On Beckham and rugby

My desk is piled high with books to be read, so why pick up the Beckham Experiment?

Initially because author Grant Wahl, a senior writer with Sports Illustrated, branched out from soccer to rugby to follow the US national team around the time of the 1999 World Cup. He is an excellent journalist who regularly gets cover stories.

Grant also writes NCAA basketball for SI, which underscores his ability to shift between major domestic and overseas sports. That is meaningful to Beckham Experiment, subtitled 'How the world's most famous athlete tried to conquer America'.

The plotline could be relevant to US rugby: Much of USARFU's current strategy was shaped by IRB consultants whose understanding of the American society may not be much more sophisticated than that of Beckham, who at the start of the year left the Los Angeles Galaxy for Milan. Of course, the approach was blessed by the folks who led the transition to the union's then-new government structure.

If you have not re-read the 2006 plan, it is worth doing so. (PDF version downloadable here, web version here) One's opinion of the forthcoming blueprint should be grounded in an evaluation of how the last version grades out.

Comments

[theres gold in them hills]

Signing Beckham looks to have been a mistake. MLS is far from perfect, but they understand the value of college soccer and the university brands.

This can't be said of Kiwi Kevin Roberts and Englishman Nigel Melville. After three years, they've come up with squat to improve and better manage and grow college rugby. These dumb-shits think college rugby is about collect 35 bucks a kid in dues.

Calling all Americans!!!

[Suwoop]

If Kevin and Nigel now how to hussle then let them...its all about the money...Ruggers in this country don't know how to Hussle...thats why they suck...SUWOOP

[Clown Academy]

College rugby sucks on the hide tit at USA Rugby and that is the way it is. It is all about the national teams because they have the potential to rain some serious cash on the organization. Not sure if I see it that way because our national team has S#!T for talent, but in theory it should work. Will it...not with the clowns we have putting on the national jersey.

[huh?]

clown academy. college rugby sucks at no teet. if anything it's the other way around. college rugby does everything for itself. mostly student and volunteer run getting things done on campuses and building the most important part of rugby in the us

[truth in advert]

College doesn't suck on the tit. College gets no milk at all.

Let the Eagles keep all that IRB grant money they're wasting going 0-for-ever. Further let them waste all those club and super league dues. They can keep all their sponsorship money as well, assuming they get any. It won't help their record any, but who gives a shit, let the waste away.

And college rugby will keep all their dues and sponsorship. USAR can continue the same level of college rugby management they are currently providing, that is to say none.

Lets see which organization is sucking hide tit after a couple years time. Hell, after six months we'll see which organization has a future.

[truth in advert]

Sorry, one more thing.

The Eagles and USAR need to keep all the current Board and staff. The new college org can throw darts at the phone book and do better.

[Coward Coach]

So when is big daddy Jack Clark going to show some nads and get on the horn and get 29 other top teams to jump ship with Cal? That is all it takes to start the thing. Jack on the phone to the top programs and KAPOW! you got an elite college rugby association with their own tournament and national championship to sell to sponsors, broadcasters and athletic directors. Where is the big man with the big balls?

[Not a hater like you]

Need I remind all of you that through USAR's work, they have provided about 500 College teams with $5,000 of FREE gear?!? You call that nothing? Many teams wouldn't exist if it weren't for these kits.

The unions that contain all these "elite" college clubs can barely run themselves, let alone a comp that features only 2 teams (cal/byu) who can play rugby at a level sponsors WANT to support.

Be grateful for the few, but dedicated people we have working for us in this country.

[Roberts' Rugby Retards]

NAHLU -

The National Guard sponsorship was hand delivered to USA Rugby by a parent (rugbymom) that figured out that the promotional desires of the National Guard could be reached via a relationship with USA Rugby. USA Rugby employees were busy gawking at Kevin Roberts' Rolodex and daring each other to call Philip Knight @ Nike or Steve Jobs @ Apple to see if they could sponsor the Eagles. Jokers don't have a clue.

[that's not my name]

the elephants in the room

melville 250+K
eddie o s 250+k

usa rugby dues - 2.5m

10% of collected dues go to 2 people

is this the pension plan of the IRB?

[Suwoop]

Still don't understand that after Biller's racist remarks that he is still not only allowed to play at Cal but selected on the National Team?

[mello man]

Wow, the USAR Board, Congress and their supporters are really starting to play nasty.

Story by story the truth is starting to get out.

I wonder if Kurt will "out" some of you, exposing your dirty little anon internet world.

[Bobby Roberts]

Every time I come to this blogs comment section, I read a dozens of comments on how USA Rugby is not investing it resources properly. But, nobody seems to have any suggestions on what kind of investments should be made. I agree there are a lot of flaws in our current system, but see few practical solutions put forth.

Example: USA Rugby provides a national championship tournament, on 5 plus sites, each year for 3 levels of Men’s and Women’s competition. They have provided a program in which teams can obtain full kit, field equipment and training supplies for free (a $400-5000 per team investment). They provide a coach certification program courses all over the US to improve the overall quality of coaching.
A lot of people don’t think that is worth $35.

So, complainers, how should our recourses be spent to improve the quality and quantity or rugby in these United States?

[that's not my name]

mello man

where are the nasty bits?

[that's not my name]

Bobby Roberts,

I will bite.

investing -

1. Health insurance for all national team players. This will insure a safety net and peace of mind for all players.

2. General Liability and Catastrophic Insurance for all national team coaches.

3. Allocate $ for a collegiate scholarship matching program - collegiate scholarship programs are long term - this will encourage parents to let their kids choose rugby. Without college scholarships rugby will never be a sport that is encouraged by the parents of developed athletes.

these measures will ensure we have protected the resources and established a long term youth to collegiate player pathway
to be contiunued . . .

[lets play Booby]

Booby Roberts,

I disagree that this blog doesn't offer solutions.

I've very clearly read where some believe the plan should be to let the Eagles get by on what they can raise. Their record could hardly be worse.

I've read where investing our resources into HS, college and RSL would provide a better more sustainable long term future for US rugby.

I've read where bringing salaries more in line with the size and scope of our organization would be wise, resulting in more professional, not a high priced few.

I could go on, but I don't think you are really interested in all the proactive discussion which have taken place on GL and ERN.

I'll instead use my time to correct you on a few items within your post.

You mention by way of example that USAR should get credit for "providing" national championships. You do understand Booby, all USAR does is fed-x some banners for the host hang. Please tell me you understand that the teams pay all the cost associated with the national championship? What is it that you think USAR is providing?

You are correct the National Guard issued rugby kit to many teams. Is this the sum total of USAR membership service program? There has never been a rugby match not played because of a lack of jersey's, but I'll give this generous act to the NG from a credit standpoint.

Don't even try to serve up that other bull about coaching certification etc, all these so called services need to be paid for again, they don't come with your dues, nothing does.

[None of you could do better]

If you think nothing comes with your dues, then please, don't register your club with USA Rugby this year. Then, when a ball gets kicked out of bounds and hits a poor kid on the head, your club will get sued and probably cease to exist. The $100,000 medical bills will then have to come out of your pocket. Tell me that's not worth 35 bucks alone.

[That Kid Was Retarded Before The Ball Hit Him]

Colleges and HS teams are covered by the respective institution's policy if they are on the said institution's property or dedicate sports fields. USA Rugby is paying cheap insurance premiums for the club teams that need this insurance by charging college and HS teams that do not need the coverage. I can find little reason why the colleges and HSs don't break away from USA Rugby.

[Insurance]

Liability insurance can be purchased by clubs for less than what they pay in CIPP fees.

The club I play for has a separate $1 Million policy because in reality the meager insurance provided by USA Rugby is paper thin and won't save your ass in a lawsuit. Basing your argument on that is destined to fail.

The CIPP fees from each respective demographic should have their fees invested back into their level of play. At the very least the CIPP fees should be going towards youth, high school and college rugby, our best opportunities for growth. I would be happy to pay my fees each year knowing it was going to grow the game at younger levels and not being used to pay for overpriced staff in a relatively amateur organization.

[the Dread Pirate Roberts]

What of the colleges that don't have much, if any, school support? I can honestly say I don't know the answer to the question of whether or not they'd be covered by the school's policy. So, those clubs that aren't closely associated with their club sports director, while they may not be the model that we want, and should encourage them to work with their schools more closely, are probably going to be left in the dark...and I think there are more of these clubs than we want to admit.

I think in the college split discussion, there are definitely the "have" and "have not" sides. I would be most concerned that the split would only be good for the elite college programs.

As for the national championships, just wanted to point out that in no way do the host clubs pay for the referees and assistant referees. That's a huge cost at each regional tournament and championship. That's only the travel reimbursement. The referees don't get paid to do these events. That's a fact.

I know this is definitely an elitist statement, but needs to be mentioned...only member clubs that are part of a national governing body that is recognized by the IRB can provide players to national representative sides.

I'm guilty of trying to spark some debate in an earlier post with mentioning of the All American program. I do think that program should be outside of the USA Rugby focus. While All Americans are part of the ethos of sporting America, All American representative sides are not. They're merely a plaque on the wall...and a huge honor at that. Leave the representative stuff to those age grades already recognized by the IRB, at least if you want USA Rugby funds for them.

[I'm confused]

"I know this is definitely an elitist statement, but needs to be mentioned...only member clubs that are part of a national governing body that is recognized by the IRB can provide players to national representative sides."

So is your point that if colleges withdrew from USA Rugby that their players would not be able to play for the Eagles because they play for teams that are not part of a national governing body recognized by the IRB? If that is the case, how do "unaffiliated" players such as Dallas Robinson merit potential Eagles selection? Seems pretty simple to me- if colleges broke away and the Eagles wanted to select college players, they simply register those particular players as "unaffiliated" with any USA Rugby member club.

Also, if a rugby team is officially affiliated with and recognized by a college's club sports department, they are almost certainly covered by the University's liability insurance regardless of if the school gives alot or no other support to the team.

[you got balls man]

In reading through these posts, I am curious, did one of you guys call out Jack Clark, and then refer to him as a COWARD?

Interesting....how you call a man out and then hide behind an alias.

Jack, if you read this drivel, don't listen to this guy! Keep doing what you are doing. There are many of us out here that aspire to do what you do!!

[Bobby Roberts]

HAHAHAHAHA!! That guy is so awesome!!! Did you see how he turned my first neame Bobby, into something totally different with the new "o", to make it Booby.

HOW DID HE COME UP WITH THAT!!!!

He is some sort of comedic genius. or a third grader without the balls to put his name to a post.

[Can a Nigga Get A Table Dance?]

While rugby league just drew huge audiences on Spike, rugby union in the USA is dead....thanks USA Rugby!

[GT]

Bobby, fair enough, the name play was silly, but his post kicked your USAR apologetic ass.

Keep complaining about the little stuff, but this administration is going to lose every performance discussion on merit.

Even the Congress members under anon on this site get their pointless ass kicked. I wonder why, if Board and Congress members are going to comment they just don't use their names and positions. The fact they don't (like Pat Kane and a couple others do) tells a story of an aimless, gutless administration. Sneaking around anon on media sites trying to better their performance by key stroke. What a sad administration.

[Craig]

There needs to be leadership out of the office to help the congress to restructure our domestic game.

As a collegiate program being part of the Pacific Coast we pay more than 2k in dues to TAU & USAR just to declare who plays for us and get very, very little in return. In addition an added round of unnecessary play-offs that shortens the season by 3 weeks.

Is it the Pacific Coast fault... No, they need to fund programs, the question remains why have the TAU when the board/congress structure has changed.

It is time for USAR/Congress/Competition committee to redistrict the LAU’s to eliminate the TAU’s and flatten our organization. 16 LAU’s, 8 to the East 8 to the West, win your LAU club competition then play in post season either in the east or west then to the final 4, eliminate a round of play-offs and travel, keep the money local to re-invest in our game for the rep sides.

If we want to get better, we need to stop trying to figure out who the 9th best team in the country is. If we really want that, have the NIT for the next best 8 clubs who missed out on winning their local comp.

Someone from these committees step up and take ownership of our domestic club game.

[Suwoop]

While rugby league just drew huge audiences on Spike, rugby union in the USA is dead....thanks USA Rugby!

you said it man screw union if they had a league team close to me I would easily jump ship

[huh?]

I think league blows and I dont consider it rugby. It shares throwing a spiral pass laterally and thats about it. The tackling sucks too. To each his own I guess but I'll take union every day of the week.

[SoCal]

NM and USAR are trying to cover their tracks with these new college rugby plans.

This administration has done nothing for college rugby for three years, so now that college rugby is starting to get organized for defection, NM is running around trying to make deals with these coaches.

I heard Doc Jones on the ARN pod cast and I wouldn't want him speaking for our team. He sounds like he's already in Melville's pocket. Bruce McLane was great talking about that piece of shit coaching certification program that USAR offers. Fly in some poms to tell us American sports coaching sucks, yea I'm sure to pay for that certification.

Do these TU college coaches all think Melville is going to make them the next All American coach? Kiss a little ass, and hope for the best maybe.

[Congress]

There really isn't anything we can do about it. Our country is becoming third world, why would we expect anything better from our rugby?

[no more 9th place]

Craig has a good idea.
Best I've heard for a while. Ditch the LAU's and just operate TU's.
The cost of having 2 layers of admin is not helping grassroots rugby.

[LAX supporter]

We have no layers of administration or services, we only have layers of dues and tax.

LAUs and TUs both do nothing. Add in USAR and its perfect. I complete waste of time and money.

[twitter direct.com]

I expect Collegiate Rugby to surpass Eagle performance in 10 years time.

USARFU hasn't a clue.
just checked out usacollegerugby.com - looks good so far.

Good luck gentlemen.

[huh?]

huh? thats a site that hasnt been updated in like 2 years. its another rugbyamerica.net