http://www.americanrugbynews.com/artman/publish/international/New_Look_ARC.shtml New Look ARC The International Rugby Board has announced a new structure for the Americas Rugby Championship 2010, which will be played in Argentina from October 5-15. Building on the success of the inaugural tournament last year, the 2010 edition will feature international A teams as part of the IRB’s global drive to provide Targeted High Performance Unions with access to an expanded high-level competition calendar. Hosts Argentina will be joined by Canada Selects, USA Select XV and Tonga A in an exciting lineup for the three-round tournament in Cordoba that will provide a key preparation platform for all four Unions ahead of Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand. “This new-look Americas Rugby Championship represents a great step forward for the Game across North and South America, providing an expanded competition format that will generate exciting and competitive matches, while allowing the participating Unions to take a closer look at the development of their elite domestic-based players ahead of RWC 2011,” said IRB Head of Development and Performance Mark Egan. “Tonga has been invited to participate in the tournament this year in order to provide the Union with much needed additional international fixtures as they work towards the opening game of RWC 2011 against the All Blacks. They will provide stern opposition for USA Select XV, Canada Selects and the Jaguars, whose players don’t normally get an opportunity to test themselves against the mighty Pacific Islanders. “The move from a regional format to a competition featuring international A teams fits well with the strategic aims of the participating Unions and underlines the IRB’s commitment to delivering an integrated schedule that combines IRB Strategic investment tournaments within a framework that also delivers regular international matches for targeted High Performance Unions.” “Canada, USA, Tonga and Argentina are all priority Unions for our High Performance investment program and this new tournament structure is central to the IRB’s strategic aim of increasing global competitiveness and in particular the performance of Tier 2 teams at Rugby World Cup,” added Egan. The Americas Rugby Championship kicks off in Córdoba on October 5 and for the Unión Argentina de Rugby (UAR) presents the opportunity to build on the success of hosting the record-breaking IRB Junior World Championship 2010 and continue to bring on home-grown talent through the Union’s High Performance structures. “We are delighted to be chosen as hosts for this tournament, which will play an important role in the promotion of the game within Argentina and also the development of our High Performance programs," said Luis Castillo, the UAR President. "For our players, the Americas Rugby Championship represents a great opportunity to access high level competition. Córdoba will be an excellent host and we will work in partnership to deliver what promises to be a memorable and successful tournament,” added Castillo. For participating Unions, the tournament provides a key preparation platform ahead of an expanded November program, meaning that each will have access to unprecedented high-level competition during the window, providing vital preparation ahead of Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand. “The ARC is an important tournament for a number of reasons. It gives our domestic-based players an opportunity to compete in a high level competition and this year it will also prove excellent preparation for the Eagles’ November tour to Europe, also allowing players a shot at inclusion on that tour,” said USA coach Eddie O’Sullivan. Americas Rugby Championship 2010 Round One: Tuesday, October 5, 2010 USA Select XV v Tonga A Argentina Jaguars v Canada Selects Round Two: Sunday, October 10, 2010 Canada Selects v Tonga A Argentina Jaguars v USA Select XV Round Three: Friday, October 15, 2010 Canada Selects v USA Select XV Argentina Jaguars v Tonga A
I haven't heard anything about tv broadcast. Maybe an e-mail to Nigel Melville is in order nmelville@usarugby.org
http://www.rugbymag.com/news/international/churchill/irb-confirms-arc-schedule.aspx Found this at the bottom of an article on RugbyMag about the ARC. Americas Rugby Championship 2010 Round One: Tuesday, October 5, 2010 USA Select XV v Tonga A Argentina Jaguars v Canada Selects Round Two: Sunday, October 10, 2010 Canada Selects v Tonga A Argentina Jaguars v USA Select XV Round Three: Friday, October 15, 2010 Canada Selects v USA Select XV Argentina Jaguars v Tonga A Plans are in place to provide webcast coverage of these games. Stay tuned to RUGBYMag.com for details.
http://www.rugbymag.com/news/national-teams/men/arc-for-now-says-osullivan.aspx ARC For Now Says O'Sullivan By Alex Goff The Americas Rugby Championship may have changed its focus somewhat, but USA head coach Eddie O'Sullivan is rolling with the punches, so to speak. Planning for the future is nice and all, but with the November tour coming up and the World Cup a year out, O'Sullivan wants players who can play now. "We're building for now," O'Sullivan told RUGBYMag.com, adding that it wouldn't make sense to concentrate on bringing in youth for the trip to Argentina. "It's not that we're looking players who are young, or players who are old. If you're good enough, you're old enough." O'Sullivan has a list of about 65 players he is considering for the World Cup squad, one that he needs to cut down to 45 within a few weeks. "We've got a lot of work to do and decisions to make," O'Sullivan said. "The ARC is an improtant part of that." The USA Selects squad will be announced early next week and at the end of the month they fly out. It will be the first step in a 12-month surge to the World Cup.
http://www.americanrugbynews.com/artman/publish/eagles/USA_Selects_Named.shtml USA Selects Named Eddie O’Sullivan has named the USA Select XV for the Americas Rugby Championship (ARC) next month in Cordoba, Argentina. The USA Selects will play Tonga A, Canada Selects, and the Argentina Jaguars in three rounds of action. The tournament kicks off on October 5. For O’Sullivan and the USA, seeing how players respond to the competition and how they cope with the international tournament format will be critical in the evaluation of players moving towards next year’s World Cup. “Selecting a Pool without calling on our overseas professional players certainly forces us to dig deep on the depth chart,” O’Sullivan said. “At the same time, this is a great opportunity for those players who have made the ARC Pool to stake a claim for a place on the fall tour to Europe and of course, the Pool that will travel to New Zealand for the RWC 2011 in less than a year.” Forwards: Chris Biller (San Francisco Golden Gate), Pat Danahy (Life University), Brian Doyle (New York Athletic Club), Tala Esera (Hawaii Rugby Club), Eric Fry (Unattached), Matt Hawkins (Belmont Shore), Nic Johnson (Denver Barbarians), Tom Katzfey (New York Athletic Club), Dan LaProvette (San Francisco Golden Gate), Via Notoa (Hawaii Rugby Club), Anthony Purpura (Boston Rugby Club), Ross Silverman (Unattached), Phil Theil (Life University), John Van der Giessen (Unattached) Backs: Tai Enosa (Belmont Shore), Troy Hall (New York Athletic Club), Gareth Jones (Young Munsters RFC), *Duncan Kelm (San Diego State University), Nese Malifa (Glendale Raptors), Benny Mateialona (Life University), Mile Pulu (San Francisco Golden Gate), Volney Rouse (San Francisco Golden Gate), Andrew Suniula (Chicago Griffins), Shalom Suniula (South Brisbane), Pate Tuilevuka (Old Puget Sound Beach), *Zach Test (Loughborough University) *Not currently enrolled in school Unavailable due to Injury: Mark Bokhoven (Denver Barbarians), Cameron Dolan (Life University), Ata Malifa (Glendale Raptors), Jacob Sprague (New York Athletic Club) Considered but unavailable: Marco Bernard (Blue Bulls), Colin Hawley (Unattached), Mike Palefau (Las Vegas Blackjacks), Leonard Peters (Gentlemen of Aspen), Tommy Saunders (Belmont Shore) Unavailable due to school: Thretton Palamo (Utah), Don Pati (Utah), Ryan Roundy (Brigham Young University), Blaine Scully (California), Brendan Thompson (Life University) ARC schedule Round One: Tuesday, October 5, 2010 |USA v Tonga|Argentina v Canada Round Two: Sunday, October 10, 2010|Argentina v USA|Canada v Tonga Round Three: Friday, October 15, 2010|Canada v USA|Argentina v Tonga
Can anyone name the 11 forwards and 9 backs overseas? http://www.rugbymag.com/news/national-teams/men/arc-players-have-an-impression-to-make.aspx ARC Players Have an Impression to Make By Alex Goff The USA Selects squad for the Americas Rugby Championships has ended up being exactly what the team has to be – a squad of players who need to make a statement in order to confirm a place on the Eagles. Some of these players are relatively close to being dubbed a sure thing – hookers Chris Biller and Phil Thiel are the top two USA choices at that position, Nic Johnson is a favorite at No.8, and Nese Malifa is the first-choice flyhalf. But even Thiel and Biller have something to play for – the honor of being the regular starter. Everyone else has something to prove: Props Tala Esera, Ross Silverman, Tony Purpura and Via Notoa all have a chance to break into the front row. Head coach Eddie O’Sullivan has four of his props playing in Europe, but he is still looking for more. There's little doubt these players will work hard around the park, but key for all four of them will be: lineouts and scrums. If they can't lift effectively and consistently in the lineout, and if they can't keep the scrums together, they won't make it into the Eagles. Lock: Hayden Smith and John van der Giessen are in Europe, and the next group of locks are all in-between players; those who play second row or back row. So O’Sullivan might be looking for a specialist lock, and if Brian Doyle has a good tournament, he might be the guy. But it’s worth also looking at Tom Katzjey. Katzfey was a college basketball player who got his rugby in as a select-side college player in the Midwest. Working hard to catch up he got an All American nod, and is now looking to go full-bore in rugby. Obviously with his basketball background you'd expect him to be a lineout weapon. Pat Danahy, Dan LaPrevotte, Eric Fry and Nic Johnson are all capable of playing lock, but are thought of more as back row players. O’Sullivan is also expected to bring in one more lock now that John van der Giessen is out because of a new contract at Bath. Back Row: As usual this USA is solid at back row. Matt Hawkins has a lot to prove to be as solid in the USA 15s team as he is in the 7s team. Johnson is a leader here and Danahy’s impact was impressive during the Churchill Cup. LaPrevotte and Fry will want to explode on the field this tournament. In the backs, much will be expected of Malifa and Volney Rouse at flyhalf. They will be the key decision-makers, the goalkickers, and the organizers. Who they work with at halfback is a question, because top USA scrumhalves Mike Petri, Tim Usasz, Marco Barnard and the recuperating Robbie Shaw are all overseas. Well that leaves … Benny Mateialona, who is a smart and versatile player, and Shalom Suniula, who has stated his desire to break into the 15s team. This is his chance. Both must show they can work with their outside halves, can handle ball squirting out of the back of a stressed scrum, and can defend. At center, Tai Enosa is a possible flyhalf option who is continuing to grow. Troy Hall is of that mold too; he is a smart decision-maker, if not physically imposing. O’Sullivan has all sorts of players jumping up and down I their desire to break into the USA centers. Duncan Kelm is a very hard worker and maybe one of the centers of the future. Gareth Jones has a lot of heart and is a good athlete, too. Mile Pulu is an outstanding 7s player and some might wish he just stayed there. But he’s got speed and can defend, too. Andrew Suniula is more of a battering ram player, but we've been frustrated with that type of player bringing that type of physicality to the next level. And of course Pate Tuilevuka is very much a known quantity. He is big, shifty, and has become a good passer too. At wing and fullback, there’s only one specialist, and that’s Zack Test. He’s another one for the future, although he’s a 7s player for now. O’Sullivan wants what a lot of top 15s coaches want – a wing with power and a fullback who can kick. He’s got some work to do to find the right combinations among this group. Look maybe for Enosa to get some fullback time and Jones and Hall to see time on the wing. These players would do well to avoid comparing themselves to existing USA players and just play their own game. But if you look at who is not at the ARC, you see there are lots of spots available for a World Cup squad of 30. Only nine backs are overseas right now, and only 11 forwards. That leaves opportunities. Eddie O’Sullivan will be watching.