Scotland’s most capped wing Sean Lamont has joined FirstPoint USA to support aspiring international rugby plyers on the US college pathway.
Lamont, one of an elite group of centurions with 105 caps for his country between 2004 and 2016, becomes FirstPoint’s Director of Rugby, and will lead the agency’s global rugby activities. The former Glasgow Warriors, Northampton Saints, and Scarlets star will spearhead the agency’s expansion as the US collegiate system becomes an increasingly attractive pathway for emerging rugby talent.
Since retiring from international rugby in 2016, the former Glasgow Warriors, Northampton Saints and Scarlets star has maintained close connection to elite level rugby, working as Strength and Conditioning Coach within the Scottish Rugby Academy and was an integral part of the Scotland 7s programme. His most recent role was with the GB7s squad as Team Manager and Strength and Conditioning Coach, working with emerging talent across the home nations.
Rugby is currently the fastest-growing collegiate sport in the United States across both the men’s and women’s games. More than 900 universities and colleges now boast active rugby rosters.
Investment in the sport has surged, notably within the Ivy League, where institutions such as Harvard, Yale, Brown, and Dartmouth have significantly increased their rugby programs, built on their historic traditions within the sport. Simultaneously, powerhouse schools like UCLA, Penn State and Notre Dame continue to invest at the top-flight of the collegiate game, offering international players a platform to compete at an elite level.
Lamont is excited the potential of his new role: “It’s a great time to be involved with collegiate rugby and there are some incredible opportunities for talented young rugby players to take the next step of their career as a student-athlete in the US. The chance to continue playing at a high level and train at amazing campus facilities, while studying for a degree, is something that many international players are now opening their eyes to.
“Whether it’s an academy player looking at exit options or a standout school and club performer, the US collegiate system offers a professional level environment. I look forward to using my experience to help families navigate this journey and seeing our athletes excel in top-tier programs.”
FirstPoint USA was recently announced as the college recruiting partner of the Rosslyn Park National Schools 7s – the world’s largest schools rugby tournament – and have previously partnered with Hong Kong Rugby, while Lamont’s former Scotland and Glasgow Warriors teammate Ryan Wilson was the company’s rugby ambassador.
“We are delighted to bring Sean onto the team,” said CEO and Founder Andrew Kean. “He has a great profile within the game and has been working with talented young players since retiring from professional rugby, so is a great fit for the role.”
“Rugby in the States is accelerating rapidly and there’s a big demand from the vast network of coaches we work with for top level international players. It’s been great seeing so many rugby players from the UK, Australia, New Zealand, the Far East and Middle East enjoying life-changing experiences as student-athletes and having Sean on board will increase our capacity to support even more players and families on their college rugby journey.”
Headquartered in Glasgow and celebrating its twenty-five-year anniversary in 2026, FirstPoint USA is the world’s leading international sports scholarship and university admissions agency. During that time, FirstPoint has supported more than 40,000 students with US placements, securing $2.4bn in scholarship funding. The company employs 72 members of staff, and works with athletes across 18 sports in 87 different countries.
Sean Lamont will work closely with FirstPoint’s Head of Rugby Jamie Berrisford, a two-time collegiate rugby National Champion and All-American at Life University, who leads the placement activity for rugby players.
To find out more about collegiate rugby opportunities, click here.
