Nese Malifa and 6 other World Cup players are in contention for next month's Pan Am Games, a benchmark tournament for not only the 7s but also the 15s team.
More than a third of the short list are 15s regulars, suggesting America's international roster remains thin. Most of the stronger nations, including Argentina, which like the US uses a 'player export' model, have essentially divorced the two squads.
At seven-a-side's debut in the hemispheric championships, finishing in the top three would significantly advance USARFU's case for US Olympic Committee resources. Given Boulder's recent record in the commercial market, the collapse of the Churchill Cup, and precarious International Rugby Board plans, the union has a lot to gain from the Colorado Springs organization, which allocates on the basis of potential for Olympic medals. Underwriting for the 7s team would free up cash for expensive 15s operations.
The union also has suggested, again, that it will contract 7s players. (Nigel Melville's 2009 promise went unfulfilled.) The need was underlined by yesterday's release of the 2011-2012 schedule, which will see the squad assembled nearly two straight months from early October to early December, plus three more legs of the World Sevens Series.
More immediately, 7s coach Al Caravelli encouraged aspiring internationals to move to the San Diego area. 'If we could get as many players as possible to move to San Diego that would be a big shot in the arm for the national program. It would enable us to train every day after everyone’s workday,' he said in a prepared statement.
USARFU, which is in no position to build its own facility, does not now have daily access to the USOC campus there, but even a makeshift training regime could help groom the next generation of 7s and subsequently 15s internationals. In addition to sharing players with the test squad, several current regulars are in their late 20s or early 30s.
The call might raise concerns, however, that local clubs would benefit from the national policy, as has been the case with Canadian hopefuls moving to the Vancouver area.
Underlining his intent, Caravelli further outlined the 7s team approach toward university athletes, many of whom enjoy training environments superior to club players but have academic commitments. Providing they merit squad berths, students will be selected during the World Sevens Series' latter stages, which roughly coincide with spring break and the close of the spring semester.
Six such players, including Utah's Don Pati, were identified as 2011-12 candidates. Arizona's Peter Tiberio and Oklahoma's Taylor Mokate were part of last season's Hong Kong-Adelaide leg, while Brigham Young's Steve St. Pierre and Ryan Roundy and Cal's Blaine Scully and Colin Hawley debuted on the back half of previous campaigns.
The 15s program has been rather less aggressive in fast tracking collegians, and also scheduled development-grade matches that all but preclude students. Much the same can be said of the age-grade teams.
Tiberio and Mokate, as well as recent captain Matt Hawkins and Mark Bokhoven, are currently injured and so were omited from the 19-man Pan Am pool. The release designates a broader group of 37 as WSS candidates.
2011 Pan-Am Games Player Pool
Justin Boyd (Belmont Shore), Miles Craigwell (Old Puget Sound Beach), Paul Emerick (Life Univ.), Tai Enosa (Belmont Shore), Colin Hawley (Olympic Club), Duncan Kelm (Belmont Shore), Valenese Malifa (Glendale), Rocco Mauer (Chicago Lions), Folau Niua (San Francisco Golden Gate), Mike Palefau (Utah Warriors), James Patterson (Highlanders), Nu’u Punimata (Old Puget Sound Beach), Mile Pulu (East Palo Alto), Blaine Scully (undeclared), Roland Suniula (Boston), Shalom Suniula (Belmont Shore), Zack Test (undeclared), Maka Unufe (Utah Warriors), Don Pati (Univ. of Utah)
Testing comments...
Posted by: kurt | 09 September 2011 at 12:09
The minnows have been pretty game so far in this World Cup, so it will be interesting to see what the USA can do against Ireland. Ireland certainly aren't entering the game with any form and O'Sullivan should know that team inside out.
Posted by: Flynn Hagerty | 10 September 2011 at 03:51
Japan, Tonga and Romania all did very well against teams that have seen RWC knockout stages and we will see if Canada, USA and Georgia can do the same. Regardless of how the IRB determines their tiers this RWC is setting up to define a tier three that will be a division of all the tier 2 teams into an emerging group and a lapsing group. Call it Tier 2A and Tier 2B. I think the Pacific Island teams have been in the 2A pool for the last decade, and Japan made a strong case winning the Pacific Cup and their match against France to be included in that group. If as they states as their goal they win two games in this RWC and automatically qualify for RWC 2015, they are firmly in that group. Romania and Georgia are also showing they belong in that group. Where will Canada and USA find themselves after this RWC. Will they be in Tier 2B with Namibia, Portugal, Russia, Uruguay et al, or in this emerging 2A tier?
Big games on the horizon.
Posted by: Beagles | 10 September 2011 at 04:25
I'm not sure that Romania played all that great or Scotland just played down to the level of the competition. It was a pretty dire match in many ways. When Scotland needed to they got the job done. Similarly, Tonga looked pretty inferior in the first half at times and in the second hald one wonders if the Kiwi's were not keeping the powder dry. In past WC's they have wowed everyone in the pool games only to come up short. They may be taking a more conservative approach.
Japan certainly looked solid and Fiji were pleasure to watch. So far the tournament is looking pretty entertaining. Even the England / Argentina match was fun to watch though it did not flow brilliantly. It was a tough game for sure.
Looks like the conditions will be a factor for the Eagles tomorrow (or later today I guess at this point down there). Wet, cool and windy. Scully will be tested and our speedsters out back will likely be underemployed. It's gonna be a tough go but hopefully the Eagles will take a "nothing ventured, nothing gained" attitude and let it all hang out. Conventional wisdom says keep it tight ... so screw conventional wisdom and have a go!!!
Posted by: I played drek rugby - and loved it | 10 September 2011 at 17:05
Amazing what three or more passes can achieve...
I believe that chances for a try hit 80% plus when a team does this.
England just got kicked in the nuts - I can see a rematch against Argentina coming.
Japan was awesome.
USA should host Romania every year, and Namibia - great gains made by both countries.
Excellent start to the Cup.
Go on Eagles - get the ball wide and run!
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Posted by: Skinner | 10 September 2011 at 17:24