Summer Eagle slate pivotal to World Cup cycle

The national team's spring-summer 2013 schedule, all but announced, looks be its most important slate during the 4-year-cycle leading to the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

The docket includes a non-cap match against Canada in May; Ireland, Tonga, Fiji, and Japan in June; and home-and-away RWC qualifiers against Canada in July. The Irish game is to be in Houston, the Tongan in Salt Lake City, and the home Canadian contest in Atlanta, US coach Mike Tolkin last month told This is American Rugby.

Winning the summer qualifying series means immediate advancement to Pool D, which would allow the US to set its own schedule in 2014, rather than play further qualifying matches. Also, USARFU would receive a first round of RWC participation monies.

Earlier, the Pacific Nations matches -- the revived Pacific Rim Championship, minus Samoa -- represent the opportunity to regain ground in the International Rugby Board rankings. Since 2006, the US has lost 15 of 19 matches against fellow 'tier 2' countries.

The governing body awards no ranking points for close defeats, but does base subsidies in part on international outcomes. IRB monies accounts for more than one-fifth of USARFU's annual budget, according to the union's most recent audit statement.

The Ireland match will be judged against 2009's 27-10 loss in Santa Clara, California, also a year when the Irish first string were away with the British and Irish Lions. It too holds consequences for USARFU's hopes of transforming the national XV into revenue engine. Based on last summer's Italy match, the gate is likely to be strong; but sponsors prefer to associate with a winning, or at least an improving, team.

The spring campaign could kick off with a one-off match against South Africa's Golden Lions, who are to visit Vancouver and then Irvine, California, in April, according Rugby Magazine and other published reports. The former Transvaal province lost its Super Rugby franchise after the 2012 season, and so is looking for new avenues. Using domestic internationals and 'A' players, USARFU would contribute half of an invitational XV.

In 2012, the Eagles posted a 3-3 record, besting Georgia, Russia, and Romania while falling to Canada, Italy, and Tonga. The net effect was to secure the USA's place in world rugby's unofficial second division.

United States of America: Possible 2013 Spring-Summer Schedule
May 25    Canada A (vs USA A)    Edmonton
June 8     Ireland                       Houston: BBVA Stadium
June 14   Tonga                         Salt Lake City: Rio Tinto Stadium
June 19   Fiji                             Japan: undeclared
June 23   Japan                         Japan: undeclared
July 20    Canada                       Atlanta: Kennesaw St. Univ.
July 27/8  Canada                     Toronto

Comments

[Deano]

Whats this I hear about the real possibility of a bunch of college conferences breaking away from USAR competitions and doing their own thing? I heard that it will be 15's in the fall and 7's in the spring for over half the countries college teams.

2-1 its that stroker from West Point is behind it?

[Go Army]

"breaking away from USAR" this is a good thing no matter what their plans are.

[College]

@Deano, 2009 called and it wants its rumor back.

[Deano]

College
You know how it is? You hear something more than once - its worth doing a little bit of fishing!

[College]

I hear ya. Are you saying that Pohlidal is renewing his effort to wholly break away from USAR? And that this is completely separate from the US College Rugby Association disaster of a few years ago?

Thatd be interesting. Especially since things seem to be going pretty well right now.

[Count Tyrone Rugen]

If it's "over half of the college teams", then saying RP is behind it is kind of silly...isn't that a majority? Shouldn't that be something to consider, whether that competitive calendar has value?

I don't think we've heard the last of collegiate conferences and teams looking at what USA Rugby actually provides for them...and I don't think RP is the driving force, which probably helps their cause.

[Deano]

Thanks for the input.
Quantifying it matters not, I just heard it was a bunch of teams. Not sure USAR will take any notice until they stop paying Cipp Dues, then they'll sit up and take note.

Telling JC that he has to play fifteens in the fall should be fun?

[USAr]

I don't think JC or any number of the best teams care about when USAR holds their events. USAR could decide their seasons however they want and nothing will change at most schools.

[Deano]

USAr
You are assuming that they can make the Varsity Cup. If they can then yes, USAR could self-destruct for all they care. But if it fails, well, then it might get interesting.

[USAr]

Not sure about the VC prospects for success, but its a reasonable idea considering USAr's messed up approach. If the VC doesn't work then something else will take its place. Its the American Way!

BTW, I don't think USAr is going away for college rugby, they will just continue to muddle along collecting dues and organizing (if you can refer to what they do as organizing) national competitions on rec fields with no stands, much less any of the other trapping of an event. If the teams want better events and competitions the Boulderetts aren't the answer.

I agree with RugbyMag the D1A college championship will be lucky to have 1000 spectators, down over 90%.

[Let's not play Korea]

Actually, losing to Canada doesn't necessarily mean our 2014 summer tests will be affected by qualifying. The loser of that series will have a two match series against a South American country (Uruguay), and it will likely be in November as it was for the last RWC.

Now if we lose to Uruguay, that would most likely mean a match in summer 2014 against someone like South Korea.