American Rugby on the Rise

[DrSTU]

http://www.rugbymag.com/news/international/n-americans-overseas/tuilevuka-set-for-france-gig.aspx

Having reffed Seta numerous times throughout the season I'm delighted to hear that he's going to get the chance to prove how amazing he is in France's top 14.

Good luck to him, great player and nice unassuming bloke. He's going to play a big part in Las Vegas' title bid this year; starting in the final 16s this weekend in Austin, TX.

 

[Wert Twacky]

Ah... memories of Austin... Burr Field is it? Oh happy days.

Fondly remember agreeing with a front row's request to move the scrum becuase of the proximity to a swarm of fire ants! Tough lot them there Texans!

 

[Davet]

to move the scrum becuase of the proximity to a swarm of fire ants!

So - if we have a ruck right on that patch...

A tad over stimulating, perhaps

 

[Wert Twacky]

Mind you, IIRC, we never had any problems with scrum collapses!

 

[Dickie E]

... or tackler rolling away!

 

[DrSTU]

I will keep an eye out the ants this weekend then!

 

[Wert Twacky]

DrStu - I am so jealous. I had a blast in Austin and met some fantastic people and had a great time.
Burr Field and it's, ahem... "facilities" I hope hold the same magic for you as they did me!

Austin Blacks, Woodlands, HARC, Dallas Harlequins, Galveston, Huns, Bay Area, Shreveport, Baton Rouge, San Antonio, and Dallas - I think these were the teams involved when I was there some time ago. Maybe not as high a level as what you will be doing now.

Good times!

 

[DrSTU]

I have the pleasure of reffing in the final 16 for nationals. It's my second USA national appointment (did the college sweet 16s in Santa Barbara earlier) so I'm looking to perform well to climb higher up the pole next season

I'm sure the field and facilities will be just as good as some of the fields I am used to

 

[ExHookah]

I have the pleasure of reffing in the final 16 for nationals. It's my second USA national appointment (did the college sweet 16s in Santa Barbara earlier) so I'm looking to perform well to climb higher up the pole next season

I'm sure the field and facilities will be just as good as some of the fields I am used to

Really depends on the weather there too. Last couple of years they have had big Thunderstorms there during the tournament weekend, which has messed up the pitches and the schedules.


I will be slumming it this weekend, refereeing here:

 

[DrSTU]

damn, those mormons really know how to build stuff.

The Amish do barns well, the mormons fill in the rest of the building needs.

Oh well, at least you'll get to ref highlands to their championship!

 

[Davet]

You'll need to check posts and markings, then...

 

[ExHookah]

damn, those mormons really know how to build stuff.

The Amish do barns well, the mormons fill in the rest of the building needs.

Oh well, at least you'll get to ref highlands to their championship!

Indeed, I have heard it is a very nice stadium. Looking forward to it.

Still waiting on schedules, so I have no idea which brackets I will be involved with. I'll be interested to see the west coast teams though, having refereed Xavier in their Territorial Final.

Dave, they do a lot of rugby there, so I am confident that the grounds crew will be well versed in changing the pitch from one sport to another.

In fact, if you look at the pictures here, you can see the rugby marking visible during a pro soccer match:
http://www.riotintostadium.com/stadium_images.php

 

[OB..]

http://www.riot into stadium.com/stadium_images.php

Not quite as good as powergenitalia however.

 

[ExHookah]

Not quite as good as powergenitalia however.

My mother also thought the stadium was named "Riot Into".

 

[Ian_Cook]

American rugby may well continue to rise if they can keep producing players like this!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBHjSnPfEyY

Ngwenya smokes Mike Phillips, Lee Byrne and Shane Williams, none of whom could be regarded as "slouches".

The only reason Williams is able to ankle tap him at the end is because he slowed down.

 

[barker14610]

This is an interesting article. I am assigned to a 7th/8th grade state championship on Sunday. As more kids enter the game we will only get better. We do have that Olympic gold medal to defend.


http://www.rugbymag.com/news/national-teams/men/eagle-squad-breakdown.aspx

 

[Davet]

Williams, "OK - see if you can do me on the outside, then?"

Williams, "Ah!"

 

[Not Kurt Weaver]

This is an interesting article. I am assigned to a 7th/8th grade state championship on Sunday. As more kids enter the game we will only get better. We do have that Olympic gold medal to defend.


http://www.rugbymag.com/news/national-teams/men/eagle-squad-breakdown.aspx

In the article above, Ngwenya was born in Zimbabwe (sp?) and is not listed as born overseas.

 

[scrumpox2]

One swallow doesn't make a summer ... and as long as these individuals pop up in positions outside the spine of the team, the sleeping giant will continue to get his zzzz's in.

EDIT - just spent 5 minutes looking at the IRB world ranking stats since 2003, and the line looks pretty bloody flat. On the rise? Well, since when? In 2003 the USA were ranked 14th with a score of 68.42, been slightly up and mostly down since then and currently 17th with 67.05.

It doesn't look like much progress to me.

 

[Wert Twacky]

Scrumpox2 - don't underestimate what having 7s in the Olympics will do for the sport stateside.