Mike Petri

Michael Zachary Petri (born August 16, 1984) is a former American rugby union player who played for Rugby United New York (RUNY) of Major League Rugby (MLR). His position was scrum-half. He is known as "Peaches" by his teammates. He currently is the head coach for RUNY's academy development program.

Petri has previously played for the Newport Gwent Dragons, Sale Sharks, and Barbarians FC (2009).

Early life and education Petri began playing rugby as a freshman at Xavier High School in New York City. Petri's father, also Mike, played rugby as a youth at St. Francis Prep and encouraged his participation in the sport.

Petri earned 57 test caps for the United States national rugby union team representing the United States at the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France, the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, and the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England. Petri signed to play with Rugby United New York in October 2018 and served as their captain for the 2019 MLR season.

In 2021, Petri stepped away from the playing field to become a full-time head coach for Rugby United New York's creation of an academy program to identify and develop local collegiate and talent for the club. but quit the job to pursue rugby full-time.

Petri is an accomplished author, writing the children's alphabet book R is for Rugby, which was published in June 2015.

Petri is the Director of Athletics, Upper School Teacher: Math, Science, Coach: Middle School Soccer, Varsity Soccer, JV Basketball, Varsity Baseball at Bay Ridge Preparatory School, in Brooklyn, New York, since 2018

Honors Team Rugby Super League (4): 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012 Division 1 Club Rugby Championship (1): 2015

Individual Collegiate All-American (4): 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 Collegiate All-Star Tournament MVP (1): 2006 Doug Edwards Award (1): 2006 NYAC Male Athlete of the Year (1): 2011 Rugby Super League Finals MVP (1) 2010 Division 1 Club Rugby Championship Finals MVP (1): 2015