{{Short description|American rugby union player (born 1993)}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Cody Melphy | image = Melphy and Pinkelman hold Las Vegas 7s trophy.jpg | caption = Cody Melphy and Ben Pinkelman holding the cup after winning Las Vegas 7s | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|4|5}} | birth_place = Denver, Colorado | height = 1.78m | weight = 188lbs | school = Heritage High School | university = Life University | occupation = Professional Rugby Player | currentclub = Mens USA 7s Eagles | position = Hooker, Halfback | years1 = 2018 | clubs1 = San Diego Legion | apps1 = 1 | points1 = 0 | repyears1 = | repteam1 = | repcaps1 = | reppoints1 = | repupdate = | repsevensyears1 = 2018– | repsevensteam1 = United States | repsevenscomp1 = 6 | ru_sevensupdate = 17 February 2021 | website = https://www.usarugby.org/player/cody-melphy/ | medals = {{MedalSport | Men's rugby sevens }} {{MedalCountry | the {{USA}} }} {{MedalCompetition | Pan American Games }} {{MedalBronze| 2019 Lima | Team competition }} }} '''Cody Melphy''' (born April 5, 1993) is a professional American rugby union player for the United States national rugby sevens team. Melphy was named to the team in February 2018 where he made his debut in the 2018 USA Sevens in Las Vegas.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://rugby7smagazine.com/cody-melphy-gets-call-newest-usa-eagle-7s-player-video/|title=USA 7s Debut|last=|first=|date=|website=rugby7smagazine|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref> Melphy helped the U.S. to its first tournament win on home soil, the second-ever World Series tournament win in American history.
==Youth== {{BLP sources section|date=March 2018}} Cody Melphy was born and raised in Colorado. He grew up in Littleton where he graduated from Heritage High School. From 2003 to 2010, Melphy played soccer for Real National in Colorado, coached by Joe Shaw. Captained the team to 4 state titles as a utility midfielder. Melphy played Varsity Soccer at Heritage High School under coach Adam Buseck. He was named to the All-Conference team. Melphy started playing rugby his senior year in high school for the Littleton Eagles Rugby Club under Ethan Pougnet and Charlie Riley.
== Soccer == Melphy attended Division II school Metropolitan State University of Denver from 2010 to 2011 under Ken Parsons. He started 19 of 20 games as a true freshman at right back in the defense. Melphy notched one assist and led the team with a +34 plus/minus rating (49 goals forced, 15 goals against) in 1,685 minutes played during the season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://roadrunnersathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=942|title=Metro State Soccer|last=|first=|date=|website=Roadrunners|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref>
== Rugby career == After high school he joined the Glendale Raptors men's rugby club where he played for the PRP from 2012 to 2015 under Andre Snyman. Melphy played collegiate rugby at Life University under Scott Lawrence from 2015 to 2017 where he studied Health Coaching and Business Management.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.liferunningeagles.com/news/2016/5/20/ID_811_131444406869253623_131444406869253623.aspx?path=lifeu|title=Champions of Character|last=|first=|date=|website=Life Running Eagles|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref> He received Mid-South Player of the Month and Back of the year in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://d1arugby.com/news/mid-south-player-of-the-month-march-cody-melphy/|title=Mid South Player of the Month|last=|first=|date=|website=Mid South Player of the Month|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://d1arugby.com/news/mid-souths-all-conference-team-the-best-of-college-rugbys-best-conference/|title=Mid South Back of the Year|last=|first=|date=|website=D1A Rugby|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref> In 2017 he was named a Scholz Finalist for D1A player of the year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.goffrugbyreport.com/news/scholz-finalist-cody-melphy|title=Scholz Finalist 2017|last=|first=|date=|website=goffrugbyreport|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref> Melphy received First team All-American awards in 7s and 15s in both 2016 and 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://d1arugby.com/news/forty-four-players-from-d1a-recognized-as-all-americans/|title=1st Team Collegiate All-American 7s and 15s 2016|last=|first=|date=|website=D1A Rugby|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://d1arugby.com/news/college-all-american-honorees-include-75-d1a-student-athletes/|title=1st Team Collegiate All-American 7s and 15s 2017|last=|first=|date=|website=D1A Rugby|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref> Melphy led Life University to a D1A National Championship in 2016. He also led the team to a 2017 D1A National Runner Up and a second-place finish at the Collegiate Rugby Championship, where he was named to the tournament Dream Team.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.liferunningeagles.com/news/2016/5/20/ID_811_131444406869253623_131444406869253623.aspx?path=lifeu|title=Collegiate Rugby Championship Dream Team|last=|first=|date=|website=Life Running Eagles|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref> During the summer of 2017, Melphy was a part of the Denver Barbarians men's 2nd-place finish at the Men's National Championships. He also captained the Collegiate All-Americans to a Bowl Championship in Serevi Rugbytown 7s.{{Citation needed|date=March 2018}}
Melphy now represents the United States national rugby sevens team as a professional athlete out of Chula Vista California, Elite Athlete Training Center.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.armymwr.com/programs-and-services/world-class-athlete-program/soldier-athletes/rugby-sevens|title=United States Army World Class Athlete Program|last=|first=|date=|website=United States Army World Class Athlete Program|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref> He debuted for the U.S. in March 2018 during the 2017-18 World Rugby Sevens Series.
In the Summer of 2019 Melphy Captained Team USA in the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru. The team received the bronze medal at the games. He was selected to represent the United States at the 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-02 |title=USA names rosters for Sevens World Cup |url=https://www.americasrugbynews.com/2022/09/01/usa-names-rosters-for-sevens-world-cup/ |access-date=2022-09-14 |website=Americas Rugby News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cahill |first=Calder |date=2022-09-01 |title=Men's Eagles Sevens touch down in Cape Town as Rugby World Cup Sevens roster is confirmed |url=https://eagles.rugby/news/mens-eagles-sevens-touch-down-in-cape-town-as-rugby-world-cup-sevens-roster-is-confirmed-202291 |access-date=2022-09-14 |website=eagles.rugby |language=en}}</ref>
== Army == Specialist Melphy enlisted in the United States Army on October 10, 2017. He specializes as a Bridge Engineer Crewmember. Melphy became a part of the US Army World Class Athlete Program upon graduation from Delta co. 31st Engineer Battalion, his One Station Unit Training on February 9.
2018 and 2019 All Armed Forces Gold Medalist with US Army. 2019 All Armed Forces Dream team and Jon Snow MVP award winner. ( https://rugbytown7s.com/ )
== References == {{reflist}} {{USA 2020 Summer Olympics Squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Melphy, Cody}} Category:1993 births Category:Living people Category:Rugby sevens players at the 2019 Pan American Games Category:Medalists at the 2019 Pan American Games Category:Pan American Games bronze medalists for the United States in rugby sevens Category:Rugby sevens players at the 2020 Summer Olympics Category:Olympic rugby sevens players for the United States Category:U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program personnel Category:Sportspeople from Littleton, Colorado Category:Rugby union players from Colorado