Just out of curiosity has anyone on the forum personally or had any friends play any Rugby in the US ? And if yes what clubs? Curious to hear about the club competition over there and the standard, and how far they may be off from having a fully professional competition? Seems like there are plenty of Aussies over there or that have been over there
I was born and raised here but was in the US for a long time. Happy days.
Played for, among others, San Francisco Golden Gate for nearly 10 years (2000-2009) during the early halcyon days of the Rugby Super League. The quality was very good to be honest.
As a marker in terms of quality - i'd say it was a handy / mid range 1st Grade D1 level here in NSW Subbies.
As a further indicator, I'm back now, i'm 38 years old and still playing in D1 Subbies.
NorCal Rugby is where its at - a lot of imports initially but that has changed dramatically over the last few years.
USA Rugby truly is the "Sleeping Giant". It just depends on when - or if at all - it wakes up.
Its home to a huge population base and could have access to some really amazing athletes, the key is as always, getting Rugby balls in the hands of kids rather than the norm - which is usually not until college.
It also has 2 other HUGE elephant in the rooms barriers.
1/ America is a litigious society - there will always be an over riding fear for Americans in allowing their young kids (and I'm talking 7/8/9 years olds) play Rugby as its perceived as a violent game. They will however let those same kids play Pop Warner Football - which is much more dangerous. Rugby is thought of as dangerous and as such if those kids get hurt i'm suing your ass. Go figure.
2/ Rugby is a flowing game - for the most part - scrum resets aside. But my thoughts on how to fix that should be on another thread. (Let's just say I'm a flyhalf - and the believe the forwards should just go and stand over the corner at set piece time, lean on each other and stay out of the way)
Because it flows there is very little time during a telecast - aside from half time - to put in your 30 second Doritos or Budweiser commercial. Less advertising $ makes it harder to sell to TV networks which in tunr carry the game to a wider audience.
Get around these barriers (and get younger kids to play the game more frequently) and they have a shot.
Everything changed for US Soccer during the late 80's - early 90's.
So called "Soccer Mom's" were the catalyst for Bill Clinton and the Democrats victory in 92'.
These Soccer Mom's started having their young Children - (7/8/9 year olds) play Soccer as their first sport of choice - and consequently - 20 years later - the US Soccer team has until recently been in the top 10 in the world. (now 13th - still 2 places ahead of England - of which Soccer is their national pastime)
Don't poke the Giant.
