US RUGBY CHAT EPISODE 21 - COMING OF AGE
US Rugby Chat Podcast
Dumont and Jeremy explore the lack of Autumn test matches for The Eagles and the good news that is more American’s playing in the pro European leagues.
About Us:
Dumont Walker is the founder of www.Walker-Sports.net where he is the lead writer and editor.
He first became enamored with the game of rugby while in college. At the time Dumont was looking for something to do after completing a successful AmericanFootball career. While in college he discovered rugby, and never turned back.
Over his career Dumont has had the opportunity to play across the United States as well as Ireland. Currently Dumont serves on the executive committee forWashington Rugby Club in Washington D.C. where he is also an active player on the roster.
Jeremy Beynon is the founder and now managing director of heavensgame.
Jeremy had a stellar rugby career, mostly in the Welsh lower league teams such as Penclawdd RFC, Vardre RFC & Bonymaen.
In the USA he played for the now disbanded Beacon Hill club in Boston…. And finally ending up at the mighty Warringah Rats on Sydney’s Northern Beaches where he now lives in married bliss or so he is told!
Don’t forget you can download this on itunes
Really interesting podcast. Australia v All Blacks have been playing one game for the last few years overseas as a revenue earner. I heard that a west coast U.S game was considered for 2009, but in the end they went with Tokyo. Perhaps an LA, San Fran or Vegas game in 2010?? What do you think?
Hi Adam,
Denver was the bid for 2009, would expect them to go around again for 2011.
Personally I think a East Coast match with England/Ireland against any other 6 nations team is the way forward.
Hope you keep enjoying the podcast.
Cheers
Jeremy
Hey Adam,
I have to agree with Jeremy on this one. The US has made a couple bids to get an AB vs Auz game in the states, but for a variety of reasons they’ve never been able to pull it off.
While the better rugby may be hosting a Tri-Nations game, the number of possible venues are not there. Plus logistically it’s a very long trip from NZ to the West Coast. Europe to NY is only a 5-7 hour flight depending on where your coming from, much easier to manage and the guys can come in and out on a few days rest.
I also believe there is something to pulling on peoples heritage meaning the strong Irish populations in the east.
Keep listening and posting comments.
Cheers,
Dumont
Hey, a very interesting podcast.
I am an Irish rugby fan living a Dublin. From listening to this podcast I have a few points whoch i agree on, others I disagree on and some I’m more or less neutral on.
My feeling on trying to improve the Eagles team standing on the world stage is that the USA has fallen so far behind the 6N that it is not practical to have them playing in Autumn games or summer games even. Ireland sent a 3rd/4th string team of almost all uncapped players to play the US and Canada last summer and won both games easily enough. That shows a serious deficit in North American rugby power. The US would be better served playing teams like Georgia, Romania, Russia and maybe at a push Italy in order to build up a base of skill and experiance.
On the issue of bringing a 6N game to America…well I’m afraid that 6N teams are rather possesive of their home games in the 6N. For example if you took Ireland v Wales 2010 to the Giants stadium in New York that would let Wales off the hook big time as they would avoid traveling to play Ireland infront of 77,000 passionate Irish fans at Croke Park in Dublin. In the same way if you took England v Ireland 2010 England would miss the home advantage and the issue of whether or not the home game would be carried over would mean that one team could have 4 home games and 1 away the next year followed by the reverse the year after giving them a HUGE advantage.
For the 6N unions the money comes from their home games. The IRFU will make more money having a Home hame in Croke Park than they will in the USA!
Perhaps in 2013 the British and Irish Lions could play an exhibition game against the ABs in the US. That would attract a larger one off audience as it would bring all the mainstream 6N fans eyes to the game along with the AB fans. Lions tests are hard contested games and this wou;d be a better PR and money spinner than a 6N game! It also forgoes the whole Home and Away scheduling headache!
I wish you all the best with the Eagles, USA rugby fans are top guys, I met a few when I was over before! I look forward to meeting more in New Zealand when we play eachother at the World Cup.
All the Best
Greg