News: USA Sevens: America's rugby

Discussion in 'Rugby & Aussie Rules' started by yankee_rob, Jan 22, 2009.

  1. yankee_rob

    yankee_rob Member

    Aug 1, 2006
    London, England
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    A couple of things about the USA Sevens tournament. First, I noticed in the article that Dan Lyle stated "we've been able to capture the imagination of a major TV network (ABC)". What does he mean by this? Is USA Sevens going to be on ABC? Also, I noticed that the SD Invitational now has rugby league. Not to be fun but what is the reason behind this? Is the Jacksonville League Challenge going to promote USA Sevens, USA Rugby or have any rugby games on display?

    http://www.americanrugbynews.com/artman/publish/sevens/USA_Sevens_America_s_rugby.shtml

    USA Sevens: America's rugby
    Posted in: Sevens
    By
    Jan 21, 2009 - 1:08:16 PMDigg this story!
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    Tickets for the USA Sevens - the fourth event in the IRB Sevens World Series - are on sale and going fast, according to organizers.

    At last year's event in San Diego the party zone, try zone and youth tickets all sold out and this year the event also holds the enviable position of being the last international tournament for both men and women before the Rugby World Cup Sevens kicks off in Dubai.

    "Publicizing the upcoming World Cup has inspired rugby aficionados to book tickets to the USA Sevens this year, knowing that teams will field their best sides," said Tournament Director and former US Eagles captain Dan Lyle.

    Rugby fans unable to go to the World Cup in Dubai will have an opportunity to see most of what the teams have to offer in San Diego.

    "We've also accredited over 110 media, which will ensure that the global rugby community knows about the USA Sevens."
    Dan Lyle

    Since moving the American leg of the World Series from the Home Depot Center in Los Angeles to central San Diego, the event has enjoyed strong year-on-year growth in what remains an untraditional and emerging rugby market.

    "USA Sevens is about engaging a new rugby fan base through creating a unique American entertainment spectacular with rugby as its hub," continued Lyle.

    "Building on the Olympic model of cultural diversity and elite-level athleticism through our participating nations, we've been able to capture the imagination of a major TV network (ABC) as well as the support of the nation's seventh largest city (San Diego). The attendance figure is expected to top 50,000 this year.

    "We are building 'Rugby Week' through Events for Youth, a global Fan Festival, a multi divisional Invitational tournament with over 60 teams representing premier colleges, high schools, women, youth, club and masters. In short, we are America's Rugby."
     
  2. PsychedelicCeltic

    PsychedelicCeltic New Member

    Dec 10, 2003
    San Francisco/London
    If Dan got ABC, Dan should be offered the CEO job. I'm not kidding.
     
  3. yankee_rob

    yankee_rob Member

    Aug 1, 2006
    London, England
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Does this mean that USA Sevens is going to be on ABC or did they just do a report on the national news.
     
  4. yankee_rob

    yankee_rob Member

    Aug 1, 2006
    London, England
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    For Immediate Release

    January 27, 2009

    U.S. Names its Men’s and Women’s Player Pools for Upcoming Sevens Events



    BOULDER, Colo. – The U.S. Men’s and Women’s Sevens Teams named their respective player pools for their upcoming international tournaments, including the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai.



    With 12 men’s players having trained in Denver for the past week, Caravelli brings in 10 additional players to the Chula Vista Olympic Training Center (OTC) this week for his training assembly leading up to the IRB Sevens World Series event in Wellington on February 6-7.



    Among those training at the OTC are forwards Jarvis Albury (OMBAC), Mark Bokhoven (Denver Barbarians), Paul Emerick (Overmach Parma), Matthew Hawkins (OMBAC), Thretton Palamo (Biarritz), Rikus Pretorius (Unattached) Dan Power (NYAC) and James Gillenwater (Belmont Shore), who will also be playing scrum half. Valenese Malifa (Belmont Shore) will be playing scrum half and fly-half, while Shalom Suniula (Brisbane) and P.J. Komongan (NOVA) are battling it out at scrum half, as well. Dallen Stanford (Belmont Shore) shows his versatility, playing hooker, scrum half, fly-half and center.



    Jone Naqica (Denver Barbarians) and Zach Pangelinan (OMBAC) are the other fly-halves at the camp. As for the backs, Caravelli will look to Roland Suniula (Pearl City) and Kevin Swiryn, of St. Mary’s, who also sees time at prop and hooker. Justin Boyd (Dallas) has been training at wing, while Kurt Weber (Cal State - Fullerton), Alex Ross (SDSU), Mike Hicks (SDSU) and Zach Test (Oregon State) are all college players brought in this week to show Coach Caravelli their fitness levels, skills and help create a more competitive camp.



    “I am very pleased with the work ethic and intensity these guys have brought to camp,” Caravelli said. “The players brought in to Denver gave it their all, all week long. A big emphasis for their conditioning was to get everyone starting hard and finishing hard, with no lapses. It was very exciting to see these guys keep that level of intensity the whole time. Their skill levels have also improvement dramatically in just one week.”



    Players who are usual staples on the sevens squads, but who won’t able to join the team in this assembly are Chris Wyles (Saracens), Takudzwa Ngwenya (Biarritz) and Todd Clever (Xerox Lions). Wyles will join the team in New Zealand.



    “It’s a bit disappointing to not have Taku and Todd with us for these next couple tournaments, but honestly with the likes of them at 11 and 12 on your roster, that’s not a bad place to be,” Caravelli added. “I really expect Paul Emerick to fill the gap nicely at prop and Wyles, Swiryn, Boyd and Malifa have already been quite impressive this year and they’ll only continue to improve.”



    This is the best group of sevens players the U.S. has to offer. Our whole goal is to get these guys working in unison for the entire 14 minutes of play. In order to challenge the top-eight teams, we will have to work on all seven cylinders – meaning that all seven players will have to be playing their best for the whole match.”



    On the women’s side, Coach Julie McCoy held a National Sevens training camp in mid-January and from that camp named 14 players to the Rugby World Cup player pool.



    Those players include Kirsten Ahrendt (Keystone), Ida Bernstein (Keystone), Beth Black (NOVA), Amy Daniels (Beantown), Ellie Karvoski (Little Rock RFC), Phaidra Knight (NYRFC), Pam Kosanke (Chicago Northshore), Teena Mastrangelo (Chicago Northshore), Alison Price (NYRFC), Christy Ringgenberg (MN Valkyries), Ines Rodriguez (Keystone RFC), Jen Starkey (NOVA), Lindsey Stephenson (At Large) and Jess Watkins (Stanford University).



    Ten of these players will compete for the USA Team at the Women’s International Invitational event in San Diego, while four of them will join Kitt Wagner, of Beantown, Jen Sinkler, of Keystone RFC, Lauren Hoeck, of NOVA, Haldre Rogers, of Seattle, Jen Flateman, of NYRFC, and Melissa McKibben, of the Kansas City Jazz, on the USA ‘A’ side at the San Diego Sevens event.



    “The pool has been concentrated down to 14 athletes after a long, competitive buildup that allowed most in the pool to gain international experience. The players will move to Arkansas at the end of this week for the residency program. Now that most of the selections have been made, I am hopeful that daily practices, team building opportunities, and examining video, will help us grow as a true international sevens team comprised of ‘Sevens Specialists’,” McCoy said.



    U.S. Men’s Sevens Player Pool

    Jarvis Albury (OMBAC)

    Mark Bokhoven (Denver Barbarians)

    Justin Boyd (Dallas)

    Todd Clever (Xerox Lions)

    Paul Emerick (Overmach Parma)

    James Gillenwater (Belmont Shore)

    Matthew Hawkins (OMBAC)

    P.J. Komongan (NOVA)
    Valenese Malifa (Belmont Shore)

    Jone Naqica (Denver Barbarians)

    Takudzwa Ngwenya (Biarritz)

    Thretton Palamo (Biarritz)

    Zach Pangelinan (OMBAC)

    Rikus Pretorius (Unattached)

    Dan Power (NYAC)

    Alex Ross (SDSU)

    Dallen Stanford (Belmont Shore)

    Roland Suniula (Pearl City)

    Shalom Suniula (Brisbane)

    Kevin Swiryn (St. Mary’s)

    Zach Test (Oregon State)

    Chris Wyles (Saracens)



    U.S. Women’s Sevens Player Pool



    Kirsten Ahrendt (Keystone)

    Beth Black (NOVA)

    Ida Bernstein (Keystone)

    Amy Daniels (Beantown)

    Jen Flateman (New York)

    Lauren Hoeck (NOVA)

    Ellie Karvoski (Little Rock)

    Phaidra Knight (New York)

    Pam Kosanke (Chicago Northshore)

    Teena Mastrangelo (Chicago Northshore)

    Melissa McKibben (Kansas City Jazz)

    Alison Price (New York)

    Christy Ringgenberg (Minnesota Valkyries)

    Haldre Rogers (Seattle)

    Ines Rodriguez (Keystone)

    Jen Sinkler (Keystone)

    Jen Starkey (NOVA)

    Lindsey Stephenson (At Large)

    Kitt Wagner (Beantown)

    Jess Watkins (Stanford University)



    For more information on the USA Sevens Teams, please visit www.usarugby.org. For more information on the IRB Sevens World Series events or the IRB Rugby World Cup Sevens, please visit www.irbsevens.com.









    Inspiring America to fall in love with Rugby
    Sara John | Director of Communications | USA Rugby
    2500 Arapahoe Avenue, Suite 200 | Boulder CO 80302
    W: 303.539.0300 x101 | C: 719.310.2606 | Fax: 303-539-0311
     
  5. MasterShake29

    MasterShake29 Member+

    Oct 28, 2001
    Jersey City, NJ
    Club:
    New York Red Bulls
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Just to remind myself, in yankee_rob world, rugby league is not rugby, right?

    That would be like me getting mad at Canadians for calling the sport played in the CFL "football".
     
  6. yankee_rob

    yankee_rob Member

    Aug 1, 2006
    London, England
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    There are many codes of football, soccer, rugby, Gaelic, American, Canadian, Australian and league. There is only one game that was invented at Rugby School in England and that was not league.

    Also by the way the only person that is mad is you, league lover.:p
     
  7. the shelts

    the shelts Member+

    Jun 30, 2005
    Providence RI
    Club:
    Nottingham Forest FC
    Mastershake - Yankee Rob knows rugby. In fact he is one of a small number of people who know USA rugby and its subplots. Theres no need to be like this............
     
  8. yankee_rob

    yankee_rob Member

    Aug 1, 2006
    London, England
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The shelts, thank you for that. In order to settle this petty argument, I will state that rugby league is a form of rugby that was developed after the Northern Rugby Union split from the RFU in 1895. IMHO rugby and league are two totally different sports. I lived in Yorkshire for 7 years and I gave the whole league thing a try and decided that league was not a code of football to replace rugby. However I always support the Tomahawks when they play matches.

    To Mastershake: I know you find the sport boring, but if you could just give rugby (union) another try maybe you will see what I and others see. Regardless I hope you at least support the Eagles.
     
  9. MasterShake29

    MasterShake29 Member+

    Oct 28, 2001
    Jersey City, NJ
    Club:
    New York Red Bulls
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I've watched rugby league on and off, I'll turn on the occasional match on Setanta USA, and I watched as much of the 2007 World Cup as I could. It just doesn't do it for me, and I prefer the league version. I have nothing against the sport other than it doesn't excite me. Maybe if I grew up with it I'd think differently.

    And as I've said before, I think as a spectator sport, league could catch on more than union (if one version is ever to do that, quite unlikely) because of some of the concepts in league that are different in rugby. One big one being that teams will kick for territory over possession in union, which isn't done in league nor any other sport in America.

    That's all. And sure, I'll support the USA Eagles (is there even an international USA rugby league team?).
     
  10. yankee_rob

    yankee_rob Member

    Aug 1, 2006
    London, England
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Fair enough. However we may have to agree to disagree about which code would catch on quicker in the US. In the end there is probably room for both sports in America.

    USA Tomahawks, but they really only play when they are trying to qualify for the world cup every 4 years.
     
  11. krudmonk

    krudmonk Member+

    Mar 7, 2007
    S.J. Sonora
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Neither sport will catch on. Popular culture shuns excitement if it is not native. Just look at hockey. Luckily, we live in an age that allows us to know both codes anyway. In a country of 310+ million, we'll always have a significant niche.
     
  12. yankee_rob

    yankee_rob Member

    Aug 1, 2006
    London, England
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    You are right I hate that American attitude that unless its an american sport you can't become a huge fan. Ice hockey and soccer are two examples of this. Growing up in North Carolina I was a college basketball and soccer fan, but I wasn't really a football fan. I do feel there is this unconscious peer pressure that you are not a real American unless you like the NFL. Especially over here in the UK with the expat community. Luckily I found rugby in college which encompasses all the skill sets of soccer, basketball and football.
     
  13. the shelts

    the shelts Member+

    Jun 30, 2005
    Providence RI
    Club:
    Nottingham Forest FC
    USA Tomahawks played one h*ll of a good game against Australia in 2004. Australia was on the way home after a UK tour and agreed to play a game in Philadelphia. They ran out the second stringers and looked at the stop in the USA as a bit of a party atmosphere.


    The USA was a hard, determined and motivated bunch. They took the Aussie's party atmosphere to heart and were leading at the half. Then Australia subbed in some speedsters and won 36-24 in the last quarter.

    As good a performance by any USA rugby team. Either code. It was magnificent.
     
  14. yankee_rob

    yankee_rob Member

    Aug 1, 2006
    London, England
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The shelts: Sounds like an exciting match. Good to see a US team competing with the big boys.

    On another note what do you think about coach Johnson leaving the Eagles for Wales. Why do you think he left? IMO it seems very strange. Here is a guy who could have waited for an offer like this from osprey, but decides to go to "the last frontier of rugby" and "do his bit for the sport". He signs a 4 year contract and resigns less than a year later when one of the big clubs comes calling.
     
  15. MasterShake29

    MasterShake29 Member+

    Oct 28, 2001
    Jersey City, NJ
    Club:
    New York Red Bulls
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Was that game on FSC (well FSW at the time)? I remember watching that. That was well before I even knew the difference between union and league.
     
  16. PsychedelicCeltic

    PsychedelicCeltic New Member

    Dec 10, 2003
    San Francisco/London
    Yeah it was. I got late to training with my club last night because I ended up watching the whole game (I was going to leave after the first half but clearly no way I was leaving). The Aussie/Kiwi guys at the club thought I was yanking their chain until the next practice when they came up to me and said they came home and were stunned watching the game realizing I wasn't bullshitting.

    I agree shelts, it was as good a performance by the USA in either code*. The only one I can think of that comes close were the real tough performance by the USA vs the Boks in 01. There may have been some earlier games, but that's the best I can think of.

    The worst? Probably the loss to England in 1999, and the one to Scotland in 02. Canada beat them (their last win over a foundation union, which is kind of sad) and we just laid an egg.

    * Excepting our Olympic gold medals, of course
     
  17. the shelts

    the shelts Member+

    Jun 30, 2005
    Providence RI
    Club:
    Nottingham Forest FC
    I was at the 99 or 98 game at Twickenham vs England it was a utter fiasco. Canada had been pushed around by England about a week before too. England was just turning the corner from a good team to the team that morphed into the 2003 champs.

    Thing was that was the first games that Twickenham wasn't maxed out in capacity, probably only 35-40 thousand.

    I must say I am a little perturbed at Coach Johnson. I wanted him to mold the basis of a good team. Then again, if I was him, I might have done the same. The days of people coming to America for 3-4 years to play + work or to coach + do some job in Rugby USA are getting to an end. A green card ain't what it used to be........
     
  18. yankee_rob

    yankee_rob Member

    Aug 1, 2006
    London, England
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I have my doubts about playing tests again tier 1 nations unless it is in the WC, at this point anyway. I think we should be playing tier 2 and A sides. I know we play Wales this summer, however it will be a weaken side with the Lions tour at the same time.

    I blame coach Johnson completely. He knew what he was getting himself into when he took the job. If he didn't know he should have done some homework before he interviewed. Even us ill informed fans know the score. The fact is he didn't know the USA rugby system and he didn't know the state of the union before he took the job. He then committed to the post for 4 years and then less than a year later decides it is actually management of the team (work) not just coaching.

    On a good note, at least I think so. Did you hear who might take the job.

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/northern_ireland/7862583.stm

    O'Sullivan linked with US return

    Eddie O'Sullivan is reported to be a candidate for the US Eagles post
    Former Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan has emerged as a possible successor to Scott Johnson as coach of the USA team.

    Australian Johnson, formerly caretaker Wales boss, is leaving the Americans at the end of the season to take over at Welsh club Ospreys.

    O'Sullivan was in charge of the US Eagles before becoming Ireland's assistant coach in 1999.

    He won three Triple Crowns as Irish boss and has recently made two coaching trips to the United States.
     
  19. yankee_rob

    yankee_rob Member

    Aug 1, 2006
    London, England
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    US team for Wellington

    http://www.americanrugbynews.com/artman/publish/sevens/US_team_for_Wellington.shtml

    US team for Wellington
    Posted in: Sevens
    By
    Feb 5, 2009 - 4:04:26


    (Dobson Images)
    The US has named its side for this weekend’s New Zealand Sevens in Wellington.

    The US will compete in Pool D alongside Fiji, Samoa, and the Cook Islands.

    The American side:
    1 Matt Hawkins
    2 James Gillenwater
    3 Paul Emerick
    4 Shalom Suniula
    5 Jone Naqica
    6 Chris Wyles
    7 Nese Malifa
    8 Rikus Pretorius
    9 Kevin Swiryn
    10 Dallen Stanford
    11 Justin Boyd
    12 Roland Suniula

    You can also click here to listen to an interview with head coach Al Caravelli.
     
  20. Tony Dellbird

    Tony Dellbird English and Proud

    Mar 26, 2004
    Jolly Ol' England
    Club:
    Everton FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    Is Jarvis playing?
     
  21. Flyin Ryan

    Flyin Ryan Member

    May 13, 2004
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    See, I really hate this line of thinking because it's not an American attitude at all. It's how the whole world acts. Look at England, what's their best sport that they did not invent? At least the U.S. can make the World Cup in soccer and rugby. In basketball (the highest profile world sport the U.S. has invented and arguably #2 in the world behind soccer), England are abysmal.

    As far as TV coverage, U.S. rugby would be best off forming a relationship with Versus IMO. Perhaps show a game a week of the national league (that I think Psychadelic is involved with), then show the national team games live. Not much, but enough that it can grab people's interest and gets them to want to watch more if a fanbase is there to latch onto. I remember watching the 2007 World Cup and the U.S. rugby union was saying "this will be our last amateur team". Well, that's fine and well. But what's the point of paying players and winning games unless you get an audience that will want to watch? The U.S. could win the World Cup in 2011, if there are no rugby fans in the U.S. on a large enough scale to support the game, it doesn't matter.
     
  22. Tony Dellbird

    Tony Dellbird English and Proud

    Mar 26, 2004
    Jolly Ol' England
    Club:
    Everton FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    Hey, there's no need to be like that, cos we were 51 all out against the Windies and managed to beat Italy in poor fashion. It's just been a bad week sir!
     
  23. Flyin Ryan

    Flyin Ryan Member

    May 13, 2004
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It's just a random BigSoccer gripe that gets thrown out by nearly every poster that doesn't stop to think about it.

    It's funny though because I'm a racing fan and last week an English poster on a racing-centered message board was commenting on how one American driver is nothing but a product of media hype. And my response was essentially: "You're from England! Have you not read or listened to your media ever?" And yes, amongst other things in sports, I pointed out how the English national teams in soccer, cricket, and rugby are pushed to the moon outside of all basis in reality (and this was before "51 all out" to the worst Test team in the world and the poor performance against Italy). :D
     
  24. Tony Dellbird

    Tony Dellbird English and Proud

    Mar 26, 2004
    Jolly Ol' England
    Club:
    Everton FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    It happens in everything though, it's cheeky to say that someone else is hype as generally our media just do that to the Nth degree. I hate it. It annoys me that the media have such a huge effect on people and effectively turn them sour leaving many non english supporters never wanting to give us credit for when we generally do well, everyone just wants to see us lose type of thing. I have no idea what happened in the cricket I was winding my dad up something chronic. At least with your Racing driver you may see what it's like to be on the other side of the pond in terms of press and the negative effect it has on debate! :p
     
  25. Tony Dellbird

    Tony Dellbird English and Proud

    Mar 26, 2004
    Jolly Ol' England
    Club:
    Everton FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    The Americans didn't actually do too badly really. Surprised me a bit.
     

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