Rugby union in the United States
Rugby union in the United States is a growing national sport. It is played at the youth, high school, club, semi-professional, and international levels. The United States is a Tier 2 rugby nation, as defined by the International Rugby Board, which means that it is not currently competitive at the elite level of the sport, but is one of the IRB's key development markets.[1] The game was first introduced to the United States in the mid nineteenth century. The sport gained popularity throughout the late Nineteenth Century, however it started to decline from the early 1900s.[2] Its growth collapsed in the country after the 1924 Olympics, and did not re-emerge until its renaissance in the 1960s.[citation needed] The United States of America Rugby Football Union (now known as USA Rugby) was formed in 1975.
The United States national rugby team, the Eagles, competed in the first Rugby World Cup in 1987. They compete annually in the Churchill Cup. The semi-professional domestic Super League was established for the country's top clubs. In 2006, the International Rugby Board (IRB) sponsored North America 4 competition was introduced, with two American teams participating; that competition was replaced in 2009 by the Americas Rugby Championship, with an effective USA "A" national team participating. The women's United States national team was established in 1987, and is a world power; winning the Women's World Cup in 1991, and finished runners up in 1994 and 1998. The men's national team in the sevens variant of the sport is a rising world power; since 2008•09, they have been one of the 12 "core teams" that participate in every tournament of the annual IRB Sevens World Series.
There are over 80,000 players registered with USA Rugby; including over 30,000 high school students. The 570 clubs in the United States are governed by seven Territorial Unions and 37 Local Unions.
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Governing Bodies
The US Union dates from 1975, and joined the IRB in 1987.[2]
Rugby union played anywhere is governed by the IRB, which is based in Dublin, Ireland. It is the governing and law-making body for rugby globally. There are over 100 member unions of the IRB, with USA Rugby being the member union of the United States. USA Rugby is responsible for overseeing rugby union domestically and training the various national teams that they put on the pitch.
History
See also: History of rugby unionEarly history
Princeton students played a game called "ballown" as early as 1820. A Harvard tradition known as "Bloody Monday" began in 1827, which consisted of a mass ballgame between the freshman and sophomore classes. Dartmouth played its own version called "Old division football", the rules of which were first published in 1871, though the game dates to at least the 1830s. All of these games, and others, shared certain commonalities. They remained largely "mob" style games, with huge numbers of players attempting to advance the ball into a goal area, often by any means necessary. Rules were simple and violence and injury were common.[3][4] The violence of these mob-style games led to widespread protests and a decision to abandon them. Yale, under pressure from the city of New Haven, banned the play of all forms of football in 1860, while Harvard followed suit in 1861.[3]
Primitive forms of rugby, then all covered by the name "football", were being played in the USA as far back as the 1840s, at Harvard, Yale and Princeton, stemming partly from Americans who had been educated in English schools.[2] However, in 1862, Yale dealt it a major blow by banning it for being too violent and dangerous, about seven years later, in 1869, the first game of American football was played between Princeton and Rutgers.[2] However, rugby was taking a firm grip of the Ivy League and other East Coast Universities, where it would have an influence on the nascent gridiron, which would later become its major competitor.[2] Unfortunately American football's growth came at exactly the point at which rugby was beginning to establish itself in the States.[2]
Rugby spread through America's colleges, away from the Ivy League and the East Coast, into Texas, California and other west coast states.[2] However, because of America's huge size, this resulted in a bipolar game, played mainly in east and west, but not really in the middle - other than Illinois and the Great Lakes, and Texas in the south.[2] There would also come to be a small rugby playing centre in Salt Lake City, as Polynesian Mormons came to study and live there, and to a lesser extent by returning missionaries.[2]
In 1872, rugby clubs were established in the San Francisco Bay Area which mainly comprised British expatriates.
The first recorded rugby match in the United States occurred on May 14, 1874 between Harvard University and McGill University.
In 1876, Yale, Harvard, Princeton, and Columbia formed the Intercollegiate Football Association, a competition based on the traditional rules of rugby union. Around the same time, the aforementioned British rugby players of San Francisco introduced rugby to the University of California, Berkeley.
1900-1960
Olympic Champions: 1920 USA Rugby Team. See also: Rugby union at the Olympic GamesAmerican rugby has not been without serious international competition. Apart from the high standard of rugby in various parts of Canada, it was not uncommon for Australian and New Zealand sides to play games in the USA - especially California and New York - when returning from Europe, or when European teams made the trip the other way.[2] Dave Gallaher's 1905 All Blacks known as the "Invincibles" played no less than eleven games in California.[2]
The unfamiliar and complex game play hampered initial growth on the East Coast. Controversy arose in 1905 when photographs of a match between Swarthmore College and the University of Pennsylvania were published. The pictures were used to depict rugby as a "harsh game". Rugby union grew on the West Coast, however, and as many as 26,000 spectators regularly attended matches between the University of California and Stanford University.
In 1908 and 1909, the Australian national team visited the U.S. as part of an international tour. The US-Australia matches marked the United States' first international tests.
In 1910, a combined Universities rugby team comprising mostly players from Cal, Stanford, and the University of Nevada went on a tour of Australia and New Zealand. The underdog American side upset both Rotorua RFC and Auckland RU, which came as a great surprise to the international rugby community.
In 1912, the Wallabies returned to America; this tour was the first and only America-specific tour by Australia to date. The 1912 tour of the United States saw the United States national team play their first international test, which they lost 12-8. In 1913, the All Blacks won their first full test on American soil 53-3.[2]
The vastness of the USA has resulted in the rise of regional "Conferences", where the East and West played as different blocs.[2] Hawaii and Alaska led completely separate rugby existences, focussing their energy on their South Seas, and British Columbian neighbours instead.[2] Until recently this vastness also caused problems in the preparation of a national team, as the players would rarely get to meet one another.[2]
After a promising start on the international stage, the Americans were thrashed a year later by the All Blacks, 51-3. This test was organized by former Cal president Benjamin Ide Wheeler in an attempt to popularize rugby among his students.
The national team won their first test in 1919, defeating Romania. In 1920, rugby union was a fixture at the 1920 Summer Olympics, and a United States team ended up winning gold after money was raised in San Francisco to send them there. In 1924, rugby union was again included in the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris. An American side was invited to participate, and the team surprised spectators by landing a place in the final with the hosts - the French. An estimated 50,000 turned up to Colombes Stadium to watch. The United States defeated France for the Gold in 1924. This was, however, the last time rugby was a fixture at the Olympics, making the 1924 United States team the last to win the medal.
1960s-present
Flint Rogues Rugby Club and Michigan RFC playing a rugby match. A club match being played at Towson University in 2005.In the 1960s, the game started to see some form of growth. In 1975, the United States of America Rugby Football Union was formed.
In 1987, the first Rugby World Cup was held, and the United States was invited to participate. The following world cup, the 1991 tournament, saw invitations abolished in favor of a 32-team qualifying tournament that saw the United States successfully gain entry. They were in a pool with New Zealand, England and Italy -- all strong rugby powers.
In 1996, the Rugby Super League was created by the 14 major governing bodies of the sport in the United States with the intention of creating a competitive and national competition. 1997 saw the inaugural season of the competition. There were 14 teams competing which were divided into two seven-team divisions: the Western-Pacific Conference and the Midwestern-East Conference. Aspen won the first championship.
After missing out on the 1995 World Cup in South Africa, the national side qualified for the 1999 Rugby World Cup in Wales. They subsequently qualified for the 2003 Rugby World Cup, finishing fourth in their pool winning one game against Japan. The US recently qualified for the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France by beating Uruguay home and away to clinch the Americas 2 spot.
Although coming away from the 2007 World Cup in France without a win, they acquitted themselves honorably with commendable performances against both England and South Africa (tier 1 nations who eventually advanced to the final, with South Africa winning the game and the Webb Ellis Cup). One of the high points for the team was the unearthing of a gem in the (originally Zimbabwean) pocket rocket winger Takudzwa Ngwenya, who scored a scintillating try against the South Africans by completely out pacing Springbok speedster Bryan Habana on the outside and dotting down for a try under the posts that brought the crowd to their feet. Other notable performances came from captain Mike Hercus and Todd Clever respectively, both of whom were involved in the setup of Ngwenya's try. The try earned Try of the Year honors in world rugby at the IRB Awards, which were handed out the night after the World Cup final. The campaign can be considered a success due to the commitment and effort shown by the players and coaching staff, with a great team spirit shown in their four performances.
Rugby and American football
Main articles: History of American football and Comparison of American football and rugby union Drawing from the first football game played between Rutgers and Princeton.Rugby has had a long and complicated relationship with American football. William Gunmere of Rutgers devised the game, and based it upon American forms of rugby and association football.[2] Another important point is that during the 19th century, the USA was trying to develop a new national culture, independent of its English colonial roots, as it had become politically independent the previous century. This extended into the sporting arena, with the adoption and invention of American football and basketball, and also the myth of Abner Doubleday founding baseball, which attempted to divorce it from its English origins.
Not unlike football, rugby has established itself through the USA via its colleges and universities.[2]
By the end of the 19th century, rugby's American offspring had outgrown its parent, and many young Americans who would have made good rugby players were steered into football instead.
Nonetheless, some of rugby's legacy can be seen in football to this day, including its prolate spheroid football, rucking, and formerly "H" shaped goals. Major differences include higher tackles than rugby, protective equipment, and forward passing. The fair catch kick is a relic of the now obsolete goal from mark.
Popularity
| The world's most famous rugby players? Bill Clinton (l) & George W. Bush (r) | ||
Over 80,000 citizens are registered with USA Rugby (One needs to be certified by USA Rugby to participate in most matches and tournaments), and 18 teams are entered in the premier domestic competition, the Rugby Super League, for 2007.[5][6] There are 815 referees within USA Rugby.[6]
There are over 1,200 pre-teens currently playing organized rugby union (1,097 male, 197 female).[6] There are over 20,000 high school athletes playing rugby union for their schools or U19 clubs (14,875 male, 6468 female).[6]
Two recent American presidents have played the sport:
- Bill Clinton. Clinton developed an interest in rugby in England, playing at Oxford University.[7] It has been claimed that he played at Little Rock RFC in Arkansas, but they deny this.[8] However, his interest was mainly casual, and he was on the third or fourth team. Clinton's position was lock (also known as "second row").
- George W. Bush. Bush was a keen player, during high school and University, and was on Yale's 1st XV, and in 1968, he was part of their dramatic win over Harvard.[7][8] Bush's position was fullback.
The popularity of the game was given a minor boost when it was featured in the fourth season of Friends in the episode The one with all the rugby, broadcast February 26, 1998.
College
Main article: College rugbyClub and semi-professional
There are 27,488 males and 9,852 females playing senior-level rugby union.[6]
Competitions
Rugby Super League
Main article: Rugby Super League (US)The Rugby Super League is a semi-professional competition that was created in 1996 by the major TAU's within USA Rugby with the intention of creating a competitive national competition. The competition currently involves 14 teams in two conferences. The inclusion of some sub-par clubs and the exclusion of top-performing clubs has been a controversial issue since the inception of the Super League, calling into question whether it is really USA's "premier" competition. USA Rugby Premier Division is another US competition.
North America 4
Main article: North America 4The North America 4 was an elite-level IRB-financed tournament introduced in 2006. The competition was contested between four teams, two from both the United States and Canada. The 2006 event took place over two stages; the first in British Columbia and the second in Columbus, Ohio.
Americas Rugby Championship
Main article: Americas Rugby ChampionshipIn 2009, the IRB replaced the North America 4 with a new competition, the Americas Rugby Championship, that expanded the concept to South America. The inaugural competition involved two stages. In the first stage, four Canadian teams played in a league format to determine the two that would advance to the final round, held at Infinity Park in the Denver suburb of Glendale, Colorado. The survivors would await a "USA Select XV", effectively the United States "A" (second-level) side, and the Argentina Jaguars, an Argentine developmental side that has now taken over the role of the country's "A" side.
National team
USA playing Tonga Main article: United States national rugby union teamUSA Rugby's national team is nicknamed the Eagles. The National Men’s Team first took the field in 1976. Competing in international tournaments like the Churchill Cup and the Pan American Championship, as well as specially scheduled matches against rugby powers such as France and Ireland, the Eagles have qualified for four of the five Rugby World Cups, most recently at the 2007 Rugby World Cup held in France. The United States are currently a tier-2 rugby nation. Through professionalism, the Eagles have been making improvements in coaching, management and player development, and as a result have improved on the field.
Potential for development
Although rugby union still occupies a small, albeit growing, place in the American sporting landscape, the potential for development is immense. The US has enormous numbers of athletes who have the combination of size and speed needed to succeed in the sport. The country's sevens national team coach, Al Caravelli, explained this potential in a 2008 interview for the International Rugby Board:
| “ | When we train at the Olympic training center they have a big database where an athlete can type in 'I run the 100 meters in 10.2 seconds but I didn't qualify for the Olympics, I weigh this much. What other sports can I play?' I've found over a thousand athletes that can run 10.2 seconds at one hundred meters and weigh over 200 pounds [91 kg]. I don't know if they can catch and pass yet but if they can see the atmosphere at a Wellington, a Dubai or a Hong Kong Sevens, and we can attract those types of athletes then we can continue to promote the sport in the United States.[9] | ” |
Regional bodies
Within USA Rugby, there are seven territorial area unions (TAU's) that are charged with governing a specific region of the country. Within these TAU's, there are also Local Area Unions (LAU's), which are responsible for governing a specific region within their respective TAU's. A complete list of TAU's and their respective LAU's are as follows:
| Territorial area unions | Local area unions | |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-Atlantic | Eastern Pennsylvania | |
| Potomac | ||
| Virginia | ||
| Midwest | Allegheny | |
| Chicago Area | ||
| Indiana | ||
| Illinois | ||
| Iowa | ||
| Michigan | ||
| Minnesota | ||
| Ohio [10] | ||
| Wisconsin | ||
| Northeast | Metropolitan New York | |
| New England | ||
| New York State | ||
| Pacific Coast | Arizona | |
| Northern California | ||
| Pacific Northwest | ||
| Utah RFU | ||
| Northern Nevada | ||
| Southern California | Southern California SCRFU - North | |
| Southern California SCRFU - South | ||
| South | Deep South | |
| Florida | ||
| Georgia | ||
| MidSouth — covers the Tennessee Valley | ||
| North Carolina | ||
| Palmetto — covers South Carolina | ||
| Western | Eastern Rockies | |
| Great Plains | ||
| Heart of America | ||
| Missouri [11] | ||
| Rio Grande | ||
| Texas | ||
| Independent | Alaska | |
| Idaho | ||
| Montana | ||
| Hawaii | ||
See also
| Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Rugby union in the United States |
References
- ^ IRB Strategic Plan, November 2004, page 2
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Bath p77
- ^ a b "No Christian End!". The Journey to Camp: The Origins of American Football to 1769. Professional Football Researchers Association. http://www.footballresearch.com/articles/frpage.cfm?topic=c-to1870. Retrieved 2007-05-16.
- ^ Meacham, Scott (2020). "Old Division Football, The Indigenous Mob Soccer Of Dartmouth College (pdf)" (PDF). dartmo.com. http://www.dartmo.com/football/Football_Meacham.pdf. Retrieved 2007-05-16.
- ^ Holt, Sarah (2006-10-13). "Rugby reborn in the USA". bbc.co.uk. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/6047692.stm. Retrieved 2007-02-08.
- ^ a b c d e "Playing Numbers". irb.com. http://www.irb.com/en/Home/MemberUnionHomePage?UnionID=12&Tab=3. Retrieved 2007-02-08.
- ^ a b Cain, Nick & Growden, Greg "Chapter 21: Ten Peculiar Facts about Rugby" in Rugby Union for Dummies (2nd Edition), p297 (pub: John Wiley and Sons, Chichester, England) ISBN 978-0-470-03537-5
- ^ a b Clarke, Wes Famous Ruggers, retrieved 24th August, 2009
- ^ International Rugby Board (2008-02-07). "Ngwenya flies in for the Eagles". Press release. http://www.irb.com/irbsevens/edition=4/news/newsid=2022114.html#ngwenya+flies+eagles. Retrieved 2008-02-28.
- ^ Also includes the Kentucky areas of Louisville, the Bluegrass, and Northern Kentucky; plus the Huntington, West Virginia area.
- ^ Also includes the Illinois areas of Springfield and Belleville (Rowdies Rugby Club).
Bibliography
- Bath, Greg (1997). The Complete Book of Rugby. Seven Oaks Ltd. ISBN 1-86200-013-3.
- Ryan, Greg (2005). The Contest for Rugby Supremacy - Accounting for the 1905 All Blacks. Canterbury University Press. ISBN 1-877257-36-2.
- Richards, Huw A Game for Hooligans: The History of Rugby Union (Mainstream Publishing, Edinburgh, 2007, ISBN 978-1-84596-255-5)
- Rugby reborn in the USA (from the BBC)
- "Rugby Football," in Microsoft(R) Encarta(R) 97 Encyclopedia 1993-1996 Microsoft Corporation. (Reviewed by USA Rugby)
External links
- Anchorage Thunderbirds official site
- Official site
- US rugby union news from Planet Rugby
- Coverage of all American rugby union at GoffonRugby
- We love rugby Details on USA team
- RugbyDirt.com Rugby Union News
- USA Rugby Network Rugby Matches, Photos and Tournaments
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Categories: Rugby union in the United States | Rugby in the United States
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