Got this press release from USA Rugby USA Rugby Brings the 2008 Barclays Churchill Cup to Chicago BOULDER, Colo. – USA Rugby is hosting a press conference on Monday, December 10, at 3:00 p.m. at the Union League Club of Chicago, to officially announce that the Windy City will host the finals of the 2008 Barclays Churchill Cup in June. The Barclays Churchill Cup is the biggest international rugby tournament in North America and is an alliance tournament between the rugby unions of England, USA and Canada. Six teams will participate in this year’s Barclays Churchill Cup – USA, Canada, England Saxons, Scotland A, Ireland A and a final team to be confirmed shortly. In the USA leg of the Barclays Churchill Cup, the tournament will feature all six international teams in a triple header of final matches at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill. Speaking on the announcement, Terry Burwell, Tournament Director of the Barclays Churchill Cup said, “This is a fantastic opportunity for the sports fans of Chicago to witness six top international rugby teams in action on one day. The Barclays Churchill Cup continues to develop each summer, and we are delighted that Chicago is hosting the finals for the first time.” Entering its sixth year, the Barclays Churchill Cup, which has been held across Canada, California, and England in the past, will feature its pool play matches in various locations throughout Canada, before teams converge on Chicago for the finals day of the tournament on June 21st USA Rugby chose the Toyota Park venue after successfully hosting Ireland’s Munster Rugby Club as a Rugby World Cup warm-up match for its National Team, in late August. That match marked the first international rugby match in Chicago in several years and proved a huge achievement for event organizers. “Toyota Park and the city of Chicago proved such great hosts for our Munster match that it would have been senseless to go anywhere else,” USA Rugby’s CEO and Director of Rugby Nigel Melville said. “Chicago has a rich sports history, and is rapidly emerging as the nation’s newest hot spot for rugby. USA Rugby is excited for the chance to bring an international rugby tournament of this caliber to the Windy City.” Toyota Park is home to the Chicago Fire MLS club and is located 17 miles south west of downtown Chicago. Due to the outstanding response in August, USA Rugby is hoping to top 10,000 spectators to the one-day event in June.
Oh, don't get your panties in a wad. The Irish national sides in rugby and football have shared Lansdowne Road for decades. As long as the field has time to recover before the next Fire match it will be fine.
I went to the US/Munster match last summer and had a great time. No noticeable damage to the field. It's not like American football where they move the ball to the center of the field every play and chew up that strip right up the gut. Ruby is pretty fluid and uses most of the field.
Like Chris I was there too and agree with his statement. I played rugby (and soccer) in school back in England and as a winger was glad the whole field was used or I'd never have seen the ball !!! Oh I wasn't very good at either I'll be their June 21st. Wonder how much parking will be
I've never been to a rugby game. I watched some of the Rugby World Cup, and found it to be a interesting game. I might try and attend this.
So, what they are really saying is that the TP pitch is going to look and play like crap for the rest of the season. You know it's going to rain for 5 days straight before rugby starts.
These should be three quality matches on the day. I wents to the final two pool matches in Markham, ON (ENG v IRE & ARG v CAN) and both were very entertaining. I'll be coming down to Chicago for the weekend to see the finals (ENG v SCO for 1st place, IRE v ARG for 2nd place & CAN v USA for 3rd place). Tickets are still available here (http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0400403F8503260B?artistid=1192936&majorcatid=10004&minorcatid=205) and range from $20-$75 for all 3 matches. I hope a lot of spectators come out and enjoy a great day of sport.
I bought two tickets for a buddy and me for this saturday. I'm looking forward to my first live rugby matches. There's a part of me though hoping I don't enjoy it too much, I can't handle getting hooked on another sport .
The tournament was fantastic! Toyota Park is a great facility. Kudos to all the Fire fans who make the 1 1/2 hour (transit) trek from Chicago to the industrial park where the stadium is located. It's worth the effort, but must take its toll week in and week out.