USA Men's 7s Head Coach Mike Friday took issue with Goff Rugby Report's latest characterization of how the Golden Eagles fund the US national teams.

Friday, who is on half pay during the COVID-19 shutdown, said the Golden Eagles have been unfairly dragged into the debate on who has contributed to USA Rugby's significant financial woes. Friday said it wasn't fair to say that the Golden Eagles rubber-stamp any 7s MNT expenses, and added that he has to submit a budget and is held to that budget.

He also pointed out that the Golden Eagles have to step in, partly because World Rugby supports some national teams at a far higher level than it supports to the USA. 

The Golden Eagles funded the People's Academy program which helped teach USA players skills in communications and other skills that will stand them in good stead as they transition from playing professionally. Friday said he is also grooming current players to be high-level coaches.

"We're developing them not just as athletes, but as young men, and the Golden Eagles are helping us do that," Friday told Goff Rugby Report. The Golden Eagles, he added, "funded the sevens because we're in the front of the shop, both men and women—no membership dues goes to those teams. But they have also supported the HS All Americans, and the Under 20s, and the Collegiate All Americans because we need those programs.

"They aren't talking about it but they are doing a lot. I know USA Rugby has its troubles, but that's why I wanted to step in and say that the Golden Eagles are working very hard to support the national teams, and the members of USA Rugby want our national teams to do well."

While Friday is on half-pay, the rest of his staff has been laid off or furloughed. With some planning by Friday and others, the pay for the USA players was set up to be funded by the USOPC (US Olympic and Paralympic Committee), and so they are still training (alone) and being paid.

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