USA Rugby relocates Canton cup contest to Connecticut

[beige]

Due to inadequate capacity at Canton’s Irish Cultural Centre of New England, the Setanta Challenge Cup between the USA Eagles and Ireland’s Munster Rugby will now be played at Rentschler Field in Hartford, Conn.

USA Rugby, which had announced the local match-up just last month, said the cultural center’s field proved unable to accommodate the 10,000 seats needed for spectators or provide for television coverage.

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[thunderchicken9]

Good sign for U.S. rugby, it indicates interest is growing. The Eagles REALLY need more games against quality sides... sure we'll lose (like last year) but how else can we hope to improve? I for one really appreciate Munster coming over. Maybe it will lead to more clubs visiting....

[.X.]

Greetings ThunderChicken9 and welcome to the wide world of TWF - looking forward to any information you have about USA Rugby.

[thunderchicken9]

Thanks! I'll let ya know whatever I may find.. Disappointed that we didn't make the London 7s.. We definitely have made progress... Time will tell if progress = wins!

[beige]

Welcome aboard

I may as well pick your brains while I'm at it - how on earth has California managed to be college champs 24 times since 1980?

[thunderchicken9]

Thank you! I've wondered that myself, honestly. It is pretty stunning when you think about it. All I have is a half-baked opinion that may or may not be right: 1: Lack of competition (not so many college kids play rugby here), 2: Good coaching, plus support from school administration- a lot of schools simply won't spend any money on rugby- 3:Establishing such a good reputation that any good player wants to play for Cal, and 4: Cal is fortunate to be located in a rugby hot spot - Rugby gets more attention in the San Francisco area than in alot of other places around the country.
Only an opinion, but I hope it helps!

[TOCC]

interesting, i read a article the other day which mentioned that if rugby is admitted into the Olympics then USA Rugby will be elegible for a $30million grant or something from the US Olympic board. Thats only a vague recollection, cant remember where i saw the article, i think it might have being on here.

But that would be fantastic for Rugby USA if that does happen, a $30 million budget would put it up there with one of the better funded Unions in the world. Probably around 10th i would think.

[thunderchicken9]

I hope that happens! Funding at the collegiate level is a royal pain - American football and basketball are the only two sports that usually make money for a college - all the other sports depend on either those two or donations, fund raisers, etc. To complicate matters, by law, if a sport is offered to men, it (or an equivalent) must also be offered to women - so the cost to the college doubles. Not to mention American coaches,(especially football) who are fearful that they'll lose players to rugby. My local college is going through a little of this right now. Fresno RFC (Rally Fresno!!!) has made some progress on the campus, but its taken awhile to convince coaches that we're not trying to steal players - we just want to give all kids, regardless of talent, the chance to see and play rugby. We haven't even mentioned an intercollegiate team. Besides, Rugby SHOULD be an Olympic sport, right?

[beige]

There's a theory that rugby got kicked out of the Olympics when French fans rioted after the USA beat them for the gold medal in 1924

[thunderchicken9]

Well that wasn't very sporting was it? Wow. And think, that was the high point of rugby for the U.S.!

[.X.]

Its a fact of life - USA is the current Olympic Gold Medalist for Rugby Union. and if I recall - back to back - 1920 and 1924.

Thunderchicken9 If you get the urge feel free to tell us all you can about Fresno RFC, pics and video too.

[Burgs]

Amazing! A chook posting with content

Hey there thunderchicken, welcome aboard!
Was actually in Fresno back in March for a few days, interesting area.

Look forward to your US Rugby content as our our current token Yank, Larry, has got nuthin haha!

[JediKnight]

Look forward to your US Rugby content as our our current token Yank, Larry, has got nuthin haha!

That's a bit harsh, Larry has an unwaverable affection for CHEERLEADERS

Let's hope our new Yankie mate shares this wonderful trait.....

[LarryNJ]

Thanks Jedi! Burgs just doesn't get it.

Posted via Mobile Device

[thunderchicken9]

Thanks for the welcomes!!! Burgs, you were here at the right time, before the heat!!! What brought ya our way? I was lucky enough to spend a couple weeks in the Perth area a few years ago -loved it! Great hospitality - made this Californy kid feel right at home - Just read that the Eagles will play ASM Clermont Auvergne two weeks before Munster in South Carolina - it's a tough learning curve, but it's what we need! - Well that and lots of hot cheerleaders!!!!