Italy Wins Cuatro Naciones M18Italy's U18s defeated the Argentina U18s 29-19 Saturday in Rio Cuarto to finish 3-0 and win the inaugural Cuatro Naciones of rugby. This was a little bit of a shock, as Argentina had produced slightly more impressive results in the first two games, against Uruguay and the USA, respectively.
Argentina U18 Captain Gives Age-Grade ComparisonOn behalf of Goff Rugby Report, Agustin Oulton of Varsity Travel interviewed Argentina U18 captain Patricio Baronio as his team prepares to face Italy in what has turned out to be the championship game of the Rugby 4 Naciones M18 in Rio Cuarto, Argentina. Born in 1996, Baronio has played since he was four years old, and currently plays with the Jockey Club de Rosario. A scrumhalf Baronio acknowledges that he is actually the second-best scrumhalf in his age group, as the #1 is playing for the Argentina U20 team. Working his way into the U18 is a tough job.
1000 Players for Atlantis Program
This past weekend at Surfside Sevens, Atlantis Rugby will put their 1000th player on the field. To mark the occasion, Emil Signes provided a list of players he has worked with (this includes the guy running the Surfside Sevens, Stephen Siano), and some recollections from the last 28 years of Atlantis Rugby.
Cynthia Wright joined Atlantis on their tour to Spain earlier this year, and she became player #999. This past weekend, Liam Boyle stepped on as #1000, and Jack Bradfield began the journey to the next thousand as #1001.
Signes, a true gem in American 7s rugby, gives his thoughts on some of the 1001 players:
IT ALL STARTED IN 1986 AND SIX BECAME EAGLES:
5 Bill "Hoover" Downing, Bethlehem,
7 Pete Peluso, Bethlehem,
24 Steve Siano, Phila-Whitemarsh,
31 Chris Petrakes, MOB,
34 Scott Stephens, Washington, and
41 Paul Sheehy, Washington.
All Signed for Lawrenson
Kutztown All American Mike Lawrenson, who announced almost three weeks ago that he was joining Counties Manakau Steelers in New Zealand's ITM Cup, has officially signed with the team and has joined them in South Auckland.
Lawrenson, who led Kutztown to one of its best seasons ever, has committed himself to pushing for a place with the USA National Team. He was scouted by Steelers Coach Tana Umaga while playing at the CRC in June.
Seattle, New York Get World Club 7s Schedule
The schedule for the World Club 7s is out with the New York and Seattle teams included.
New York returns to the tournament because they won the Pate in 2013. Seattle entered because that team won the Elite City 7s in Houston in June.
New York is in Pool B along with RC Enisei out of Siberia in Russia, DHL Western Province out of South Africa, and the winner of the Aviva Premiership 7s tournament to be finalized August 8.
Seattle is in Pool C along with Kuban Krasnodar of Russia, New Zealand's Auckland, and the New South Wales Waratahs out of Australia in what has to be the Pool of Death.
In Pool B will be Gloucester (England), Vodacom Blue Bulls (South Africa), Cardiff Blues (Wales), and Buenos Aires (Argentina).
Tracking Overseas Pros
Current USA prop and former Jesuit HS and Cal player Eric Fry has moved up a division in the pro leagues in England, switching from London Scottish in the Greene King IPA Championship's London Scottish to the Aviva Premiership's Newcastle.
The addition of Fry puts the number of USA players on contract in the Premiership at seven, with Thretton Palamo on a trial with Saracens potentially making it eight if he stays on.
New USA 7s team Head Coach Mike Friday said Scottish was sad to see Fry go, but added that this was how the process works - "we worked to develop him as a player and then he moves on, and we're happy for him."
Civetta Signs with Viadana
Former Notre Dame All American Nick Civetta has signed with Viadana in Italy’s top pro rugby competition, the Eccellenza.
Civetta played his first pro season last year, starting virtually every game at lock for Lazio 1927. Civetta was a solid contributor to Lazio and helped pull them out of relegation contention and up to 8th in the 11-team league. But singing with Viadana is an upgrade for the 6-8 Civetta, as his new club is coming off an 11-8-1 season where they made the Eccellenza semifinals.
“I think it’s going to be good, a very professional club,” Civetta told Goff Rugby Report.
Civetta said he is settling down to life in Italy, despite the shift from Rome to the Northern part of the country. He is starting to get better at the language, too.
USA Will Need All of Eagles v All Blacks Gate
The USA v New Zealand test match looks set to be a massive financial windfall for USA Rugby.
tickets sales have topped 40,000 and are expected to go above 50,000 before kickoff November 1 at Soldier Field in Chicago. This game was a bit of a risk for USA Rugby, but it appears, at present, to have paid off with easily the biggest paying crowd at an American rugby event.
With tickets starting at $30, it’s like that USA Rugby will gross at least $2 million (although that is blatant speculation).
Work to do for Latham, USA Rugby Board
Some things you might not know about Bob Latham:
He’s a top media lawyer from Dallas.
He was a longtime wing and flyhalf for the Dallas Harlequins.
He writes regularly about sports, and has written a book, Winners & Losers.
He was for years not only the rugby representative to the US Olympic Committee, but the representative for all of the emerging sports.
He was influential in getting rugby to be accepted as an Olympic Sport.
And … he’s the new USA Rugby Chairman after Kevin Roberts reached his term limit.
That last bit of news might have eluded you, and perhaps the importance of the position might elude you, too.
But Latham’s election is significant for several reasons, not least of which is, he’s not the previous guy, Roberts.
Edinburgh Coach Welcomes Thompson
Edinburgh Rugby Head Coach and former USA Rugby HP Director Alan Solomons officially welcomed USA wing Brett Thompson to the RaboDirect 12 pro club Tuesday.
With a knee injury ruling Tom Brown out until October, and Tim Visser and Dougie Fife primed for international duty in the autumn and spring, Solomons has sought to deepen the club's wing reserves. Goff Rugby Report wrote on the signing earlier this week.
Column - JWC Shows Future of the Game
During the June test window just completed, the heavyweights of international rugby clashed in the southern hemisphere. As usual, the home sides prevailed.
Fiji Book RWC Spot
iji has qualified for Rugby World Cup 2015 after defeating Cook Islands 108-6 in the decisive Oceania qualifier in Lautoka on Saturday.
Fiji join hosts England, Australia, Wales and the yet to be determined Repechage winner in Pool A, and will have the honour of playing England at Twickenham in the opening match of the tournament on 18 September.
With the qualifier coinciding with the global Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour, excitement was at fever pitch for the match, which Fiji were firm favourites to win.
Surprisingly, the Cook Islands led 6-5 after nearly half an hour of play. Fiji full back Metuisela Talebula had crossed for a very early try after a minute but Cooks replied with some determined play and pressure in the Fiji 22 that led to two penalty goals from the boot of fly half Sam Vaevae.
Kenya Surprise Winners Over Namibia in RWCQ
Kenya took a big step towards qualifying for their first-ever Rugby World Cup with an impressive 29-22 victory over Namibia in the opening round of Confederation Africaine de Rugby Division 1A matches in Antananarivo, Madagascar on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe's England 2015 ambitions remain on track after defeating hosts Madagascar 57-22 in front of a capacity crowd in the Rugby-mad capital.
Zimbabwe have not featured at Rugby's showcase event since 1991, but were in blistering form against their opponents to steal an early lead in the event standings.
While Namibia and Madagascar have work to do if they are to secure qualification, with two rounds to go and the action both open and exciting, there is plenty of time to stake a claim.
Latham Appointed USA Rugby Chairman BOULDER, Colo. – Bob Latham has been appointed chairman of USA Rugby, USA Rugby announced Tuesday. Rob King was renewed as a member of the USA Rugby Board of Directors, while Robert Kimmit takes the position on the Board vacated by previous chairman Kevin Roberts. Former USA Eagle Pam Kosanke will serve as International Athlete replacing Beth Black. Will Chang was also appointed chairman of the Executive Committee. Latham, who held the position prior to Kevin Roberts’ eight-year term, is one of the longest-serving members on the Board of Directors.
Niua Leaves Glasgow
USA international Folau Niua has left the Glasgow Warriors.
Niua, who originally played with East Palo Alto and also with San Francisco Golden Gate, joined the Warriors this past winter alongside USA 7s team star Carlin Isles. The 29-year-old center arrived in February on a short-term contract until the end of the season and was part of the Glasgow squad which won the Melrose 7s in April. He made one appearance in the RaboDirect PRO12, when he came on as a substitute in the defeat to the Dragons at Rodney Parade.
