usa eagles v canada rugby program

8/12/2019 USA Eagles v Canada Rugby Program

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Letter from the President 2

United States Roster 6-7

Canada Roster 9-10

A Look at U.S. Venues Since 2001 13-17

Til the Motor Stops 20-22

An American Sporting Experience 27-29


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It gives me great pleasure to welcome our friends from Rugby Canad

Sacramento for this weekends Pacic Nations Cup encounter, an impant game for both teams who have been narrowly beaten by both S

land and Japan in recent weeks. It is also our pleasure to be hosting game in Sacramento, a new venue for international rugby and a rugbybed for our youth, high school and college teams. A couple of years a

had the pleasure of attending the annual Kick O tournament, a wonful event that showcases the reasons that USA Rugby have dedicated

much eort to developing youth rugby across America.

Todays game is also important for three of the Eagles players, Eric

Blaine Scully, and Louis Stanll, returning to their home town as Ea

and playing in front of their families and friends three great ambassadfor the game, role models and heroes to the local youth rugby players who a aspire to be future Eagles.

This week I attended meetings in New York and was amazed to see how many people were following the SocWorld Cup. In the USA, 19 million Americans watched the USA v Ghana game on TV, as opposed to just six milloni w

watched the Stanley Cup nal last Friday evening. The good news for rugby is that whilst we are a few years behthe development of the game of soccer in the USA, recent sell out crowds in both Canada and the USA suggest tthere is growing interest in the game and that we have a bright future ahead of us.

Speaking of World Cups, the 2015 Rugby World Cup (the third most-watched sporting event in the world) kicks ojust over 15 months time. Todays game is important for the players and their coaches as they start to develop t

squads for England. One of the true motivating factors in sport is competition for places and there is no doubt tCanada and the USA have plenty of exciting emerging talent on show today.

To the local organizers who have worked with our events team to make this event happen: a huge thank you. Twelcome for the teams has been fantastic and your passion for the game has been a highlight of the week.

Finally, I would like to thank the fans that will make todays game both a sell out and a great atmosphere, I am sthe game will be as competitive as it always is, and I hope you enjoy the experience and continue to support

Eagles on their road to the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

Go Eagles!

Nigel Melville

CEO and President of Rugby OperationsUSA Rugby

PRESIDENTLETTER FROM THE


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NICKWALLACE

10/16/1989 Bellingham, WALoosehead

Prop@NICKtheWALLa

PHILTHIEL

10/28/198 4 Traverse City, MI Hooker @PhillipThiel

OLIVEKILIFI

9/28/1986 Seattle, WATighthead

Prop

SAMUMANOA

3/5/1985 Concord, CA Lock @Blockmonstah

HAYDEN

SMITH 4/10/1985 Sydney, AUS Lock @Hayden_Smit

TODDCLEVER C

1/16/1983 Palm Springs, CAOpenside

Flanker@ToddsClever

SCOTTLAVALLA

4/4/1988 Olympia, WA Lock

DANNYBARRETT

3/23/1990 Pacica, CABlindsideFlanker

@bookemshaaaie

MIKEPETRI

8/15/1984 Brooklyn, NY Scrum-Half

SHALOMSUNIULA

6/4/1988 Auckland, NZL Fly-Half @ShalomSuniul

BRETTTHOMPSON

8/16/1990 Tempe, AZ Wing @Brett024


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THRETTONPALAMO

9/22/198 8 Woodland, CA Center

SEAMUSKELLY

5/30/1991 Queens, NY Inside Center

BLAINESCULLY

2/29/1988 Sacramento, CA Wing @blainescully1

CHRISWYLES

9/13/1983 Stamford, CT Full-Back @ChrisWyles

THOMASCOOLICAN 8/26/1988 Cleveland, OH Hooker

ERICFRY

10/16/1989 Bellingham, WA Prop @NICKtheWALLa

TITI LAMOSITELE

2/10/1995 Bellingham, WA Prop @titilamo

LOUISSTANFILL

8/28/1980 San Diego, CA Lock @sole_uso

KYLESUMSION

3/23/1990 Pacica, CA Wing@bookemshaaa

ie

FOLAUNIUA

1/2/198 5 East Palo Alto, CA Center

CHADLONDON

1/27/1985 East Palo Alto, CA Center

LUKEHUME

1/26/1998 New York, NY Wing@Luke_Hume_

Rugby


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ANDREWTIEDEMANN

7/21/1988 Prairie Wolf Pack LH Prop -

AARONCARPENTER

1/9/1983 Cornish Pirates Hooker/#8 @Carpatron

JAKEILNICKI

2/24/1992 BC Bears TH Prop @Ilnix

JAMIECUDMORE

9/6/1978 ASM Clermont 2nd Row @JNCudmore

TYLERHOTSON

5/30/1985 London Scottish 2nd Row @TylerHotson

JEBBSINCLAIR

8/4/1986 London Irish2nd Row/

Flanker@jebbsinclair

JOHNMOONLIGHT

7/1/1983 Ontario Blues Flanker@jmoon-

light12

TYLERARDRON

C

6/16/1991 Ospreys #8/Flanker @tyardron

PHILMACK

9/18/1985 BC Bears Scrum-half @philly-

mack07

HARRYJONES

8/25/1985 BC Bears #10/Centre @JonesHarry3

DTHVAN DER

MERWE

4/27/1982 Glasgow Warriors Wing /Centre @DTHVDM


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CONNORBRAID

5/31/1990 BC Bears #10/Centre @connorbra

CIARANHEARN

12/29/1985 Atlantic Rock Centre @Hearnia9

JEFFHASSLER

8/21/1991 Ospreys Winger @Je_Hass

JAMESPRITCHARD

7/21/1979 Bedford Blues Fullback@

JPritchard_

HUBERTBUYDENS

1/1/1982 Manawatu Turbos LH Prop -

RAYBARKWILL

8/26/1980 Ontario Blues Hooker/#8@RayBark-

will2

JASONMARSHALL

2/5/1985 Stade Rochelais TH Prop@Jason_Ma

shall_

JONPHELAN

1/20/1986 Doncaster Knights 2nd Row -

KYLEGILMOUR

1/26/1988 Prairie Wolf Pack Back-row @GilmourKy

GORDONMCRORIE

5/12/1988 Prairie Wolf Pack Scrum-half @GordyM-

crorie

NATHANHIRAYAMA

3/23/1988 BC Bears #10/Fullback@NHiraya-

ma10

NICKBLEVINS

11/11/1988 Prairie Wolf Pack Centre -


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BOULDER, Colo. Since 2001, 10 states have hosted aMens or Womens Eagles international rugby match.

In the one-year time span rom July 2013 to July 2014,a total o 11 international rugby events will have beenheld across six states, excluding the USA Sevens andAtlanta 7s events in Nevada and Georgia, respectively.

Lets take a look at where the Eagles have been since the turn othe millennium.

2001The British Invasion hit San Francisco, Cali., in 1966 when TheBeatles played their inal concert at Candlestick Park. Thirty-three

years later, England again came knocking at the West Coastsdoorstep.Coming off o a Quarterinal exit at the IRB Rugby World Cup 1999,

England traveled to North America or two tests against Canadaand one against the Eagles at Boxer Stadium in San Francisco June16. Boxer Stadium had been the unofficial home o the Eagles rom1996 to 2000, hosting 12 o 17 matches beore the record, 106-8loss to England.

The Eagles were then visited by South Arica, who deeated the AllBlacks in the World Cup Third-Place Match in 1999. The Springboks

won one o three matches in Europe beore they headed toHouston, Texas, or a Dec. 1 match at Robertson Stadium. Though

the Eagles played a New Zealand select side in 1980 ina record 14,000-plus crowd, the test against South Aric

official record with more than 13,000 ans in attendance.

2002The Eagles stretch o matches against Tier 1 nations contthe summer o 2002 when they returned to San Franciscat Boxer Stadium or a June 22 match against Scotland23 loss was the Eagles third consecutive deeat, and it didbetter in the Windy City.

Rockne Stadium was the destination o choice or thwhen playing in Chicago. July 13, 2002, marked the ou

international rugby was played on the Rockne pitch. Theagainst Canada, was one o six the Eagles played as paqualiication process or the IRB Rugby World Cup 2003. Thlost their irst match to Canada in Markham, Ontario, and second in Chicago. It was the last time Rockne Stadiuminternational rugby match.

Pool play continued in Salt Lake City, Utah, as the EagleChile Aug. 10 at Murray Park Stadium, which would go onthe IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy in 2012. The Eagles endive-match losing streak with the win against Chile and anoagainst Uruguay at Boxer Stadium.

2003

A LOOK AT U.S. VEnues SINCE 20012001-2014


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Qualiication eluded the Eagles, however, as two losses in SouthAmerica cemented a 2-0-4 record and third place in the pool. TheEagles moved to the Repechage and thrashed Spain, 62-13, in theirst leg April 12 in Madrid. The second leg was held at LockhartStadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., April 27. Just a ew monthsearlier, the only tenant o Lockhart Stadium Miami Fusion FC was contracted by Major League Soccer, giving the Eagles a pitchree o wear and tear. They took advantage and secured World Cupqualiication with a 58-13 win.

The Eagles extended their home winning streak to our in the last

match played at Boxer Stadium May 17. The Eagles scored 11 triesn a 69-27 win.

2004Fiji, France, and Scotland were each too much or the Eagles inPool B at the World Cup, with a sole win against Japan not enoughto reach the Quarterinals. France toured North America and wonthe rematch against the Eagles July 3 at Dillon Stadium in Hartord,Conn. It was the only home match o the season and drew nearly6,000 ans.

2005Another one-and-done home match was held at Dillon StadiumJune 4, the irst time the Eagles had played Wales since 2000 inCardiff. More than 8,000 ans witnessed Wales extend its unbeatenrun against the U.S. to six matches with a 77-3 victory.

2006USA Rugby and Rugby Canada joint-hosted the 2006 Churchill Cupn June, with the Eagles playing their matches against Ireland A

and the New Zealand Mori in Santa Clara.

Buck Shaw Stadium opened in 1962 as a multipurpose acility,hosting baseball, ootball, and soccer events beore renovations in2005 made it a soccer-speciic stadium or Santa Clara University

and the San Jose Earthquakes, who would re-enter the2008.

The Eagles did not ind much solace in the act Brazil had ustadium to prepare or its 1994 FIFA World Cup win, as twoin pool play placed the Eagles in the ifh-place match Canada.

The only win or the Eagles on the Buck Shaw Stadiucame less than a month later when they hosted BarbadoIRB Rugby World Cup 2007 Qualiier. It was a record victoryseven Eagles combined or 13 tries in the 91-0 win.The Eagles did not qualiy or the World Cup due to Csuperior record and point differential in the qualiying pothey had another shot at it with a two-leg series against UA 42-13 win in Montevideo gave the Eagles breathing roomsecond leg at Stanord University Oct. 7, and Paul Emericktwo tries to secure qualiication or the Eagles.

2008Less than two years afer its grand opening, the ChicagToyota Park hosted the three Finals matches o the 2008 CCup, including the Eagles loss to Canada in the Bowl Fina

Rio Tinto Stadium, another soccer-speciic acility usedMLS Real Salt Lake, hosted the Eagles only home matcNovember window against Uruguay one month afer itits irst MLS match. Though only 5,000 ans attended theat Utahs sel-proclaimed Home o Rugby, which seats 2was the largest crowd to witness the Eagles play Los Ter

2014. The stadium in Sandy went on to host USA Rugbys National Championships or several years.


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2009The Eagles hosted two Tier 1 nations in the summer o 2009. Tenthousand ans witnessed a close match between the Eagles andIreland May 31 in the last international test held at Buck ShawStadium in Santa Clara beore Wales visited Toyota Park in Chicagoa week later.

USA Rugby ound use in another MLS stadium in Dicks SportingGoods Park in Commerce City, Colo., or the 2009 Churchill Cupin June. It was the irst time all matches o the tournament hadbeen held solely in the United States, with Ininity Park at Glendalehosting the pool matches and Dicks Sporting Goods Park hostingthe Finals.

The Eagles played non-test matches against the Argentina Jaguarsand England Saxons at Glendales 5,000-seat rugby stadium, theirst o many matches at Ininity Park. Georgia awaited the Eaglesin the Bowl Final in Commerce City, and Colin Hawley scored a tryin his irst capped match or the Eagles to aid a 31-13 victory. The

Eagles had gone three years without a trophy in the ChurcThe ive summer matches served as preparation or theWorld Cup-qualiying campaign, which went through once again. The Eagles hosted the irst leg o the Qualiiat Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston, S.C. The stadium is USL Pros Charleston Battery, who modeled the stadiumEnglish ootball experience complete with a built-in pub.

Ten years afer the stadium opened, the Eagles celebrourth o July with a 12-6 victory against the Maple Leastime a victory against the neighbors to the north was aDespite the irst leg advantage, however, Canada earAmericas 1 qualiying spot in New Zealand with a 41-1Edmonton, Alberta.

The Eagles November window was reserved or theirattempt at qualiication, and what better place to play in Nothan Florida? Broward County Park in Lauderhill took ovehosting duties rom Lockhart Stadium, which was inha

Miami FC that year.


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Estadio Charrua in Montevideo hosted a 27-22, irst-leg win or theEagles beore the return trip to Florida. The Eagles improved to 2-0all-time in the Sunshine State and qualiied or World Cup 2011with a 27-6 win in ront o more than 2,000 ans.

2010Ininity Park again hosted the Churchill Cup in 2010, but just thepool matches between Canada, France A, and Uruguay (Pool A)and England Saxons, Russia, and the Eagles (Pool B). The Eaglesdeeated Russia in their opening pool match, their only ull test othe competition, beore alling to England Saxons a week beorethe Finals at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J.

Red Bull Arena, constructed or the New York Red Bulls o the MLS,opened earlier in the year and was made available because o theMLS break or the World Cup. France A took the Plate rom theEagles, 24-10.

2011The Eagles played ive matches to prepare or the World Cup in NewZealand, and Ininity Park hosted the only home match o the iveAug. 13. It was the back end o a home-and-home series with theneighbors, with the Maple Leas taking the irst round in Torontoa week earlier. The home crowd could not buoy the Eagles, whosuffered a third consecutive deeat to Canada.

2012A turning point in Eagles home international tests was reachedin 2012, both on the ield and in the stands. Ininity Park hostedthe 17th-ranked Eagles against 14th-ranked Georgia during thesummer. The Eagles had lost a close match to Canada north o theborder to open the year, but our try-scorers helped Mike Tolkinearn a victory in his irst match at the helm.

During the planning stages o the construction o the MLS HoustonDynamos new, soccer-speciic stadium in 2007, USA Rugby ChieExecutive Officer Nigel Melville made sure the pitch would haveenough space to abide by IRB regulations.

They took out a row o seats or us, he said.

It paid off, as the stadium was bombarded with more than 17,000ans or the summer test against Italy June 23, the highest-attendedinternational test in the United States at the time. It was a losing

effort or the Eagles, but a long-term win or USA Rugby.

2013The Eagles inished 2012 with two wins and a loss duringTour, and were looking ahead to a busy 2013 schedulincluded Tier 1 opponent Ireland and an IRB Rugby Wo

2015 Qualiier playoff series against Canada.Rugby ans outdid themselves June 8, nearly illing BBVA CStadium stands with 20,181 people to set another recEagles rewarded the paying ans with a hard-ought, 15-12The MLS other soccer-speciic acility in Caliornia was destination or the Eagles. Home to the LA Galaxy andUSA, StubHub Center (ormerly The Home Depot Center uweeks prior to the match) seats 30,510 and celebrated itsanniversary at the beginning o June. There were no celeor the Eagles June 15, however, as Tonga ended their IRNations Cup title hopes with an 18-9 win.


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The Eagles inished their summer schedule in Japan and returnedto the United States east coast to conclude the calendar year.Blackbaud Stadium was again utilized or rugby in August orthe irst leg o a Rugby World Cup qualiier against Canada. Morethan 5,000 ans could not will the Eagles to victory like the 2009win, and the Eagles would eventually seek qualiication throughalternative means ollowing the second-leg deeat.PPL Park in Chester, Pa., set a record or the largest sold-out rugbymatch when the Philadelphia Unions pitch was painted with thelogos o USA Rugby and the New Zealand Maori All Blacks Nov.9. A capacity crowd o 18,500 ans deaened the Maori All Blackshaka with chants o U-S-A as the lights o the Commodore BarryBridges lights illuminated the Delaware River. The Eagles trailed,22-19, with seven minutes remaining in the second hal, but a lateMaori All Blacks try sealed the match.

2014Fifh Third Bank Stadium at Kennesaw State University had heldsoccer and lacrosse events in its short history (the stadium wasbuilt in 2010), but never rugby until 2014. Following Atlanta 7s a stop on the 2013-14 IRB Womens Sevens World Series theGeorgia stadium hosted the second leg o the World Cup qualiierbetween the Eagles and Uruguay.

The Eagles had plenty o work to do to satisy more than 6,000ans at Fifh Third Bank Stadium afer drawing the irst matchin Montevideo. Starting scrumhal Mike Petri gave the Eaglestheir irst lead o the match with a try in the 61st minute and theEagles qualiied or England with a 32-13 win and 59-40 aggregatescoreline.

BBVA Compass Stadium and StubHub Center each a Summer Series match in 2014, with Scotland ditchiraincoats or sunny Houston and Japan lying across the Ocean or an IRB Paciic Nations Cup match in Carsonteams are in the Eagles World Cup pool.

The Eagles will help christen Bonney Field in Sacramento Canada. The stadium, being constructed on the Cal Expo gin the Caliornia capital, opens the night beore the Paciic NCup match with its uture host, Sacramento Republic FC Pro, playing Colorado Rapids Reserves.

With the announcement o the New Zealand All Blacks hto Chicago or a match at Soldier Field this November, thewill return to Illinois or the irst time since 2009. HomeNational Football Leagues Chicago Bears, Soldier Fieldmore than 61,000 ans and could set a new record or hattended international rugby match in the United States.


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n ice skates, CameronDolan would be a couple o

inches taller than his alreadytowering, 6-oot-6 rame.Luckily, ice hockey in Floridawas not as popular as it is now.

Dolan played hockey growing up inEstero beore realizing it would bedifficult to become a proessionalwhile playing in the Sunshine State. Hetested his developing athletic abilitieson the baseball diamond and Americanootball gridiron, but none o the sportsthe young Eagle played captured the

passion he elt when he irst went torugby practice.

When I entered reshman year o highschool, it was my schools irst year oexistence, Dolan said. Then they startedup a rugby team. I heard about it but

didnt really play or anything or watchany o the games. Come junior year Ichecked it out and went to practice.It was kind o like all o the sports I hadplayed put together. Youre able to beversatile, use your size, you had to bequick, you had to be athletic, you had tobe agile. It all took off pretty quickly romthere.

Dolan proceeded through the USARugby All-American ranks with the U17s

coached by Sean OLeary in 2007 andthe U18s a year later. During the spring

o 2008, his senior year o high school,Dolan reconnected with OLeary at a

U18s camp.

I saw Sean and I said, Hey, I want to goto college, but I want to be able to playrugby, Dolan recollected. Whats yourtake on that?

The current Notre Dame Rugby Coachtold Dolan he would recommend himto Lie University Director o Rugby ScottLawrence, who was overseeing excitinggrowth in the Marietta, Ga., schools club

program. The Running Eagles won theDivision I National Championship that

year, prompting Dolan to get in conwith OLeary.

Dolan took the all off, working training with the club team, insteabeginning his collegiate career. Witan undergraduate program, he wasto travel to Kenya with the U20s inspring o 2009 or the IRB Junior WRugby Trophy. Dolan captained the tto a second-place inish in its irst yethe competition and returned homgood news: ormer Eagle Dan Paynebringing an undergraduate progra

Lie.

ill go til the motor stopsDOLAN:

I saw Sean and I said, Hey, I want to go to college,but I want to be able to play rugby, Dolan


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He had good success at San Diego State,and he wanted to use the resources thatLie had to our advantage as players andbring in young guys to give them a tasteo college rugby, Dolan said. Its toughto be 18, a team o 18-year-olds playingmens club rugby; it just doesnt happen.

In 2011, Lie inished second in Division1As Mid-South Conerence with a5-1 record andplus-243 point-differential. It wasthe irst year othe rebrandedcompetition andLies irst orayinto the nationalplayoffs.

E v e n t u a lc h a m p i o nUniversity oC a l i o r n i a ,Berkeley, endedwhat title hopesthe young programdid have in thequarterinal with a merciless, 43-10, winat home. The Golden Bears spankedthe Running Eagles, as Dolan put it, butthe undergrads were just getting started.

In 2012, Lie wrangled the Mid-SouthConerence title away rom ArkansasState with a perect, 8-0 record. TheRunning Eagles took advantage othe higher seed and handily deeatedPennsylvania State University in thequarterinal. Another loss to an eventualchampion this time Brigham Young

University sent the Running Eagleshome in the semiinal.

Colton Cariaga captained the team,but Dolan was certainly a leader aferlearning rom some o the best in thecountry.

[Colton] didnt really know much aboutthe orwards, he said. I called lineouts

and played eight, so I was always at theback o scrums, calling scrum moves andstuff like that. He was more o a lead-by-example kind o captain; I was more o

the vocal guy on the ield, trying to lif theboys up, bring them together.

It was not long until Dolans brie historywith rugby began a new chapter withthe national team, with a selection orthe 2012 Americas Rugby Championshipcalling rom Eagles Head Coach MikeTolkin.

No less than six current Eagles were inteam, but Dolan captained the Selecmatches against Argentina, Canada,Uruguay, though they were all losses

It was always the ultimate goalthink its anyones ultimate goal insport to play or your national teamrepresent your country in a sport ointernational stage, Dolan said.

When Dreturned to University orEagles campearly 2013, proved he eaa spot in the tsquad or Eagles sum

lineup. Thohe did not plrole in the maday teams, Dprovided amcompetition the 23 players did go up ag

Ireland and Tonga. Tolkin rewaDolan with his irst international June 19, when the Eagles visited Jaor a match against Fiji.

Dolan started at number eight in plaTodd Clever, but did not eel as thohe was replacing the teams capholder o nearly 50 caps at the time.

Hes one o the best players to ever or the U.S., Dolan said. I just try tomy part as a team member. Its a t

It was always the ultimate goal...to play for your national team

and represent your country in a sport on an international stage,


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game.

Dolan inished the summer with substituteappearances in the Eagles match againstJapan in Tokyo and both legs o the IRBRugby World Cup 2015 Qualiier againstCanada, all losses.

The capped Eagle served as captain orone o the Selects three matches at the2013 Americas Rugby Championshipand was among the starting XV or the

Eagles highest-proile rugby match inyears against the New Zealand Maori AllBlacks. Dolan wore the number eight shirtwhile scoring a try in a Man o the Matchperormance or the Eagles in the loss atPPL Park.

The Eagles continued their Fall Tourto Europe or matches against Georgiaand Russia with Dolan starting in bothvictories. The match against Russia washeld at Saracens Allianz Park in England,where the Eagles Chris Wyles plies histrade in the Aviva Premiership. In the win,Dolan shared try-scoring duties with SamuManoa, who was no stranger to AllianzPark afer signing with NorthamptonSaints in 2011.

A month afer the inal match o 2013,the Saints signed Dolan to a proessionalcontract.

I elt very honored and blessed to justhave that chance to go to one o the moreprestigious rugby clubs in the world withsome o the best players in the world,Dolan said. I always wanted to be aproessional athlete. It was very surreal,but its not the end goal.

Dolans end goal? Being the best. In beingthe best, the Eagleo eight capswants to take thenational team upthe ladder withhim.

I missed out onthe 2011 WorldCup, he said. Imin a better placenow, Ive aged,Im a little moremature physicallyand mentally asa player; thats

deinitely beneicial.

The Eagles qualiied or the 2015Cup earlier this year, deeating U

just miles away rom Lie Universitytough draw in the irst leg in MontBeore the Eagles can set their sigEngland, however, they will host ScJapan, and Canada during the SSeries, with the New Zealand All waiting or their American return at Field in November.

We have a strong team right now,said. When were clicking on all cywe can be one o the top 10 teamsworld. Weve got to igure out whator us and just stick with it.

It might be useul to keep Dolan team, then, as he holds one o thewin percentages on the internationaalbeit with just seven caps.

With a busy schedule ahead as theprepare or their seventh World Chis proessional career at Northacontinues, Dolan is in line or national team appearances.

Im gonna play as long as my bolet me play, he said. The game cevery year, so Ive got to adapt to itat Northamptons deinitely going me be able to do that more easmore efficiently than another place

Ill go til thmotor stops.


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AN american sporting experienceCREATING

hen Nigel Melville took on the role o ChieExecutive Officer at USA Rugby, he wrote an op-ed piece or The Guardian in the UK detailing

his goals or rugby in America, stating it involvesthe game rom top to bottom, rom grassroots tointernational level. Little did he know the NewZealand All Blacks, the No. 1-ranked team in the

world and Rugby World Cup Champions, would come callingor a match in the United States.

Beore taking the job, Melville attended the USA Eagles IRB RugbyWorld Cup 2007 Qualiier against Uruguay in Stanord, Cali.,much like his attendance at the same ixture in Atlanta in Marcho this year.The differencebetween thematches sevenyears apartwent beyondthe entry ee;the Eagleswere not visible to the general and rugby-playing publicenough to even warrant a ticket.

I came rom England, where I was coaching a pro team andinvolved with the national setup, which was 85,000 peopleilling a stadium at Twickenham, he said. You had, everyweek, 15,000 people in the stands in these tight stadiums or

club competitions. The World Cup Qualiier was a stark reo, Were qualiying or the same tournament England werHow can it be connected?

It just didnt seem like the same thing. It didnt seem riFans didnt need to buy tickets and they didnt need to becathere were 500 people there. By asking to bring a can, it mit seem like it wasnt worth anything or it had no value. For it meant something.

Rugby has come a long way in the United States since 2Last year, the Eagles drew a record-breaking 20,181 to BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas, or a ma

against IrelaThe Eagm a t c hagainst the NZealand MAll Blacks a record osold-out cro

o 18,500 ans at PPL Park in Philadelphia, Pa.

Our goal was to make international games look like theynow: to make ull stadiums, make it an American sporexperience that aligns to peoples expectations or spoMelville said.

Our goal was to make international games look like theydo now: to make full stadiums, make it an American sporting

experience that aligns to peoples expectations for sport,


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Fan estivals, tailgating events, and an overall sense oproessionalism crept into Eagles international tests ondomestic soil. Facilities like Ininity Park in Glendale, Colo., arugby-speciic venue sel-titled as RugbyTown USA, becamecommon destinations or top-level rugby.

It did not happen overnight, however. Matches were scheduledor other venues, like Toyota Park, a Major League Soccer

stadium in Chicago, Ill., only to be told the match could not beplayed due to ear o tearing up the playing surace.

The perception is we would just make a mess o the ground,and then youre convincing the groundsmen to tell othergroundsmen across the country its all right. It was all a bit oa challenge.

Getting into stadiums became easier with more exposure orthe Eagles. The 2007 World Cup helped players like Eaglescaptain Todd Clever become a ace or the Eagles ranchise,but there were still a majority o rugby ans in the United States

unaware a national team was competing in multiple matchesat home each year.

I I were a kid playing the game, I probably wouldnt know whatthe Eagles were and I wouldnt know what the World Cup was,Melville said. Now I think the kids get it. Weve developed aollowing or the Eagles and the events and made them events.I you can broaden its appeal and make it look like it shouldlook, then people will aspire to be involved in it, be it a player

or a an.

In 2009, Rookie Rugby, a program aimed at teaching the yoo the United States the basics o rugby in a sae, non-conorm o the sport, was launched. Five years later, with mand more high school state championships held acrosscountry and the creation o the Boys and Girls High SchooAmericans, the seeds o Melvilles plans have begun to low

A lot o these players coming up every year theyve bplaying longer, he said.

The youth programs in the UK started when I was a kid in1970s. There were six o us in it in my town. Now the progrbeen going or orty years and they get 200 kids a week. Ithriving community theyve developed. These were all ovecountry and now were getting them here.

The pathway rom youth rugby to the national team never been clearer. Young Eagles Scott Lavalla and Sea

Kelly have each played or one o the USA Rugby All-Amerteams, while experienced veterans like Clever and Louis Stahave also represented USA Rugby at the under-20 level.

The 2014 Emirates Airline USA Rugby College NatiChampionships were held in May at Steuber Rugby Stadon the campus o Stanord University as part o USA RugNational Championship Series, which also consists o CNational Championships and domestic sevens competit


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While the events are attracting a steadily-increasing number oans each year, the trend didnt happen overnight.

We realized our national championships werent going tobecome these huge events illing huge stadiums. Thats notwhat the NCS is about. Its about players trying to get to thenational inals at different levels. We wanted to make theexperience o going to the national championships special tothose who go to the national championships and or the localmarket to see the games and ollow their teams, and have aplace to have un and have a good weekend.

Ive been here seven years. Its more visible than it ever was,theres more awareness, more television. As a result o that,were getting more high school players, were getting morecollege players. More and better.

The Eagles have qualiied or seven o the eight World Cupssince the inaugural tournament in 1987, though they have

yet to make it out o the pool round. Despite the majority oplayers in the last Eagles domestic camp playing proessionalrugby overseas and stronger, more visible opponents travelingto America, the Eagles are still ranked 18th in the IRB WorldRankings.

You want instant success, Melville said. Everyone does. Itsso much easier that way.

Its like planting seeds in the ground. Youre growing and willhave to harvest it in a ew years time. Its like wine, I suppose.You grow your vines; they dont really ruit or three years. Now

there are kids coming through who have been playing or iveyears, but it also depends on good coaching, good reereeing,good competition. They all take time.

The ruits o Melvilles labor can be seen in attendance iguresor domestic and international competition, the amount o kidspicking up a rugby ball on a daily basis, and in the upcoming,marquee matchup with the All Blacks at Soldier Field.

For more inormation on the Nov. 1 match at Soldier Field,please visit the event website at www.usavallblacks.com.


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