Will the US ever field a competitive rugby team?

Question

Will the US ever field a competitive rugby team?

Answer 1

They have one right now. They played good rugby at the World Cup

Answer 2

Never ever.

Answer 3

Not until it becomes a bigger sport in high school and college

Answer 4

I think eventually it will. USA Rugby has good people in charge and rugby is a very fast growing sport in America. I agree that it has to become bigger in high school and college, but that will come. What USA Rugby should do is try and get a World Cup played here. In 1994 it did amazing things for football and eventually the creation of MLS. I think another thing that would be good for the game in America is to get some of the matches on ESPN or ESPN2. Also, we need to get more exposure for the Super League or the creation of a solid terminal league that is marketed better. As a "Yank" I feel that we as rugby players/fans/etc. need a "Lamar Hunt" to back a league as he did with football. A little grassroots campaigns would not hurt. Also, our Sevens is competitve.

Answer 5

The great news is that New Zealand has just formed an association with the U.S. union.     Much to the delight of the US 7's team, that is here in NZ for the tournament this weekend, they are rapt.    This offer is extended to all levels of American rugby and it has been mentioned that in approx 18 months there's a possibility that the NZ All Blacks will play Ireland at the NY Giant stadium in N.Y.

Answer 6

Yes, when USA Rugby pulls its head out of it's rearend. They rely solely on power players, which is great for the pack, but is awful for the backs. We need skill guys out there and while hercus is a decent flyhalf, he can't shoulder the load himself.

And the over reliance on polynesian players needs to stop. They are good players, but even their home countries for tonga, samoa and fiji aren't fielding overly competitive sides.

Answer 7

Yes. As in soccer, the team will have to come first  and be competitive, then the people will follow. There is a surprisingly large rugby support base in the US, and most are US players, most towns have a club close by.

No , it won't be a crowd gatherer like the big sports in the country but it has  a lot of potential.

Answer 8

USA Rugby will eventually be very competitive on the world circuit.  We have very strong club teams in the states (OMBAC)  and the sport is growing in the high schools and colleges.  The stumbling block in the high schools, despite USA Rugby's best efforts, are the school districts and their misguided fears of injuries.



The big problem is funding..in Europe there are professional leagues and the players are paid, here in the U.S. the idea was tried and failed so, you expect the National team players to practice and play for free.... we're improving but, there is a long way to go.

Answer 9

Yes, with the Samoan/Tongan residents, they can make a strong team; as New Zealand has done. If USA, along with Canada, are able to become competitive with Argentina, then they can form a tri-nations competition and they would surely improve.

Answer 10

A dude fit enough for rugby would try out gridiron, hoping to win money...

But if they did, I have no doubts they would be in the first 15 teams...

Answer 11

i saw them play munster they had quite a good team and in the rugby world cup they did well vs teams with alot more experience i think the game will grow slowly just like soccer

Answer 12

nope, not while american football still exists

Answer 13

FYI- the USA won the last 2 olympic gold medals in rugby in 1920 and 1924.  France won silver

Yes i think we are well on our way to being very comeptiive.  even thought the Eagles did not win a game RWC 2007, they kept teams from getting bonus points and had some very significant plays.  rugby is become more popular here. i cant imagine having the opportunities that the high school and college players have these days.  i see tons of growth in the past 15 years that ive been playing!  really, no one knew about rugby before they came to college 15 years ago.  now, youth and high school programs are even growing in the south!!  get involved!

Answer 14

The team sent to last years RWC was not really a bad team. They played some good footy, and certainly looked competitive against the Poms.

Edit: Mars man,  NZ hasn't made a strong team with Samoan / Tongan residents, we are all Kiwis. In fact 13 of the Samoans in the last Samoan WRC team were born in . . . Auckland, that's pretty far fro Apia, hey bro? Perhaps Ma nu Samoa has made a strong team from NZ residents?

Like your idea about a second tri-nations, those three countries should fully get together.

Answer 15

its got the people to make a competitive team in time

they wernt that far of from qualification for the 2008 rugby league world cup

i am sure that with more interest and more people playing and watching they will get there but it will take time