Malacchi Esdale was born in Wilmington, raised in Newark, attended college in Florida, and has since traveled the world. But he’s never been to Paris. That is, until now.
Esdale is in Paris for the 2024 Olympics, but not as a spectator. Rather, the 29-year-old is a member of the USA rugby team.
“It was a great feeling and a huge sense of relief,” Esdale said, describing what went through his mind when he learned he had made the team. “Even though I am a pretty established player, anything can happen. I was stressed out leading up to the tryouts and had some sleepless nights waiting to hear if I made the team. So I am super grateful I made the team. I went through an entire progression of emotions.”
Esdale’s progression to success in the sport he now loves was not a typical one.
After attending Forest Oak Elementary and H.B. du Pont Middle School, Esdale moved to Florida with his grandmother.
“It was pretty much for sports reasons,” he explained. “I went to Naples High School and played basketball and football. There, it was a bigger sports scene with more exposure. I wanted to play college basketball but ended up going to the University of Miami to play football instead.”
Before ending up at Miami, Esdale returned to Delaware for his senior year and graduated from Appoquinimink High School in 2013. He went to play football at ASA College in New York before transferring to Miami. He says he “fell out of love” with the sport while playing at Miami after a coaching change and then suffering an injury. He transferred to the University of Central Florida “just to be a student” but soon realized he missed the competitiveness that comes with playing a sport.
“I soon realized I needed to pick something up to keep me busy,” he explained. “I played rugby for a club while I was in high school and thought it was a cool sport and I was very interested in it. There just weren’t enough rugby opportunities to pursue at the time in terms of colleges and scholarships.”
He played for UCF’s club team and later joined the Orlando Griffins rugby club.
The timing of Esdale’s return to rugby couldn’t have been better. The Major League Rugby (MLR) organization was formed in 2017, and Esdale caught on with the Houston Sabercats. He played there until 2021, also playing on a sevens squad in Chula Vista before trying out for and making Team USA.
“The national team is considered a pro team,” Esdale explained. “We play a World Series every year, traveling around the world to 10 locations including Australia, New Zealand, Africa, Hong Kong and Los Angeles. I’ve been doing that for the last three-and-a-half years.”
Esdale was an alternate on the team that played in the 2022 Tokyo Olympics. Unfortunately, he didn’t get to play and missed out on some of the perks the regular players received. For instance, due to COVID restrictions still lingering, alternates were not able to be in the Olympic Village. For both reasons and the fact that as much as he’s traveled the world, he’s never been to Paris, Esdale is looking forward to the full Olympic experience and seeing everything Paris has to offer.
“Seeing the Eiffel Tower is the big thing,” he mentioned. “And the food. I like eating a lot, so I’m looking forward to getting out of the Olympic Village to eat when I can. And of course, getting to play this time around.”
When pool play begins on July 24, the USA team will be trying to win the country’s first rugby sevens’ gold medal. The team finished ninth at Rio in 2016 and sixth at Tokyo in 2020.
“I feel extremely blessed to be able to put the jersey on and represent these colors,” Esdale said.
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