Two thirds of the 2010 Churchill Cup competitors will be full international sides, meaning the US could well play two tests during the three-game June slate.
The Eagles have drawn Russia and England's Saxons in the pool round, and will face one of Canada, France 'A', or Uruguay as part of a finals tripleheader. 14th-ranked Canada and 16th-ranked Russia sit higher in the IRB's standings than the 18th-placed US, demoted last week, while Uruguay is 20th following a pair of fall 2009 defeats to the Eagles.
There is room to debate whether full tests or 'A' matches are better long-term preparation for the 2011 World Cup. But the tournament's drawing power has surely receded from 2006-08, when it featured Ireland 'A' and Scotland 'A' -- in effect, half of the Six Nations reserve teams -- as well as either the New Zealand Maori or the Argentina Jaguars.
The Jaguars and Ireland 'A' also appeared a year ago, with the Irish winning the title. Thus 2010 will be only the second time in eight years that the defending champion does not compete.
As in 2009, the nine-match tournament will be contested solely in America. The championship will staged in a Major League Soccer venue near Newark, New Jersey, while the prelims are to be played in the Denver area's Infinity Stadium. Neither facility existed when the tournament kicked off in 2003.
At present, America's Rugby Super League final is scheduled for Infinity on Friday, June 4, the night before Canada meets Uruguay and the US tackles Russia. But national team management is pushing for the game to be moved up a week so Eagle squad players and staff won't have to choose between club and country commitments.
In response, RSL officials have asked USARFU to at least make the league whole for short-notice travel on a major holiday. There also are questions about TV broadcasting and staging the club final in Denver.
The Division 1, 2, and 3 finals too are scheduled for the same weekend as the Churchill's opener. Absent USARFU's committing to compensating travel costs, the union's December request to bring these championships forward was soundly rebuffed.
Nigel Melville is numero Uno!!!
Posted by: ninetreybdogs | 23 February 2010 at 08:50
"A George divided against itself cannot stand"
Posted by: One of Jerry's Kids | 23 February 2010 at 09:20
When the CC was made up of mostly A teams and Canada you complained that there were no test matches.
Now there are likely two test matches and a strong challenge against England Saxons - who often bring capped players - and you complain that the tournament has been devalued in quality.
You can't have it both ways!
The SL has known the dates for the CC for some time. Bruce McLane all but assured that the date for the final would be changed with no problem.
The SL has no reason to complain on this one.
My one concern is that the finals will again be contested in front of a lot of empty seats. Infinity is small but not hard to fill up - I think the tournament should be held exclusively at Infinity.
Posted by: ya can't win | 23 February 2010 at 09:22
I am not certain, but the RSL final should be played either the sat or sunday of memorial day weekend. eddie o'sullivan said either is fine.
if not, they are making a silly mistake in planning. it is quite easy to make that change
losing eagles in the finals benefits no one. hopefully sensibility prevails, it may have already prevailed, but it hasn't been announced to me at least.
Posted by: Bruce McLane | 23 February 2010 at 09:29
18th in the world.
This isn't a slam at our rank. Yes, we have been ranked higher before the foreign boys took over, but what's in a few places?
These comments are directed at our business direction. Ladies and gentlemen, we are spending far too high of a percentage of our annual budget on the Eagles and senior rep rugby in general. Five Eagles coaches is too many. A $250k head coach is too much. A more expensive CEO who doesn't understand American sport is way too much...and stupid. The current administration has spent many millions trying to move the Eagles from the high-teens to the mid-teens, as if this will make a difference in the future of US rugby.
Why is it so hard to understand this isn't the time to spend all our grant and sponsorship, and much of our dues income on the Eagles? We should be investing every dollar we can muster on domestic rugby at all levels, certainly to include youth, high school and college. Lets invest to become a school sport. Lets use the Olympic movement to create youth, high school and college rugby growth.
The XV Eagles should not be funded. They should play as a fully amateur team. They should do their very best and we should be good with them staying in the high teens, while we invest in more important areas of our game. 14th in the world, 18th, 19th, it doesn't make any difference. Except that our current approach is wasting our chances of building a strong rugby union capable of becoming a rugby power.
We have been throwing money over our shoulder for four years. This rugby union has made zero investment in our future (talk isn't investment, funding is).
Throw these short timers out on their ear and lets build a rugby union!
Posted by: bottom-up | 23 February 2010 at 10:14
Bottom-up: When the USARFU gets a grant from IRB stating the money must be spent on high-performance, then they must use it on high-performance! Eagles XV not be funded? Do you think the Saxons or England U-20 are not funded?? Funded does not mean professional. Funded means that the players don't fork out their own money for the privilege of representing their country in sport.
You wanna grow the game, grow it in your backyard! That's why lacrosse is getting so popular. Men and women that used to play are starting youth clubs in every community on their own.
Get off your butt and stop complaining!!
Posted by: Eagle fan | 23 February 2010 at 13:38
You don't understand. I'm saying don't fund the Eagles, they aren't worth funding. It is a waste of money, there is no ROI possible. Spend all these funds on domestic rugby and we will build a rugby union capable of winning.
Of course the Saxons are funded, different situation. In our situation its dumb. The IRB wants a US winner, explain to them that what they have been doing for four is is a waste, just look at our ranking, its going south. The IRB will follow our lead.
Posted by: bottom-up | 23 February 2010 at 15:54
Well we only lost two places the other day because Georgia and Russia are playing in the ENC while we are idle. That, in itself, is not so much a matter of us getting worse as it is an artifact of scheduling.
Just picking a nit, is all.
Looks like we'll be playing Russia in New Zealand next year.
Posted by: My Dinner With Andre The Giant | 23 February 2010 at 17:27
What does a fully amateur team mean?
I think there's some opportunity to pare back the Eagle program and not reduce performance, but if a fully amateur team means pay to play then I'd rather just stop having international rugby altogether and withdraw from the IRB.
Posted by: Flynn Hagerty | 23 February 2010 at 18:10
HP has many levels and if we had been spending this money from the IRB on HS (HS AA) and College (U-20& AA's) High Performance athletes 4 years on we may have developed or attrcted from other sports truely HP rugby players
Posted by: curious on-looker | 24 February 2010 at 05:38
USAR should provide, flights, lodging and meals for the senior Eagles. The extended camps, coaching staffs and six figure coaching salaries should be eliminated. This approach won't alter the Eagles results.
All of the remaining funding being spent on the Eagles and their staff should be directed at youth, high school and college rugby. By directing millions towards these areas we will be building something for the future without costing the Eagles significantly. Its a win, win.
If the Eagles can produce real NET income from events and sponsorships let them keep it.
USAR has been on the wrong path for four years. Congress has failed to ask the right questions or demand the right answers. The Board and USAR staff are clueless in their approach. USAR needs to quit wasting OUR dues, sponsorship (National Guard) and IRB grants on Eagle team results which mean nothing to success of our rugby union at present.
Posted by: agreed | 24 February 2010 at 09:23
Bruce- is NYAC or Old Blue developing a relationship with Red Bull stadium like the Denver Barbarians have done with Dick's Sporting Goods Park?
Posted by: Things that make you go hmmmmm | 24 February 2010 at 20:50
Unless OB and NYAC could get the stadium for free, i'm not sure either team would want to play at Red Bull. Both clubs have dedicated facilities already, these are not municipal park or middle school venue teams.
Posted by: Nick | 25 February 2010 at 05:13
I know that NYAC is not because the NYAC just built us an excellent massive facility with ample parking. Old Blue plays at the Columbia soccer stadium which is lined for rugby, as it was built in large part due to a former Old Blue rugby player, it too has ample parking.
Because of this I don't think we will pursue a deal with them, unless it is part of a larger initiative.
Lastly, Red Bull Stadium is not in the greatest neighborhood in the world, for that matter neither is Yankee Stadium, so it is not a huge issue, but it is a factor.
Posted by: bruce mclane | 25 February 2010 at 05:57
It'll be interesting to see Russia. They just qualified for their first ever Rugby World Cup today. Unless they can beat Georgia (in Turkey) by 9 points in 4 weeks, they will be in our pool and our competition for 4th place.
Posted by: My Dinner With Andre The Giant | 27 February 2010 at 08:58
Check that...the Russia-Georgia match is in 3 weeks.
Posted by: My Dinner With Andre The Giant | 27 February 2010 at 09:07
Denver Barbarians beat BYU today 21-18.
Posted by: Things that make you go hmmmmm | 27 February 2010 at 19:48