End of college ITTs to wrap up men's rep game

The college all-star tournament is facing its end, a move that would draw the curtain on men's representative competition in the United States.

In proposing to replace it with a invitational scouting combine, Boulder is assuming complete responsibility for elite player scouting and development, having discontinued the senior Inter-Territorial Tournament (as the select-side format was originally known) after 2008. This implies the fortunes of the All Americans and the national team will be entirely the result of top-down efforts.

Most top rugby countries rely on an intermediate level of regional teams that identify and train promising players, a system that is seen to create opportunity for outsiders while also bridging the differences between amateur and professional competition. America is thus moving in a direction that runs opposite to its rivals, as well as the course chair Kevin Roberts and chief executive Nigel Melville set out upon taking the helm in 2006, when the North American 4 'sub international' tournament was launched.

'After discussion between the internal departments of events, college, and high performance, we have decided that it would be the best course of action to not hold the men’s collegiate [national all-star championship]...', USARFU operations director Jim Synder wrote in an email earlier this week.

'With the All American program not finding value in the event as a selection vehicle, and the events department having a difficult time placing the event with a host since there is little to no revenue prospects, and some of the traditional teams not fielding teams, it seemed like it would not be successful on any of those fronts.', he explained.

The combine idea is still on the drawing board, perhaps in part because the All American head coaching position has been vacant. 'We will be fleshing out the details of the replacement event over the coming weeks', Synder wrote.

If the senior ITT was crowded out by the failed NA4, marred by ineffective technical systems and centrally managed franchises that were alien to the American rugby landscape, the collegiate version has been undermined by the ongoing shift to organization by conference. All of the division 1 teams no longer pay dues to the territories, which not only fielded the teams but provided crucial funding.

Many conference officials would prefer to concentrate their energies on invigorating the young organizations, and see representative competition as a distraction because it is not commonly found in the mainstream sports environments they are trying to emulate.

The technical perspective is decidedly mixed. Some contend that since the ITT was a one-off event which inevitably fell short of the ideal of drawing all the best players, it wasn't worth the effort. Players didn't have the opportunity to develop over time, and so were indifferent about participating.  '[The Mid-Atlantic] never sent its best team in any year so far as I know. Sure, some guys just aren't available no matter what. But what's the point of sending less-than-the-best? They aren't national team caliber', one official said an email.

'Frankly, the team the [Pacific Coast] put on the field last year did not represent the deep quality of players in the [territory]. [The coach] was literally begging kids to go', another official observed.

The countervailing view is that aspiring players no longer have a fair shot at representative teams, at any level. '[The West] were unhappy when the senior men's all-stars were discontinued without an alternative and/or viable replacement. Likewise we are unhappy that the collegiate men's all-stars are being discontinued without a clear plan in place', a third territorial official observed.

'We need to be careful about doing away with a talent identification system, albeit flawed, without having something “better” to take its place', one prominent coach said in an email. 'While the majority of All Americans are already identified and pre-scouted, the ITTs help to identify the top players at lesser-known schools. How do we make sure we don’t miss the next Paul Emerick…' he said, referring to the product of the unheralded University of Northern Iowa.

USARFU would welcome the territories re-allocating their respresentative budgets to underwriting players' costs to attend, Snyder wrote. The pitch would not seem likely to succeed, since the territories no longer see themselves as a stakeholder in Boulder's elite programs.

United States to New Zealand 7s and USA 7s
Mark Bokhoven (Denver Barbarians), Miles Craigwell (Old Puget Sound Beach), Andrew Durutalo (Old Puget Sound Beach), Matt Hawkins (Belmont Shore), Colin Hawley (USARFU contract), Folau Niua (USARFU contract), Roland Suniula (USARFU contract), Shalom Suniula (captain, USARFU contract), Mike Palefau (Utah Warriors), Zack Test (USARFU contract), Peter Tiberio (USARFU contract), Maka Unufe (USARFU contract)

Comments

[sevens]

Travels costs killed the single tournament format. A lot of money was being spent with little value added. If a national standard development camp is designed with a combine and talent identifaction criteria, it can be deployed regionally within all the SBROs, college conferences, and GU's. Flying top quality coaches into the regions is cheaper than flying all the players to one site. USAR can use the regional camps for scouting purposes. (Video should be part of every camp)If each of the 16 or so regions ran elite csmps for 100 players, then there is a massive pool of players to select from and the quality of rugby improves in the region. The SBRO's conferences, and GU's can work out how to pay for the camps now that they control their own money. Some players will pay for themselves, some can be sponsored. Coach education can also be part of the camps to further improve the quality of rugby in the region.

[Cougar Power]

If BYU goes 3-0 on their Pacific Northwest trip this weekend, you have your answer whey JC dropped out of the CPD. Cougars crushed a full strength Central Washington side 76-7. JC ran for the hills knowing it was a rebuilding year for them. He'll still take credit for a D1 national championship in 2012 when they crush Davenport University (who?) in the final. But we all know it is a D2 championship.

[college]

3-0 vs the weak ass pacific northwest? it means nothing. Relax cougar power. That match still needs to happen though and I bet it still will, but this time it will be on byu and cal's own terms and they will get the money instead of usar.

I mean cmon. You really think Cal is dodging you guys? Riidculous. BYU always thinks every decision has something to do with them.

[Postseason Ban]

My understanding is that the USAR men's collegiate competition committee declared Cal ineligible for the 2011-2012 D1-AA playoffs. So there will be no national championship in Berkeley this year in any division.

[Sad Bear]

JC better have something up his sleeve because there are some annoyed alumni up in the canyon.

[Myopic]

JC spent the last year saving Cal Rugby. I think in the process he lost sight of what was happening around him in the college rugby world. I feel bad for the seniors on the team.

[Cougar Power]

JC started the CPD via the ARN podcast and didn't get a payday in the first year, so he took the ball and went home to complain. BYU didn't get a payday either, but they carried on competing in the toughest competition available. Keep be the judge on what program has more character.

[see BYU in May]

BYU posters might want to slow the coronation of BYU as national champions after their 3-0 pacific northwest visit.

Some thoughts...CWU is largely an Alex Goff manufactured team. They have never been to the 16 or 8 team national championship tournament. Goodish? Maybe, but lots of d1aa teams would pump them. Slow the horses.

A BYU 3-0 start. All the good teams have 3-0, 4-0, 5-0, 6-0, undefeated starts. An early season road trip, is just an early season road trip.

Is Cal afraid of BYU? Possibly, but I doubt it based on Cal's record verses BYU, one lose and what, a dozen victories. Hasn't the last several championships been Cal a lot, BYU one? Hasn't BYU been the #1 or #2 ranked team for each of the last 10 seasons with one championship to show. If this is the year that they are great great great, won't it be proved over the course of the season?

Maybe the BYU team should be more concerned with Life who returns a team full of scholarship players, or Ark St who have almost beat them twice, or St Mary's who beat Utah Friday.

Can't help but think this is the same old BYU rant. Big, older, foreign. They pump the D2 college Central Washington and hit the message boards claiming All Black status.

The championship is again in the backyard of BYU, maybe this time they can beat a team for the championship, if not, it is time to get off the keyboards.

Slow the coronation.

[!!!]

St Mary's Gaels 41 Utah 10

[Sad Bear]

@!!!
You may be correct, JC does't want to tangle with the Gaels who will play BYU later in the season. JC and Cal are a wilting violet, but I hope not.

[SMC in a close one]

I will admit to being a huge Cal Rugby fan, but I am also a fan of St Mary's college rugby. If fact I am a fan of all our Northern California teams.

For me one of the biggest matches of the year is Cal v SMC. These are two really well coached teams. Both have strong recruiting and benefit more than the other NC teams from our strong high school rugby.

In 2012 Cal vs SMC will be played on Sunday, April 14th at St Mary's. SMC has a senior laden team featuring several all-americans and local greats. It is the best SMC team in memory. They made Utah look poor on Friday.

Cal is just Cal. Always good. Very young this year and they return this entire team minus a player or two to next year's team. To suggest Cal is afraid of any team is just internet babble.

Here are the scores over the last decade.
2001 78-14
2002 56-5
2003 51-7
2004 51-7
2005 58-10
2006 40-7
2007 33-12
2008 78-22
2008 41-31 in the NC semifinals
2009 20-5
2010 56-5
2011 60-34

My pick for 2012 is St Mary's. I think they will break through for their first victory in a long time. They have just the team to do it and they are catching Cal in a rare year when they are inexperienced. Being a home match will also add a try to the SMC cause. Also note the 2009 score of Cal 20, SMC 5. Close game where Cal didn't have their normal great team. That 2009 Cal team lost to BYU in the finals. Similar to this season maybe. Even in a Cal off year, they are in the top few teams in the country. Prediction...SMC 36, Cal 24.

Thanks to Calbears.com for the scores and recaps.

Final point, I think their might be 4000 fans at the match. The match will outdraw every other Bay Area college sporting event that week, with maybe the exception of a men's college basketball game.

[Gael Gal]

Would love to see Cal get a beat down by St Mary's.

[beaten down]

Beat maybe, "beat down" very unlikely. But Gael Gal you could then say your school was 1-30 or something against Cal. It is a start.

[SMC in a close one]

The best Cal vs SMC game was the semifinal in 2008. Cal was up 29-12 at half and started using their subs. Then Kevin Swiryn the College Player of the Year, Volney Rouse and friends mounted a great comeback before falling 41-31. It was awesome.

Cal went on to stuff BYU 59-7 in the final. I think everyone thought they had seen the final a day earlier.

[Ouch]

Cal just put triple digits on Stanford. I think JC was trying to send a message after the NorCal conference denied their request to join. Although this probably wasn't best way to make them reconsider that decision for next year...

[C-Note]

I have a feeling Cal might have hung a century on Stanford if they had been admitted.

[college]

Goff article says SMC players, Bubba Jones, Garrett Brewer, Chad Clark, and Lloyd Evans have all suffered "long-term" injuries. Whatever that means. Either way, thoughts of a looming upset over Cal can probably be put on hold.

There must be something in the water at Moraga. I've never seen a team contract the injury bug as easily as SMC does year in and year out.

[disinformation]

@college,

Please don't tell us you are offering comment based on a Goff story. Alex Goff is not a source of critical thinking information.

For example, the long term injury which Chad Clark has, allowed him to play 80 minutes of sparkling rugby this past Friday afternoon, against no other than Don Pati from Utah.

Here is how it works. St Mary's is always claiming injury and if you aren't paying attention you think "there must be something in the water in Moraga". They throw up numbers of injured players with degrees of status like, "longterm". Alex just writes whatever they tell him or he reads. In a NY minute rugby fans are comments on the SMC injury bug "year in and year out".

SMC had all their players when they lost to Arkansas State last year, but it was the same story.

Here is some real info, St Mary's is loaded this year. They have a big senior class of excellent players. They are a BYU trap game.

[trash heap]

The end of the college ITT/All Star championship.

Well there you have it, USAR and the organization's chief architects Nigel Melville and Kevin Roberts have completely dismantled domestic representative rugby. The college rep competition was the last one standing and now through imperial rule its gone, finished.

How is this working for USAR? Are we getting better internationally? No we are worse. Are they busy developing new rep competitions which make more sense? No, nothing. Are they focusing their efforts on competitions which could gain sponsorship? No, there are no plans or sponsorships.

Congress is good with all this I guess. The new GU's must be where this is heading. This sounds good, the GU national scouting combine competition, brought to you by worldrugbyshop.com

[CPD]

UC Davis rugby suspended for how long? No practices or competitions. Will they be able to play in the CPD?

[Rugby is Doomed]

Women's lacrosse on ESPNU tonight.

[college fan]

Now there is a great game...not! In women's LAX they can't even touch each other. If there was ever a game which was ruined by the difference in gender rules, it is women's LAX. The marketing tag line for women's college rugby should be, they play the "same rules as the boys".

It is a tribute to Nigel Melville and Kevin Roberts that an inferior sporting product is on TV when domestic college rugby isn't.

And remember women's LAX this time a year is meaningless early season stuff. Cold weather teams heading to warm locations or to indoor facilities. It is not like we are getting beat out because these are critical competition LAX games.

US college rugby needs new leadership.

[ESPNU]

The NCAA pays for these games to be on TV. They use th multi-billion dollar deal with CBS for the men's college basketball tournament to fund it. Collegiate rugby could be on ESPNU all the time too, if someone would pay the prodution costs. The NCAA has the money to do something like that, USAR does not.

[Anon]

^Not to mention, that more Americans understand the rules of lacrosse than they do rugby. Sadly. Believe it or not, this is a huge barrier to getting action on television more often (and the reason crap like bowling and darts are on tv over other programming options).

[college]

I suggested to Nigel Melville on his blog that USAR attempt to engage IM departments in universities and offer to provide the resources to add tough/flag rugby as an IM sport. Recruiting the college rugby programs to help the development and ref the games would make a ton of sense for both them (goodwill and recruitment) and for American rugby in general.

What better way to gain knowledgeable fans than to put the ball in their hands on a non-contact basis? I am, of course, making the assumption that universities would welcome another sport that could bring in the entry fees they charge for students to play in these IM leagues. It is definitely worth looking into. I didnt get a response from Melville, so who knows if USAR is looking into it.