Games to Come - 2009 International Calendar Saturday Dec 27, 2008 in Elite Level Rugby National Teams December 27, 2008 – Below is the latest information for international rugby for USA and Canada. February 6-7 USA Men 7s Canada Men 7s New Zealand 7s Tournament, Wellington, NZ IRB 7s Series February 13 USA Women 7s Canada Women 7s San Diego Invitational Ladies International 7s, San Diego February 14-15 USA Men 7s Canada Men 7s USA 7s Tournament, San Diego IRB 7s Series March 5-7 USA Men 7s Canada Men 7s USA Women 7s Canada Women 7s IRB 7s World Cup, Dubai, UAE March 27-29 USA Men 7s Canada Men 7s Hong Kong 7s IRB 7s Series March 27-28 USA Women 7s Hong Kong 7s (TBC) March 28-April 13 USA Men U17 Canada Men U17 Millfield Rugby Tournament April 3-5 USA Men 7s Adelaide 7s, Adelaide, Australia IRB 7s Series April 21-May 3 USA U20 Men Junior World Rugby Trophy Kenya May 23-24 USA Men 7s Canada Men 7s England 7s, London IRB 7s Series May 30-31 USA Men 7s Canada Men 7s Scotland 7s, Edinburgh IRB 7s Series May 30 Canada Men XVs v. Wales Toronto, Ont. June 5-21 Canada U20 Men Junior World Championships Japan June 7 USA Men XVs v. Wales Chicago June USA Men XVs Canada Men XVs Churchill Cup (held in USA and Canada) June 23 USA Women XVs A v. Canada Women XVs A Infinity Park, Glendale, Colo. June 27 USA Women XVs v. Canada Women XVs Infinity Park, Glendale, Colo. July North American 4 (Held in USA and Canada) Summer Men’s World Cup Qualifiers USA v. Canada, two games. USA U20 Women Tour (TBC) August 15-30 USA Women XVs Canada Women XVs Nation’s Cup, Toronto, Ont. August USA Men XVs Setanta Challenge (TBC) November USA Men XVs Canada Men XVs Test Matches (Possible tournament with Canada, USA, Russia, Japan TBC) December USA Women XVs Test Match (TBC) <!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--> <!--[endif]-->
THis looks good. I'm hoping the Setanta games continue as well as the November tournament with Japan, Canada and Russia.
I agree completely we have to keep rugby on TV. The Super Powers Cup in November preceded by a few test matches against a Latin American country and if we can afford it a short tour to a country like Italy. Also, ESPN Classic and ESPNU. are expanding their coverage of college rugby next spring with 3 big college rivalries matches Cal versus University British Columbia, BYU versus Utah and Army versus Navy. I imagine this is in addition to the coverage they had last year.
I hope so as well! However the summer is fairly packed with the churchill cup, two test versus Canada and a test versus Wales. Fall is where we really need to have some matches, as I stated above the Super Powers Cup and two to three tests again a Latin American country would be great. I think we should play Argentina A, we really need to start building a rivalry with the Argies.
They're already shooting past established nations. They'd mop the floor with us. We're best sticking with Canada, Japan and Russia.
I agree that their program is light years ahead of our's, however IMO we need to play the best in order to be the best. We wouldn't stand a chance in hell against the Pumas, but if we compete against the Argentina A side in a home in home series each fall this would be a step in establishing some sort of rivarly. Yes, I know that they would beat us by two to three tries, but in 5 to 10 years when we become the rugby team I know we can become we will beat them and then can start thinking about taking on the Pumas. I am trying to think long term.
We first need a visible, top-tier, domestic competition to garner interest. The sport doesn't grow with college club kids alone. That's how sport in America works. You bring it to people. They rarely seek it out. We'll be stagnant for years at our current state while Argentina has one or two franchises in S14 or even Europe.
I competely agree. I really meant we should play Argentina A in addition to our other top domestic competitions. If USA Rugby could start the Super Powers Cup in November, a Pan American tournament in Febuary/March and Churchill Cup in June, this would be a good start in getting the Eagles in front of the American public. Ultimately we need to start a Major League Rugby. Last fall when I e-mail Nigel Melville about pro rugby in the US, he stated that he was in talks with some of the MLS owners about starting a pro rugby league and using the MLS stadiums. However because of the credit crunch things have stalled.
Here is a schedule for the June Eagles internationals posted on the blog Gainline.us. http://www.gainline.us/gainline/ "12 January 2009 Prelim summer 2009 Eagle calendar Marking your summer calendars for Eagle matches? Here's some match info I've complied / received: June 6 Wales Chicago Toyota Park --- June 10 Argentina A Kingston, ONT Richardson Stadium Churchill Cup June 14 England A Columbus, OH Ohio State Churchill Cup June 20 CC finals Hartford, CT Rentschler Stadium Churchill Cup July 4 Canada Denver Glendale Stadium RWC qualifiers July 11 Canada Edmonton, AB RWC qualifiers If accurate -- the guess here is plans are still fluid -- it seems suggestions that all of the Churchill games would be in US in 2009 will not come to pass, punching another hole in revenue plans. Further, since the club finals are set for May 30-31, the NA4 must be after the test season. Four years on, it's no closer to being a stepping stone to international rugby than it is becoming commercial venture In a related matter, the roster of Churchill participants appears to be: Pool A: Argentina A, England 'A' (the Saxons), USA Pool B: Canada, Georgia, Ireland 'A' The venue for the first round of the Churchill, on June 6, is to be determined."
Here is another Rugby calender with a load of grassroots rugby tournaments from the Spring to the Fall. http://www.erugbynews.com/article.php?sec=364&a=2963 2009 Rugby Magazine Calendar Friday Jan 23, 2009 in Magazine 2009 Rugby Magazine Event Calendar February 6-7 IRB 7s World Series Wellington, NZ 6-8 Kick Off Tournament Sacramento, CA 13 World Cup Reunion San Diego, CA 14-15 PrezFest Rugby Weekend Beaverton, OR 14-15 USA 7s San Diego, CA 21-22 Halfmoons Mardi Gras New Orleans, LA 27-M1 Ruggerfest Ft. Lauderdale, FL 28-M1 Highlander Invitational Radford Univ 28-M1 Green Country HS Showdown Tulsa, OK March 5-7 7s World Cup Dubai, UAE 6-8 Jesuit Dallas Rugby Showdown Dallas, TX 14 Irish Whiskey 10s Chicago, IL 14-15 Carolina Youth Festival Charlotte, NC 14-15 St. Patrick’s Day Tournament Savannah, GA 21-22 Fullerton International Invitational Fullerton, CA 27-29 IRB 7s World Series Hong Kong, China 28-29 Four Leaf 15s New York, NY April 4-5 IRB 7s World Series Adelaide, Australia 5 GoffonRugby Cup Girls U19 Tournament Lacey, Wash. 18 International Youth Rugby Festival Sandy Spring, MD 17-19 M/W DI/II College Playoffs TBA 18-19 Beast of the East Providence, RI May 1-2 M/W DI/II College Championships TBA 1-3 Military Club Championship Ft Benning, GA 2-3 Baltimore Rites of Spring Baltimore, Md 2-3 Maggot Fest Missoula, MT 2-3 Pacific Coast Girls U19 Championship TBA 2-3 West High School Championship TBA 15-17 Boys’ U19 & High School Championships TBA 15-17 Girls’ High School Championship TBA 16 Okaloosa Summer 7s Destin, FL 16 Mad Anthony Ale Rugby Tournament Edinboro, PA 16-17 Men’s DI/II/III Club Playoffs TBA 17 U19/U15 Jersey Cup TBA 23 Memorial Day 7s Charleston, SC 23-24 IRB 7s World Series London, England 30 Monk Vaughan 7s Richmond, VA 30-31 IRB 7s World Series Edinburgh, Scotland 30-31 Men’s DI/II/III Club Championships TBA June 6-7 LAU/State Girls All-Star Tournament Portland, OR 12-14 Men’s Collegiate All Star Championship TBA 12-14 Women’s U23 and Sr All Star Champs TBA 13-14 Rocky Mountain Challenge U19 All Stars Aurora, CO 20 NOVA Battlefield 7s Manassas, VA 20-21 Challenge Cup All Star Tournament Pittsburgh, PA 27 Lakefront 7s Milwaukee, WI 27 Harrisburg 7s Harrisburg, PA 27 FogFest Rugby Festival San Francisco, CA July 4-5 Cape Fear 7s Wilmington, NC 9-12 East Stroudsburg Player Dev Camp East Stroudsburg, PA 11 Parrothead 7s Tulsa, OK 11 Molly Brannigans 7s Northeast, PA 11-12 Can Am Summer 7s Bellingham, WA 18 Georgia Games 10s Atlanta, GA 18-19 Can-Am Girls All-Stars Ferndale, WA 25 Lower East Side 7s New York, NY 25 GoffonRugby Women’s 7s Lacey, Wash. August 1 Elvis 7s Memphis, TN 1 Gratis 7s Savannah, GA 1-2 Can Am Rugby Tournament Saranac, NY 22-23 Men’s Club 7s Championship TBA 29-30 Porter Cup 15s Richmond, VA September 5-6 Montreal Irish Labor Day 15s Montreal, Can October 24-25 Women’s DI Club Playoffs TBA November 1-2 Bangkok 7s Bangkok, Thailand 6-8 Women’s DI Club Championship TBA 7-8 Battleship Tournament Mobile, AL