Gone again

On the weekend the federal government nationalized mortgages, and yesterday a distinguished investment bank nearly melted down, an event which most probably would further roil credit markets. So forgive me if I am behind on my rugby. Back soon.

Comments

[Old Boy]

At last! there's a backlog of bitchin' & complainin' that needs a new thread!

btw, there are hockey moms - some apparently put lipstick on their bulldogs or somethin' like that - and there are soccer moms. But are there rugby moms?
Methinks not. Well...some...a few here and there...but not enough, dammit. Why didn't Boulder and the USARFU bigwigs ever think about developing this key element of grassroots rugby. Isn't it sad that in the USA, girlfriends of rugby players - and those who eventually marry their rugger-men, rarely if ever become rugby moms. Just another example of the sad state of affairs in US rugby.

[John]

Thanks for the update. Best of luck today things are looking ugly again.

[Ed Schram, Sr.]

There are lots of "rugby moms" in Des Moines. DMRFC own two fields, main pitch has an electric scoreboard; maintain two other fields nearby; own a $400K clubhouse with changing rooms, bar & kitchen, paved parking, and large spectator seating deck.

All of this serves as the basis for one of the largest youth rugby programs (both boys & girls) in the Midwest.

No one from Boulder has ever asked, how did you do this? While being a lot of hard work over the years,it certainly wasn't all that difficult.

[no nothing]

There is a growing understanding that Boulder hasn't asked any American anything in the last several years. They seem to think they have it all worked out.

Not one question to the NYAC or Olympic Club on how rugby became part of renown athletic clubs.

Not those Tennessee boys who have cracked the code of state youth sports.

Not the Gentlemen of Aspen who wrote the book on making a town proud of its rugby team.

Not OMBAC who became part of the community through their larger club and its good deeds.

Not Highland or Jesuit high school teams.

Not Cal or BYU.

Not the RSL.

Not D3.

Not former Eagle players.

Not former Eagles coaches.

Not the congress.

Not the rugby media.

No questions about athletes.

No questions about American sport.

No questions about rugby facilities.

No questions about funding rugby.

When we hold their performance next to their lack of questions about what might have happened before them, or how some small success was achieved, its very damning. They are pretty high on themselves all right.

Another thing which is coming to light is they have no plan. There is nothing written on paper anywhere which lays out a plan. In three years time, they have never committed a plan to paper. Not Roberts, Melville or now even Johnson. No research, no questions, no plans and no success.

[AP]

Know Nothing,

Not that I am a representative of Boulder, but to correct some of your errors:

Rugby at the Olympic Club predates USA rugby.

The year that Tennessee made such exceptional growth, the USARFU youth meeting was held in Nashville.

Dan Payne, Dave Hodges and Dan Lyle from OMBAC all have held important positions at USARFU.

Jesuit's coach and in fact his wife have held positions of influence, their opinions have been solicited. Perhaps not as much as possible...

Cal's coach and assistant coach have been Eagle coaches.

To say that USARFU needs to ask more is fair, to say that they have NOT asked is wrong.

[to clarify]

I think the point is the new leaders haven't done so.

[M. Bradley]

AP,
The SWAT analysis that USAR conducted in Nashville had absolutely nothing to do with youth growth in the state of Tennessee. Our growth started long before that weekend and has continued each year with little or no involvement from USA Rugby.

We'd be happy to have USA Rugby join our effort but to date we have achieved our success due to our own hard work and initiative.

[The Sultan of SWOT]

Marty,
It's SWOT.

If USA Rugby did a SWAT analysis, that might explain why the results suck.

[Mike]

USA Rugby can't and won't and shouldn't develop thousands of Youth Rugby teams. Thats your job and mine.

As for the Rugby moms, they make it happen. Really. If ever you want to overcome an obstacle to fielding a youth team, any obstacle, put a Mom on it. No Bureaucrat/School Principal/Athletic Director can overcome a mom determined to let her son/daughter play a sport they have grown to love.

So go start a new squad, make sure every kid plays and every kid loves it. You can't predict what any kid will turn into, or which kid has a Mom or Dad who thinks the game is great and will be the one who launches something big.

I dont think the US will be competitive internationally until just about everyone currently playing realizes that on the grand, international scale, we all collectively suck, cant even hold a candle to tiny island nations. Our future is in the hands of those committed to getting 10 year olds to fall in love with Rugby. We need millions of them so 10% become great.