal in 2012; and be the recipient of the USA Rugby Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.
From 2015 to 2018, Zack earned eight caps for the Eagles 15s team. With the Eagles 15s, he made two starts in the 2015 Rugby World Cup, where he would score one try. In addition to his scoring prowess, Zack was also very disciplined, having received only one yellow card and zero red cards throughout the entirety of his international career.
After his retirement, Zack pursued coaching opportunities, having served as an assistant coach for the USA Maccabiah Rugby Team in the Maccabiah Games in Israel in 2013 and 2017. He also became a fixture for the San Diego Legion, serving as the backs/attack coach and academy director in 2017, 2018 and 2019. In 2020, he was promoted to co-head coach and academy director for the Legion. In 2021, Test joined the USA Eagles Women’s 7s program as an assistant coach.
His resume also includes a wide variety of media work in capacities ranging from a commentator for World Rugby and a sponsored athlete for Nike, California Almonds, Oliver’s Apparel, and Upper Deck Trading Cards.
“To simply provide my recommendation for Zackary Test’s induction into the USA Rugby Hall of Fame would be short-sided. I would be remiss to omit the fact that I have not witnessed anyone wear the USA jersey with more pride and play with more conviction for his team and country than Zackary Test. He has been and will always be one of the best ambassadors to the American rugby community and will forever be thought of as one of the sport’s greats,” said Colin Hawley, Eagle 410.