Education
He graduated from Idaho in 2004.
He graduated from Idaho in 2004.
He plays lock for the United States of America Eagle XV side. John earned a captaincy role for the United States of America and represented the side in the 2007 and 2011 Rugby World Cup. Van der Giessen played professional rugby in the English Premiership and French Top 14, John has since retired.
Van der Giessen first started playing rugby in September 2001.
He had two training sessions and started his first match that weekend at the 25th Annual University of Idaho Alumni Tournament. Afterwards Mr. McGurkin told him he could go as far as he wanted in rugby, if he just stuck with lieutenant
He was a University of Idaho Rugby Captain from 2004–2005. Van der Giessen was selected to come to the Rugby World Cup Training Camp and was named to the NA4 Hawks Team.
Initially named as the reserve for the 2007 Rugby World Cup, Van der Giessen joined the team in France for its last two matches, following the injury of veteran United States of America lock Luke Gross, but VDG did not see any playing time.
Van der Giessen"s debut for his country was in the 2008 Churchill Cup against England Saxons. He was selected to tour with the United States of America Eagles squad for the Autumn 2010 tour of Europe, and was captain of the United States of America Eagles. Van der Giessen has played club rugby in New Zealand, Australia, France, England, and now in the United States.
In 2006 Van der Giessen was selected for the 2006 Non-Player Character Hawkes Bay Reserve side, and has also played with the University of Queensland in Australia.
VDG returned to the United States and played with various clubs, including the Santa Barbara Rugby Club and the Denver Barbarians. Van der Giessen played his club rugby with South Carolina Albi of the Top 14 in France during the 2009-2010 season, before moving to Bath Rugby in the English Premiership in the fall of 2010.
Bath coaches and executives have praised Van der Giessen"s athleticism and good lineout skills. Van der Giessen left Bath in February 2011 to return to the United States.
He has played with the Utah Warriors in the United States Rugby Super League since April 2011.
The founder of U of I Rugby, Joe McGurkin, and a former U of I player and friend, Conrad Breithbach watched the match. Van der Giessen played in the 2011 Rugby World Cup, and achieved the most lineout steals (5) of any player in the tournament, an impressive feat considering the United States was knocked out of the tournament after 4 matches, whereas several other teams played 5-7 matches. Van der Giessen"s best match in the lineout was the United States of America"s win against Russia, where VDG won 9 lineouts, including 4 steals on Russia"s lineout. He started several games for Bath, including a Heineken Cup match.
