Arizona State University’s rugby program has announced a major agreement that could have far-reaching implications in how American rugby players pursue the game.

 

ASU Rugby is entering into a partnership with a Super Rugby professional team, the Brumbies out of Canberra. Dubbed the University of Canberra Brumbies (UC is their name sponsor), the team plays in the toughest pro league in the world with teams from Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.

 

The two organizations will form the USA Brumbies LLC, a rugby academy designed to use the Brumbies professional coaching infrastructure to help raise the level of players in the USA, and at the same time, help the Brumbies recruit athletes from farther afield.

 

The UC Brumbies usually recruit their players from academy systems in Australia. Now with a similar system planned for Arizona, both UC and ASU will be able to work together to develop and recruit rugby players.

 

“Rugby is a global sport and the rugby program helps to bring students from all over the world to ASU, which in turn spreads the word about ASU,” said Arizona State Head Coach Gary Lane. “Having rugby 7s as an Olympic sport means there are opportunities to showcase players and their talents on the worldwide stage. This global image fits very well into the strategic goals of ASU as a global university.”

 

For players in the USA, this development is huge, because it potentially offers a chance to train all week for most of the year with coaches from a major pro team. 

 

“We are now among a very select few schools that can offer a real and meaningful pathway to becoming a professional,” added Lane. “If an athlete is truly interested in playing at the highest level, then he should attend ASU and attend the Academy. Hopefully, we will become the conduit for top US players to link into the Super 16 teams.”

 

The athletes within the academy will be monitored and trained by top professionals, in essence training in the Brumbies program, but located in Arizona. 

 

“It will allow ASU Rugby to adopt practices that will change how we coach and how our players play the game,” added Lane. “Plus it allows our top players to be given opportunities of advancing their careers in rugby if they so choose.”

 

The UC Brumbies have launched commercial relationships in Japan and Papua New Guinea, and Commercial Academy Manager Nick Leah said this move is an exciting step forward.

 

“The Brumbies have been embarking on a program to commercialize their intellectual property for two years,” Leah said. “We have proprietary partnerships with both the Kubota Spears in Japan and also Papua New Guinea Rugby Union and the link between Brumbies and ASU Rugby is both a synergistic relationship and a natural extension of what we have already created elsewhere in the world. 

 

“We are excited about the prospect of expanding the relationship in the future and the potential of the first fee-for-service program in North America that is backed by a world class research institution in the University of Canberra and a world class rugby program in the Brumbies.”

 

Meanwhile, this program provides a unique opportunity for players at Arizona State, in that is creates a direct partnership between the college’s rugby program and one of the top pro rugby teams in the world.

 

The Brumbies are looking to develop young players, and also look for crossover athletes who might be able to make the switch to rugby.

 

Leah and Brumbies Head Coach Stephen Larkham - the former Brumbies and Australia superstar flyhalf - will tour the USA in September, conducting Advanced Coaching Courses and culminating in a selection camp at the ASU Tempe Campus on September 20.

 

Players who are interested in the September 20 camp or the Academy in general should email Kevin Elliott at kelliott@asurugby.com for more information.