Men's 7s Team for Youth Olympics
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The United States Olympic Committee announced the 2014 U.S. Youth Olympic Team to compete at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games Monday, July 7.
Twelve men have been selected to represent the U.S. in China in Rugby Sevens, the first time the sport will feature at an Olympic Games since its inclusion on the Games Program in 2009. All players were born during 1996 or 1997.
Women 7s Team for Youth Olympics
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The United States Olympic Committee announced the 2014 U.S. Youth Olympic Team to compete at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games Monday, July 7.
Twelve women have been selected to represent the USA in China in Rugby Sevens, the first time the sport will feature at an Olympic Games since its inclusion on the Games Program in 2009. All players were born during 1996 or 1997.
Women World Cup Squad Named
BOULDER, Colo. -- The Women’s Eagles have been selected for the IRB Women’s Rugby World Cup 2014. In total, 26 players will have the chance to represent the U.S.A. in Paris for the prestigious tournament.
Additionally, four players will accompany the team to Paris as reserves.
“It has taken three years to get to this point and I am very excited about the squad,” said Pete Steinberg about his selections. “A lot of work has been put in to get us to where we are now.
“With only 26 players and five games in just over two weeks, the ability to play multiple positions was a factor in the selections.”
The representing players will now attempt to overcome a tough pool draw to accomplish the team motto: “Final in ‘14” – a feat that hasn’t been accomplished since 1994.
Did Eagle Women Show Us Something?
The performance of the USA Women’s National Team this past weekend, during which they pushed England 17-13, might be an indication that the Eagles should have high hopes for the Women’s Rugby World Cup in France this August, or it could be just one result among many.
Certainly it was encouraging, as England has challenged New Zealand as the top team in the world, and it’s seemed for some time that everyone else is playing for third.
But did the 17-13 score flatter the USA? Perhaps a little. The wind was a huge factor in the game, with the teams going against the breeze (USA in the first half and England in the second) spending long periods pinned in their own 22.
“We lost the kicking game in the first half,” said USA Head Coach Pete Steinberg. “The second half was a very strong performance by us and England struggled to get out of their half.”
Mike Tolkin Don't Read This
Posted on Facebook today are photos from this weekend when USA captain Todd Clever and fellow Eagle loose forward Scott LaValla ran with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain.
While USA Head Coach Mike Tolkin might not be totally psyched about this choice of recreation for two of his best players, clearly Clever (left) and LaValla (on the right) had a good time and didn't get gored by a bull, which is good news.
How the HSAA Team Gets Picked
I saw a comment on the selection of the High School All American team that intrigued me, in part because it’s a common criticism for these kinds of teams - how come you don’t have any players from (insert region or state here)?
Eagle Women Close Loss to England
SURREY, England – England scored three tries in the first 50 minutes and held on the beat the USA women's national team 17-13 Sunday at Surrey Sports Park.
The Eagles traveled from Wales earlier in the week after defeating Wales Women, 10-7, at Paddy Park. A four-period scrimmage against England was held behind closed doors on Wednesday, during which Head Coach Pete Steinberg evaluated several players.
In that scrimmage, they didn't even keep score, but they kept score on Sunday, and the Eagles got into trouble early. They weathered that storm, and had a shot at taking an early lead, however, flyhalf Kimber Rozier’s penalty attempt from 35 meters fell victim of the stiff wind and was pushed wide.
Thompson to Edinburgh
USA star Brett Thompson is leaving the USA 7s program and USA shores to play for the Edinburgh pro rugby club in the RaboDirect 12 in Scotland.
Thompson first garnered notice as an international rugby player a little over a year ago in Scotland, when he went on a try-scoring tear at the Glasgow 7s. He quickly became one of the top players on the USA 7s team. He was called to the USA 15s team, but didn't get any playing time until the USA v Canada game June 21. Thompson started on the left wing in that game, made a few plays in a quiet 50 minutes or so, and then shot to the top of everyone's mind when he scored the game-winning try.
He followed that up with a try-saving, and thus game-saving, tackle later on.
USA 7s Team Adds Brown as Assistant
USA Rugby announced Sunday that former Kenya 7s assistant Chris Brown has joined the USA 7s team at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif.
Brown will be an assistant coach of the USA men's 7s team. During his tenure with Kenya, he helped the team to its best ever finish in the IRB Sevens World Series.
Brown's job description includes:
• Deliver a high performance strength and conditioning program equal to any other core nation on the Sevens circuit, including travel and tournament protocols, regeneration and nutrition.
• Lead the fundamental skill development of core rugby skills at the OTC outside of camps and tournaments.
• Serve as lead sevens kicking coach.
• Mentor and develop sevens-specific strength and conditioning coaches.
• Deliver educational workshops on aspects of strength and conditioning and skill development.
Whiting Looks to HSAA Tour
The High School All American boys team that is going to Argentina is in for a treat, as Italy is also touring at the same time, allowing for a nice four-team series between the USA, Uruguay, Argentina, and Italy.
For the America players, they get to warm up against Cordoba Academy before playing the three U18 national teams.
“Three tests against three good teams is always a bit nerve-wracking,” said United HS and HSAA center Calvin Whiting. “There’s always a little bit of anxiety, but I like the challenge that it brings and I feel like every year we get better.”
HSAA Team Set for South America
USA Rugby announcement.
The USA Rugby Boys High School All-American Argentina-bound squad, sponsored by Aircraft Charter Solutions, has been confirmed. Thirteen players of the 30-man roster return to Argentina with a mission to close the gap on the dominant rugby nation in the Americas.
The front row returns Steven Branham and Suwaiter Poch at hooker and Jesus Arias at loose-head while Jack Iscaro, Derise Fuga and Connor Cudeback make their debuts. Branham is on his fourth tour, having played junior varsity for the past two seasons and Argentina last summer. Poch is also experienced at HSAA sevens and 15s.
Inside the 22: How Convenient
Inside the 22 is an opinion column by Alex Goff that makes a statement in 22 words or less. (Photo Martin Seras Lima).
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Is it coincidental that the minute Matt Hawkins leaves as Eagles 7s coach, Carlin Isles quits Glasgow and is back stateside?
Friday Out of 7s Coach Contention?
Speculation that Mike Friday would be the new USA Men's 7s team coach have been well and truly scuppered with the announcement that Friday has taken the job of Director of Rugby for London Scottish.
Eagle Women Run-Out v England
The USA Women's National Team played what was essentially a training scrimmage against England Wednesday, using all of their subs and using the game as a learning experience before Saturday's full test match between the two countries.
England and the USA have a long rivalry in women's rugby, dating back to the 1991 World Cup Final, won by the USA, and the 1994 World Cup Final, won by England. But with the growth of semi-pro women's rugby in England, the Roses have pulled away in recent years.
England now challenges New Zealand for supremacy in world rugby, and those two remain at the top. So playing England, and learning from those games, is crucial if the USA is to get back to being among the very best in the world, as opposed to just one of the top six or seven.
Faith in Players Sparked Win - Clever
Todd Clever does actually remember what it was like to beat Canada, having been on the team in 2009 that defeated the Maple Leafs, and having been on the team in 2005 that be a them, also.
He knows also that sometimes on paper the USA really looks the stronger team, and yet it doesn't happen.
"We have had some opportunities to beat them, but this is a huge rivalry, and it's the sort of thing where a bounce of the ball, a good play on their side, or a mistake on our part, has made the difference," Clever told Goff Rugby Report. "We made mistakes in this game, too. We gave up a couple of soft tries, but you have to kind of forget those and just get the job done. I think that's what the difference was for us [June 21]. We've all made mistakes. I'm not the kind of guy who will come down really hard on a guy because he made a mistake."
