Grand Prix Entertainment sell NY franchise for $10 million

[Bruce Ross]

There's been talk in Septica of running a league of professional rugby clubs,

A rather neat coinage if it's yours, Lindommer. Or even if it's not.
.

 

[Lindommer]

It's mine. Having some difficulty trademarking it, though.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

There's been talk in Septica of running a league of professional rugby clubs, sometimes they confuse "league" with table, or competition. It's not perfectly clear to other rugby supporters if they know what they mean about the sport of rugby.

I haven't seen anything in US media about rugby league getting anything worthwhile up and running.

Another group of 'well heeled' individuals established a business entity in Delware earlier this year and are currently in talks with both the USAR and CRFU as to its establishment. As for RL, there's nothing of not in existence and I suspect they may have bought the organisation to use its banner.

The more I read of Tatham and Co. the less convinced I am becoming. Who knows but Melville recently tweeted that their talks were progressing very well.

 

[p.Tah]

I'm with you WCR, the more I read about Grand Prix etc the less convinced I am that this will get up.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

It sounds like a lot of hot air which is not untypical from Septica.

They seem very settled and comfortable with their Basketball, Gridiron, and Baseball with Ice Hockey as a mainstream fringe sport.

There are plenty of next big things happening each year over there like competitive Bass Fishing, lingerie football, soccer, lacrosse, Slamball, UFC/MMA depending on which TV/cable company is funding things.

While 7's rugby would be lumped in with those sports for a while any exposure in the US market would be good for the game.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

It sounds like a lot of hot air which is not untypical from Septica.

They seem very settled and comfortable with their Basketball, Gridiron, and Baseball with Ice Hockey as a mainstream fringe sport.

There are plenty of next big things happening each year over there like competitive Bass Fishing, lingerie football, soccer, lacrosse, Slamball, UFC/MMA depending on which TV/cable company is funding things.

While 7's rugby would be lumped in with those sports for a while any exposure in the US market would be good for the game.

I'm fairly comfortable that Rugby will in time find its feet in the US as while we hear more of the grand plans what we do not hear of is the strong youth work and high schools development that is going on. What distinguishes both Rugby and Lacrosse from the other 'next big things' you have mentioned is the efforts being made to grow the game organically.

I'd also wager that Soccer nd the MLS have effectively usurped Ice Hockey as their 'fringe' mainstream sports which goes to show this can change outside of their big 3.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Can you see a day when the US Colleges offer scholarships to up and coming schoolboys?

If this ever starts happening we could be in serious trouble, cause they stop at nothing to get the best.

 

[Empire]

Can you see a day when the US Colleges offer scholarships to up and coming schoolboys?

If this ever starts happening we could be in serious trouble, cause they stop at nothing to get the best.

They already are. We've had the pleasure of hosting a couple of guys from the states over the past few months. Great physiques, attitude - add in more coaching and you have a lot of potential.

Once the Olympics kicks in Rugby will kick on in the States. The lustre of gold is not to underestimated in the traditional Olympic superpowers.

 

[rugbyskier]

They already are. We've had the pleasure of hosting a couple of guys from the states over the past few months. Great physiques, attitude - add in more coaching and you have a lot of potential.

Once the Olympics kicks in Rugby will kick on in the States. The lustre of gold is not to underestimated in the traditional Olympic superpowers.

And remember, the United States is the reigning Olympic champion in rugby having won the gold medal the last time it was contested, in 1924 IIRC.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

I buggered up my previous post, changes in Bold below:

Can you see a day when the US Colleges offer scholarships to Australian up and coming schoolboys?

If this ever starts happening we could be in serious trouble, cause they stop at nothing to get the best.

ARU may need to rethink eligiblity criteria and development pathways for Men In Gold, Women in Gold, both in 7's and XV versions. I can't see our colleges being able to compete with what could be on offer from Septica. We are likely to lose these kids for up to 4 or 5 years while they attend university. Many will be tempted to stay over there.​

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Can you see a day when the US Colleges offer scholarships to up and coming schoolboys?

If this ever starts happening we could be in serious trouble, cause they stop at nothing to get the best.

They exist already actually but only among some smaller Colleges who either don't have or want to spend up to $100 million annually on a College Football program but for a fraction of the expense can relatively quickly develop a strong Rugby program but it's still a very recent development. That said, it's growing the necessary base needed and beginning to really eat into the traditional recruiting practices of perennial powerhouse Cal. As time passes and more and more smaller to medium sized schools adopt Varsity scholarship programs for Rugby it will force the larger established powers to follow suit. There are also a whole swathe of College's who offer financial assistance packages for students and such. So yes, I can a day actually not too far down the track where High School Rugby player's will have the option of chasing a Rugby based scholarship for College in the States. Will it ever each the levels of American Football? I seriously doubt that.

As for your query about whether or not Australian Schoolboys could be offered scholarship. I'd doubt it in the immediate future as the system is only really now establishing itself but I would say yes, there could be a distinct possibility of that occurring in say the next ten to 15 years where going to College to play Rugby on a 'full ride' could become an option for young Aus Schoolboys. I know that College Football programs are increasingly casting their attention toward our shores for talent for at lest ten years nw and you could also bet good money that any ambitious College Rugby Coach with a Varsity program with scholarships behind it wuld also be thinking similar thoughts.

It will force the ARU to get creative with there post Schoolboys development pathways but more importantly their junior and schools development to broaden the base as you are correct, that it would very tempting for a young Aus player to go over to the States for 3-4 years for essentially free. I have my thoughts on that subject. The only thing they currently have in their favour is the lack of professional playing options post College Rugby at present. However, that could change sooner than many would care to think. The rumours of a Pro league have teeth. I'm being drip fed information but the term "well heeled" and "could buy anyone" have been mentioned in regards to its backers and that both of the national Unions in North America are working closely alongside the IRB with this group to ensure it happens. The cards are being kept very close to their collective chests.

 

[Empire]

One boy from St Edmunds Canberra/ Easts was provided with one of these opportunities by an American College.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

One boy from St Edmunds Canberra/ Easts was provided with one of these opportunities by an American College.

Any idea as to which one? Would certainly be interested in learning how that came about. As far as I am aware active recruiting from outside of the US isn't commonplace, so that's interesting to note. Also, was it a scholarship or just the opportunity to play? There's a big difference in funding structures.

 

[Jets]

Tim Buchanan, former Reds Academy, went to Arizona State on exchange and was picked in the Collegiate All American Squad a few years ago.

Also the USA rugby site has a page that lists College rugby scholarships
http://www.usarugby.org/#cc=[Applic...81D59-12E3-9D39-067D-2EDE62A20634{{Tab:View}}

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Tim Buchanan, former Reds Academy, went to Arizona State on exchange and was picked in the Collegiate All American Squad a few years ago.

Also the USA rugby site has a page that lists College rugby scholarships
http://www.usarugby.org/#cc=[Application]\\Structure\\Content\\Brand Resource Center\\Content\\Home\\21D9415F-129C-3D1E-45B7-71078B463B81\\23181D59-12E3-9D39-067D-2EDE62A20634{{Tab:View}}

If you read more into them you'll find that most are at best partial 'scholarships' (see my reference to financial assistance in my response to Hugh, essentially the same thing) and/or are extremely limited in scope often only available to one or two individuals at any one time. What I am talking about is the establishment of Varsity programs with full time coaching,access to facilities and fully funded scholarships for player's across it's premier squad. At present their are only 4 that satisfy that criteria in the States. But, as I mentioned that list is slowly growing and some of the larger Universities that presently offer either partial scholarships or financial assistance can and hopefully will elevate their programs and introduce full scholarships in the near-ish future.

 

[p.Tah]

I wonder if more kids in Australia will take up rugby if they knew they could potentially get a US college scholarship.

I'd imagine there wouldn't be any young males left in NZ if scholarships were on offer!

My cousin received a golf scholarship to a US college. She had a brilliant time. It would be a great opportunity.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

I wonder if more kids in Australia will take up rugby if they knew they could potentially get a US college scholarship.

I'd imagine there wouldn't be any young males left in NZ if scholarships were on offer!

My cousin received a golf scholarship to a US college. She had a brilliant time. It would be a great opportunity.

Probably not but it certainly would make things interesting. Any recruiting would be minimal at least initially as most spots would be reserved for domestic students but as the pool of schools grow, it could become a viable option. I doubt there will ever be a day where we would have to seriously fear mass exodus by schoolboys to the US but at the very least it could see some transformation in the pathways involved.

 

[p.Tah]

Nice article on the growth of rugby in USA High Schools.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/ma...old_with_high_school_programs_west_of_boston/

 

[Richo]

A short regression to the issue of rugby league vs rugby union in North America.

In my experience (lived in Canada, spent a lot of time in the States), very few folks from that part of the world even know that rugby league exists. When they find out, they are usually quite confused and say something like, "Why don't they just play rugby?" Or, "Wait, is that Aussie rules?" Most, however, are well aware of rugby and frequently show some interest in the game. Can't imagine they'd give a flying fuck about SOO.

Hadn't thought of it before, but Lindo is probably spot-on about the "league" nomenclature.

Anyway. Carry on.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Goodness gracious look out - a million of them..FFS..

According to a study by the America's Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association, the fastest growing team sport from 2007 to 2009 was rugby.

And while participation again rose in 2010, there are now more than one million Americans playing the game that no one seems to understand.

Lucky no one seems to understand the game!

If only 10% had any clues that is still a rather large number of players in the gene pool.

Wasn't it Josef Stalin who said that "there was a certain quality in quantity"?