Your Quick Guide to Rugby at the Pan-Am Games
Your Quick Guide to Rugby at the Pan-Am Games
Almost an afterthought, it seems, is the Pan-Am games, which kicks off its rugby competition in exactly one week.
In 2011, the Pan-Am Games welcomed back Rugby 7s as a competition - albeit men only that time - and the rugby tournament, won by Argentina, was one of the last of the event, allowing the rugby players to see Ricky Martin in person at the closing ceremonies.
This time, the Pan-Am Games open up with rugby, giving the players the chance to be in the opening ceremonies the day before competition.
And it remains a big deal - it’s the one Olympic-style event the USA rugby team has been able to play in preceding Rio 2016. And this time, the women and the men both get to compete, which makes it even better.
As expected, the USA men’s team did not select several players who have already logged a full World Series season. Most of those were not chosen because they are going to bounce right into 15s season for the USA. One or two others are injured, but the team that Mike Friday has picked includes only one player who hasn’t been capped at the 7s level, and that’s Army officer Ben Leatigaga. Every other player has played in World Series or NACRA competition, or both, and the lineup includes Carlin Isles and Perry Baker, who both made enormous contributions outside of their normal playing profile in helping the USA beat Canada to qualify for the 2016 Olympics.
On the men’s side, Canada has made the same selection choices. Like the USA, the Canadians retain their captain, John Moonlight in this case. And players such as Sean Duke, Mike Fuailefau, Nathan Hirayama, Harry Jones, Conor Trainor, and Sean White also return. But Canada Coach Liam Middleton has added some younger faces in there, too, and basically for the same reasons as the USA - some players are with the 15s team, and some need some time off.
Argentina has made similar changes, and what that all means is, the Pan-Am Games is completely for grabs on the men’s side.
On the women’s side, it’s a little different. Canada will suit up almost exactly the same team that won the final tournament of the 2014-15 season in Amsterdam. Only Mandy Marchak sits this out. The USA team has not been announced yet, but to get gold, will have to beat one of the best teams in the world. They will also have to contend with Brazil, who are no slouches, and an improving Argentina team.
Still, it would be fair to say that the Eagles are expected to bring back a medal from the women’s competition, ideally gold, but, following form this year, more likely silver.
And on the men’s side, Chile, Uruguay, and Brazil will bring their best teams and Guyana and Mexico are not weak. There could be a shakeup, what with the medaling squads from 2011 missing a few players. On current form, you’d think the USA was favored. But form is fleeting.
What will be needed by the Eagles men will be a matching of the physicality that won the NACRA 7s. And much of that responsibility will fall on the broad shoulders of Garrett Bender. With Danny Barrett off playing 15s, it will be Bender who must slam his hammer on the coal face. He will need Patrick Blair to match him. Without the brilliant Maka Unufe (who, just out of high school, led the 2011 Pan-Am games in tries), Martin Iosefo and Will Holder must take over the middle as attackers, defenders, and playmakers. Unufe’s defensive abilities can hardly be overstated.
And without Zack Test’s ability to finish and to win ball in the air, Brett Thompson comes to the fore, as does Leatigaga. Mike Te’o and Stephen Tomasin bring versatility and a grinder quality - sort of like if Andrew Durutalo was a halfback. But at halfback (Madison Hughes and Nate Augspurger), and wing (Isles and Baker), the Eagles have the guys they always have. That could link it all together.
So how will you see it all? Here’s how:
ESPN will show the opening ceremonies live at 7:30pm ET on July 10. This should be fun because you may well see the USA players there walking out with the flag.
(CBC will start coverage 7pmET)
ESPN Deportes will show the Pan-Am Games through most of July 11 (the first day of the rugby competition).
ESPN2 will begin coverage at 8pm ET on July 11.
If you live in or near Canada, CBC will be showing coverage all day 1pm-3:30pm and then 7pm-10pm. They most certainly will show at least some rugby.
On July 12, it’s more of the same. ESPN does not specifically say it will cover the rugby event, so 3pmET on ESPN Deportes or 8pm on ESPN2 could be your best bet.
CBC will only show the Pan-Am Games from 1pm-3pm on July 12 because it’s also the final day of the Calgary Stampede. But check out this link for replays.
