Trick or Treat: Eagles Fall Tour

Since it's Halloween, I thought I'd get in a festive spirit by asking whether or not the Eagles Fall Tour would be a trick or a treat. In my latest article at RugbyRugby, I ask whether the following questions:

Will the tour build off the energy of last summer or will it fizzle like the Americas Rugby Championship?
Will Samu Manoa and Taku Ngwenya play?
Who will be the surprise player this assembly?
How many matches can the Eagles win?

Take a look at the article and have your say.

NBC, EPL, and Rugby on Television in America

NBCUniversal, which includes NBC, NBC Sports Network, NBC Universal Sports television stations, acquired the rights to the English Premier League (beginning in the 2013 season) over the weekend for a reported $80-85 million per season. Previously, Fox Soccer and ESPN had shared rights to the EPL. How NBC plans on carrying out coverage of the EPL (they also own two Spanish language stations) is to be determined. However, after paying such a high price for the rights, it is safe to assume that it won’t be a side investment. Take the jump to read more.

American Sin Bin November Sale

This Is American Rugby sponsors American Sin Bin are running a promotion for the month of November. To take advantage of the promotion, all you have to do is type in the code on the ASB banner on the right hand side of the page. Remember to tell them you saw the promotion on This Is American Rugby!

Opening Kick

Opening Kick is a segment devoted to bringing you all Eagles and U.S.A. Rugby news in one location.

Eagles:

Alex Goff has more on standout Otusia Tupouata, who had a trial with La Rochelle in France.

Russia have named their team for the fall internationals, including their match against the United States.

College:

Even though Virginia Tech won the ACRL, they will not be traveling to the 7's Nationals due to finances and timing.

There is still time to register for the Las Vegas Invitational.

Kutztown has teamed up with local partners to help fight cancer.

Club:

The Saratoga Stampede are looking to earn a berth to the DII nationals with a win this weekend.

Women:

The Women's National Team is looking for sponsors to help them get to Europe this fall.

World:

The European powers met in Dublin yesterday to discuss the future of cup play. The ERC says that they will review proposals from both sides.

Chris Robshaw has been named England's captain for their autumn internationals. England have also released nine players either due to injury of to play for their club this weekend.

Ireland have also been hit by injuries, including Brian O'Driscoll and Rory Best who have been ruled out of the team's upcoming matches.

Warren Gatland says he is looking to pick a player on form rather than captaining abilities ahead of the Lions tour next summer.

Quade Cooper was fined $40,000 for his criticisms of the Wallabies.

Video: Ngwenya Gets Smashed

Paki's Corner brought this video to our attention. Rough stuff for our own Taku Ngwenya.

Serevi Rugby Looks To Change Youth Rugby

Since arriving on the American rugby scene in 2010, Serevi Rugby has set about changing the way the public views youth rugby. Serevi Rugby and a few other organizations are attempting to teach more children the game of rugby while also making a successful company. However, given the current state of American rugby, that hasn’t always been easy.

Director of Washington for Serevi Rugby Josh Young acknowledged that charging players to attend a camp has had some pushback from people that “grew up in a different era,” but also asserts that when “you look around at other sports, whether it be football, soccer, lacrosse, etc, kids go to a camp, and they’re expected to pay a fee to attend.” He adds that Serevi Rugby is “trying to get rugby similar to these other sports in that families are used to going to camps and having to pay for it.”

Take the jump to read more.

Poll Tuesday: XV's or 7's?

Last week we asked you which Eagles fall opponent you were looking forward to the most. It was a fairly close vote, but with 45% of the vote, Tonga was the winner, following by Russia with 34%. Romania finished last with 19% of the vote. The fact that you the fans wanted to see the Eagles play Tonga is not super surprising, given the large ties to the Polynesia community here in America, and the attractive open style the team plays.

This week we ask you a simple question, do you prefer XV's or 7's?

XV's

7's

Both

Opening Kick

Opening Kick is a segment devoted to bringing you all Eagles and U.S.A. Rugby news in one location.

Eagles:

Mike Petri is looking forward to the Eagles fall tour and says the team knows what they have to do to be successful. (Membership required)

Are you ready? There are only 100 days left until the Las Vegas 7's.

College:

With only a few weeks left, the Empire Conference is very tight with several teams still in contention.

Wheeling Jesuit have completed their inaugural season with a 5-1-1 record.

Rugbymag has the latest DI-AA standings.

Women:

Beantown are sending two teams to nationals, their WPL team and DII team. Jackie Finlan has a look at the entire playoff field.

Finlan also recaps the leading WPL point scorers.

The IRB has a recap of the Zengcheng Sevens and the U.S. women's victory.

Club:

Schuykill River beat NOVA over the weekend. Alex Goff says the team is doing the dirty work.

The men's DII playoff field is set.

World:

European representatives will meet again in Dublin today to try and find a solution to the English and French clubs objections to the current European club format.

Scotland have already come out swinging ahead of the meeting and have hit out at the Premiership.

Sale's consistent struggles this season have cost Bryan Redpath his job.

Cardiff are also struggling this season but Phil Davies says that he is "not going to give up."

Yesterday we noted that the RFU was contemplating selling the naming rights to Twickenham, now the Scottish Rugby Union is thinking about doing the same for Murrayfield.

Fiji have made seven changes to their team ahead of the Dubai 7's.

The British & Irish Lions have unveiled their jersey for next summer.

ESPNScrum's Huw Richards looks back at one of the most memorable matches in rugby history.

Hurricane Sandy Got You Down, Try Some Rugby

If you are on the East Coast and need a little break from Hurricane Sandy, enjoy this match between Sydney University and Eastern Suburbs.

Update: Rugby Players in the NFL

Hayden Smith (#82) on his Jet debut.

Hayden Smith made his debut for the NY Jets over the weekend, and to make the occasion let's get an update on rugby players in the N.F.L. and college football.

Hayden Smith: As was mentioned, Smith made his debut for the Jets against the Miami Dolphins last Sunday. Late last week, Smith was signed to the 53-man gameday roster after spending the first part of the season on the practice squad. It's common for teams to sign players to their practice squad and then to call them up if there are injuries.

Take the jump to read more.

Eagles Abroad: Weekend Review

It was an up and down week for Americans across the globe as some players put in full 80 minute performances for their team while coming away with a defeat, while other played the full match, came off the bench, or didn't even play but and saw their team win. One of the players in the latter category is Chris Wyles, who was on the bench to watch his team beat Samu Manoa's Northampton. Elsewhere, one American picked up silverware in South Africa, while two Americans finished up play ahead of an international break. Take the jump to read more.

Opening Kick

Opening Kick is a segment devoted to bringing you all Eagles and U.S.A. Rugby news in one location.

Eagles:

Rugbymag's Pat Clifton has confirmed that the Eagles will be playing Ireland in Houston next summer.

Hayden Smith was promoted to the Jets active roster and was on the bench for the team against Miami.

Women:

The U.S. women's 7's team won the Guangzhou Zengcheng Invitational over the weekend. U.S.A. Rugby has all the box scores from the tournament.

XV's Eagle Samantha Pankey blogs about why rugby is such a good fit for her.

Congratulations to ORSU and Atlanta on earning berth to National Championships next month. U.S.A. Rugby has a good run-down of the tournament.

Jackie Finlan also has the latest from the DII club playoffs.

College:

Despite rainy conditions brought on by Hurricane Sandy, Virginia Tech won the ACRL 7's over the weekend, earning a berth to the 7's Nationals and the CRC.

San Diego State won the Santa Barbara 7's. The tournament featured many of the top teams in California.

Illinois defeated Iowa to make the Big Ten Universities playoffs while Ohio State beat Indiana to take the East title.

Bowling Green continued their dominance of the MAC with a pair of big wins.

Club:

Most of the DI playoff seedings have now sorted themselves out. Here is how the Midwest shook out.

The playoffs teams in the Northeast were already set, but wins by Middlesex and Boston have cemented the seeds.

Rugbymag has the latest DI standings.

World:

South Africa have named their touring squad for the fall internationals. It' includes several European-based players.

The All Blacks and the Maori All Blacks have named their team for their autumn internationals in England. The All Blacks have also re-signed a number of their players to central contracts.

Brazil have defeated Paraguay to keep their hopes alive of making it to the 2015 RWC.

The IRB has felt the need to confirm that Moscow is on track to host next year's Sevens RWC.

England have called in David Paice and George Robson to replace the injured Courtney Lawes and Dylan Hartley.

Ireland are also sweating over injuries as Brian O'Driscoll twisted his ankle playing for Leinster over the weekend. As such, the Irish have added seven new players to the team.

Wales isn't immune either. Adam Jones has had to pull out with an injury.

Exeter are hoping to get the green light for their Sandy Park stadium project. Meanwhile, the RFU are mulling over selling the naming rights to Twickenham.

World Rugby Weekend Review

Sonny Bill scored for Panasonic over the weekend.

Life returned to normal for European leagues this weekend as they switched gears from European cup play to their domestic leagues. However, that does not mean that the action was any less exciting as their were several high-profile matches in each of the top three leagues with playoff implications. Additionally, the Currie Cup and ITM Cup finished their seasons with exciting finals.

Take the jump to read more.

Rugby Book Club: Try For The Gold

I must admit, even though Try for the Gold: America's Olympic Rugby Medals came out several years ago, I only recently picked up and read a copy. Shame on me. Mark Ryan does a fantastic job of relating one of, if not the, most important moments in the history of American rugby.

The first thing that is apparent to Ryan's book is the amount of research he put into the project. As a trained historian, I know that the hardest part of any historical research projects is trying to get people you have never met and who lived in a time far removed from your time to come alive. Ryan's biggest success is being able to bring to life the personalities of not only Babe Slater and Rudy Scholz--his two main protagonists--but the rest of the 1920 and 1924 Olympic rugby teams. This only comes though countless hours of research and interviews with family members that take a situation purely from a factual happening to a living event. While Ryan sometimes is guilty of putting thoughts and feelings into the minds of his characters, the amount of research Ryan put into the project gives him the highest level of insight into these characters as possible, making such an act excusable.

Take the jump to read more and post your review.

Video: IRB Total Rugby at the ARC

Rugby on Television Survey

Marta Tartar is doing her graduate thesis about rugby on television in the United States. She is looking to get as many people as possible to fill out her survey. What better way to let television networks know of the interest in rugby than to get a large number of people filling out the survey. So, take the survey and tell your friends.

Click here to take the survey. 

Eagles Abroad: Weekend Preview & TV

After the excitement of the Heineken and Amlin Challenge Cups last week, most of the Americans in Europe return to league play this week. Leading the way is the clash between Chris Wyles’s Saracens and Samu Manoa’s Northampton. Down in France, Taku Ngwenya and Scott LaValla each have big matches that could determine the course of their teams’ respective seasons. Also, down in South Africa, Marcel Brache will play for the Currie Cup this Saturday. Take the jump to see who is playing who this weekend, as well as what’s on television.

Opening Kick

Opening Kick is a segment devoted to bringing you all Eagles and U.S.A. Rugby news in one location.

Eagles:


Shalom Suniula says the if the Eagles 7's believe in themselves and in their systems, they can be a great team. (Membership required)

Alex Goff catches up with Chris Wyles after his big weekend.

Even though he was relegated to the bench, Marcel Brache has the opportunity to win the Currie Cup this weekend.

Nate Ebner is a popular figure, especially at ESPN as they profile him once again.

Women:

The U.S. Women 7's are in China looking for success. So does potential opponent South Africa.

Ric Suggitt says that team is going to try out some new combinations at the tournament. (Membership required)

College:

The MAC finishes play this weekend with a slate of big matches.

Pat Clifton reports the UW-Stout are looking for a national championship.

World:

Graham Jenkins at ESPNScrum looks at the many attempts to rile Ritchie McCaw, while the New York Times lauds the All Black captain.

The English and the French have agreed that they want to see the Heineken Cup reduced to 20 teams.

Fiji's coach has called England "vultures" for calling up many non-English born players.

Samoa have named their team for their autumn tour of Europe.

Andy Hazell won't be playing for 14-weeks after being punished for his actions against Mont-de-Marsan in the Amlin Challenge Cup.

Martyn Williams is enjoying his time in Japan so much that he might stay on for one more season.

The IRB takes a look back at Spain's run in the 1999 World Cup and what it did for rugby in that country.

Women Eagles Get Unexpected Opportunity

It caught most people by surprise that the U.S.A. Women’s 7’s team would be travelling to Guangzhou, China this week for a tournament hosted by China and partially sponsored by the IRB. But some surprises are good and the opportunity for the Eagles to get in some meaningful games will go a long way to helping them succeed on the IRB Women’s Sevens Series this year.

Take the jump to read more.

MacDonald Out Of Autumn Tour, Eagles Low on Prop Options

According Rugbymag’s Alex Goff, Eagles all-time cap leader Mike MacDonald has still not fully recovered from his off-season surgery and will be unavailable for the team’s autumn tour. The loss of MacDonald is a big blow to head coach Mike Tolkin, who needed MacDonald’s skill and experience to help steady a shaky scrum. However, Tolkin will have veterans Shawn Pittman and Eric Fry available.

The Eagles prop corps is already thin with not many options available to the team. The prop group that participated in the Americas Rugby Championship was not overly impressive with some players being good in the field, but terrible in the scrum, and vice versa. MacDonald’s injury means that a player from the ARC, like Zach Fenoglio or Tim Paulsen will likely get an opportunity, but will have to go a long way toward proving their abilities.

Mate Moeakiola is still available and playing with Never is the Federale 1, but he is getting up there in years. Andre Liufau was called into the summer assembly, but visa issues returning to France may prevent his return to the team. Another option is Anthony Estrella, who is currently playing in Japan. The former Cal All-American hasn’t been called into a U.S. assembly yet, but this may finally be his opportunity.

No matter who is selected, it will be difficult to fill MacDonald’s shoes. The good part is that with Fry and Pittman doing well, the back-up may only see spot duty.

We Have A Winner!

Congratulations to Marta Tartar on winning our contest and earning a free copy of Winners & Losers: Rants, Riffs, & Reflections on the World of Sports by Bob Latham! As you are aware, we will be reading Bob’s book next in our book club. So if you don’t have a copy yet, you can get one by clicking here, or on the picture of the book on the left side of the page.

Also, we will be reviewing Try for the Gold this weekend so get your reactions ready.

If you have a suggestions for our book club, please contact us!

Game of the Week: Northampton vs. Saracens

With all due respect to the ITM Cup and Currie Cup finals that will take place this weekend, the game of the week belongs to the showdown between Northampton and Saracens at Franklin Gardens. Over the last few years these teams have been consistently one of the best in the Premiership. Both were playoff teams last year and should be again this year. Both also have a load of quality of players. Northampton currently sit at the top of the table while Saracens sit in fourth. However, only two points separates the teams in the standings and a Saracens win could see them take the top spot from the Saints. This match could also be a potential preview of the Premiership final.

From an American perspective, this match offers a lot of intrigue in that it will see Chris Wyles and Samu Manoa go head to head. These two players have been the only consistent Americans in the Premiership the last few years and hopefully should be a big part of the U.S. team this fall.

Who: Northampton Saints, Saracens
What: Aviva Premiership
When: Saturday, October 27, 10:00 a.m. et/7:00 a.m. pt
Where: Franklin Gardens, Northampton
Why: Do you really need a reason?
How: Unfortunately the match won’t be on television in the U.S. so you’ll have to find your own stream.

Opening Kick

Opening Kick is a segment devoted to bringing you all Eagles and U.S.A. Rugby news in one location.

Eagles:

Scott LaValla was named man-of-the-match for Stade Francais in their win over Grenoble in the Amlin Challenge Cup over the weekend.

Alex Goff looks at how injuries may affect Mike Tolkin's selections for the fall tour. (Membership required)

Marcel Brache will be on the bench this weekend for Western Province as they play the Sharks for the Currie Cup.

Would rugby be better served being regionalized in the U.S.? This article says yes.

Women:

Kimber Rozier checks as the U.S.A. 7's team heads to China for a tournament. U.S.A. Rugby has all the details on how to follow the team.

Host China feel they can make an impact on the international stage and are looking home tournament to improve.

Speaking of the women's 7's rugby, a landmark conference regarding the game was held in Australia over the weekend.

It's a big weekend around the country with t DI headed to Atlanta, DII having regional playoffs, and college play.

One team that will be involved over the weekend is Chicago North Shore, who are looking for a national championship while dealing with change.

College:

Air Force have been one of the better teams this fall and according to Alex Goff, it all comes down to the players. (Membership required)

Pat Clifton checks in with how teams are doing in Florida.

He also previews the big rivalry between Salisbury and Towson. (Membership required)

Club:

Boston and the Boston Irish Wolfhounds are both undefeated and will play this weekend to determine the number one seed in the Northeast. (Membership required)

World:

England, Australia, Fiji, and Ireland all announced their squads for the autumn internationals yesterday.

Eddie Jones is not impressed with that state of Japanese rugby, calling it "stuck in a time warp."

According to the IRB Rugby is popular in Dubai. However, it may not be so popular in Russia.

Tidbits:

A BBQ fundraiser will be held for a young rugby player injured in an accident.

Eagles: 28 Tickets to Europe

A little while ago we issued out 28 tickets to Europe, and now with the Americas Rugby Championship in the books and the Eagles opener against Russia only two and a half weeks away, it’s time to re-issue those tickets. Overall, not much has changed from the last go-around, except for a few notable exceptions. In my latest article for RugbyRugby I examine which players have dropped and which have risen, and then issue who I think will be on the final roster.

Checking In On U.S.-Eligible Dual-Nationals

As we noted earlier today, Tommy Seymour has received a call-in to the Scotland’s squad for the upcoming fall internationals. While Seymour is still technically U.S.-eligible until he is capped for Scotland, at this point the chances of him appearing in a U.S. uniform seem miniscule. His inclusion in this camp likely means he will be in consideration for Scotland ‘A’ next February when they take on other European ‘A’ sides, capping him in the Scottish system.

Take the jump to read more on Seymour and other situations involving U.S.-eligible players.

Opening Kick

Opening Kick is a segment devoted to bringing you all Eagles and U.S.A. Rugby news in one location.

Eagles:

U.S.-eligible Tommy Seymour has been called in to the Scottish national team ahead of their autumn internationals.

One player that hasn't lost his U.S.-eligibility is James Hilterbrand, who just signed on to the Western Force extended playing squad.

This report claims the U.S. will be playing Ireland in Houston next June.

This article from abroad examines how good the U.S. could become if we were to get more crossover athletes.

Women:

Eagles head coach Pete Steinberg talked to Scrum Queens about the new structure put in place to help players get ready for the World Cup.

Jackie Finlan previews the Big 10 playoffs. Penn State are looking to defend their title.

Club:

Alex Goff tells us what was so special about the Cincinnatti Wolfhounds victory over the Chicago Griffins last weekend. (Membership required)

San Francisco Golden Gate has a new website. Check it out.

College:

The winner of the ACRL this weekend in Virginia Beach will not only get a berth to the 7's nationals, but also to the Collegiate Rugby Championship.

Here are the latest DII standings.

World:

We already revealed one of the names, but here is the rest of Scotland's squad that will take on New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, and Samoa.

Argentina have also named their autumn touring squad.

Zimbabwe will have limited opportunities in 7's this year due to their not being a core team, but they say that just motivates them.

ESPNScrum's John Griffiths answers readers random questions in his latest "Ask John."

Seymour Receives Scotland Call-up

U.S.-eligible Tommy Seymour has been included Scotland's training squad ahead of the Autumn internationals. Seymour is one of seven new players in the side. With players like Joe Ansbro, Rory Lamont, and Duncan Weir, unavailable, Andy Robinson has brought in several new wingers into camp. While their is no guarantee that Seymour will even see time in one of Scotland's four matches, it does signal that the chances of Seymour ever representing the Eagles to now be minute.

The odds of him playing for the Eagles were always going to be remote. Despite being born in Nashville, Seymour grew up in Ireland where he played for Ulster. After that didn't work out, he move to Glasgow to improve his chances of gaining a cap (his family is from Scotland). So while it's disappointing that he likely will never play for the Eagles, it's not surprising.

*As a note, we will still continue to include Seymour on our Eagles Abroad list until he loses his U.S.-eligibility. That is our policy for all players.

Selects Post-ARC: Whose Stock Went Up, Down

The Americas Rugby Championship was an opportunity for up and coming players, as well as players on the fringe of the Eagles, to impress Mike Tolkin and his staff and potentially earn a place on the Eagles fall roster. So now that they tournament is over, it’s time to assess which players made themselves stand out and which players fell short. In my latest RugbyRugby piece, I take a look at which players' stock went up and which players' stock went down. Take a look and share what you think.

Interview with Boathouse Sports

One of the goals at This Is American Rugby is to help build a more diverse and active culture around rugby in America. One of the ways we've tried to do that is to reach out to businesses in the rugby community to hear what they are doing for rugby players around the country. Recently, we caught up with Heather Guidice from Boathouse Sports to understand their involvement in rugby.

If you think you have an idea for a feature, or would like to be interviewed, please contact us.

Take the jump to read what Heather had to say.

Poll Tuesday: Which Autumn Tour Opponent Are You Looking Forward To Playing?

James Paterson against Russia in the 2011 RWC.

The U.S. election is only two weeks away but you don't have to wait that long to vote because it's Poll Tuesday!

Last week we asked you to grade the Eagles 7's performance in the Gold Coast and after a poor performance, your grades were not surprisingly low. 39% of you gave the team a "D" while 32% gave the team an "F." The next highest grade was "C" with 23%. "A" and "B" both came in with 2% a piece. So in total, 72% of you did not give the Eagles a passing grade. If we had to guess, that is probably what the team would have given themselves as well.

This week we shift gears a little bit to ask you which Eagles autumn tour opponent you are most looking forward to facing. The U.S. plays Russia on 9 November and then Tonga on 17 November. Both of those matches are in Colwyn Bay, Wales. Lastly, the Eagles play Romania in Bucharest on 24 November.

Russia
Tonga
Romania

Opening Kick

Opening Kick is a segment devoted to bringing you all Eagles and U.S.A. Rugby news in one location.

Eagles:

Jason Law started for Oxford yesterday as they lost to the Northampton Wanderers.

Tommy Seymour could struggle for more playing time now that Sean Maitland has signed for Glasgow.

Italy are reportedly considering a bid for the 2023 or 2027 World Cup. What that could mean for a potential U.S. bid is uncertain.

Women:

The Amazons are the only remain undefeated team in the Women's Premier League after defeating Beantown over the weekend.

The Glendale Raptors beat New York to go to 4-1 on the season.

Brown and Princeton stayed on top of the Ivy Conference after weekend wins.

College:

After playing in DI-AA, Sacramento State is ready for the challenge of DI-A.

Great work by the Northern Illinois University Rugby team for stepping in to give CPR to a man in need.

Rugbymag has the latest DI-AA standings as well as a look at the winners of all the 7's tournaments so for this fall. They also have the stats from the NCRC 7's.

Here is a great article on the role Stanford played on the 1920 and 1924 Olympic teams.


Club:

PAC and the Maryland Exiles are still tops in the MARFU after winning over the weekend.

With the results of the weekend, the playoff picture in the Midwest is becoming more clear.

Denver Barbarians captain Logan Collins says the win over Glendale was big for his team. (Membership required)

World:

Wales have named their team for the autumn internationals. There are a number of players on the team that don't play in Wales, and interim chief Rob Howley wants to prevent that number from increasing.

Wasps head coach Dai Young has been chosen to lead the Barbarians next summer.

ESPNScrum's Huw Richards looks at some of the numbers behind the autumn internationals.

South Africa is going to have to make a few changes to their 7's team for Dubai after several players have been ruled out with injury.

The biggest beneficiary of Australia and New Zealand's 18-18 draw? Lithuania, whose record unbeaten streak is still intact.

Australian Rugby Union boss John O'Neill has hit back at Steve Hansen's claim that Australia poaches players.

Despite a horrid start to their Heineken Cup campaign, Edinburgh head coach Michael Bradley says it's not over for his team.

Sale have added to their backroom staff in what they hope will help steady their season.

Lastly, why not finish off you Thanksgiving weekend by watching Sonny Bill box!

Poor ARC Points To Flaws In Club Rugby

Photo Judy Teasdale

Needless to say the Eagles Selects did not have the Americas Rugby Championship they would have liked to have had. The tournament was riddled with injuries, errors, and inexperience. The Selects had a miserable time throughout the tournament in key areas of the game, especially in simple turnovers, decision-making, and the scrum. It was hoped that the players chosen would have been able to do better in these aspects of the game, especially considering that they are a weakness of the U.S. system as a whole.

Still, the purpose of the tournament was to develop, and while it might not have happened during the Selects three matches, head coach Mike Tolkin now knows what his team needs to work on and improve. If not for that reason alone--the team also identified a few players that could contribute to the Eagles--the tournament was worth it. However, it's troubling that the U.S. keeps making the same mistakes over and over at all different levels. Why? That is the big question to answer in U.S. rugby right now and it mostly comes down to a lack of experience, especially in club rugby.

Take the jump to read more.

Wyles Joins Elite Company

Chris Wyles scoring a try on his 100th appearance for Saracens was a nice moment. Wyles has had to work hard over his career and at one point making that many appearances for any club seemed like a challenge. It's easy to forget that Wyles started his career with Nottingham and Northampton, but it was really his play with the Eagles and with the 7's team that really made him standout. In fact, joined Saracens on a secondment from U.S.A. Rugby. To get 100 appearances for the Saracens is a compliment to Wyles' drive and determination. He deserves full credit for everything he has done.

His 100th appearance had us thinking, how many other Eagles have made 100 appearances for their clubs? Take the jump to find out.

Eagles Abroad: Weekend Review

Wyles scoring over the weekend.

It was a very busy weekend for Americans overseas as they were at the heart of action in the Heineken and Amlin Challenge Cups. Chris Wyles celebrated his 100th appearance for Saracens in great fashion by picking up a try. Taku Ngwenya also scored a try. Elsewhere, Marcel Brache helped Western Province reach the Currie Cup semi-finals.

Take the jump to read more.

Opening Kick

Opening Kick is a segment devoted to bringing you all Eagles and U.S.A. Rugby news in one location.

Eagles:

Everyone should know by know, but the U.S.A. Selects suffered disappointment last Friday as they lost to Uruguay 26-8 in their last match at the Americas Rugby Championship.

Needless to say, Mike Tolkin was not pleased with the tournament, but calls it a learning experience. (Membership required)

Argentina once again won their tournament. They defeated Canada 28-9 in the final.

A columnist for the Victoria Times-Colonist was at the tournament and says its enough to help forget about the NHL.

College:

There was plenty of college play over the weekend, especially in 7's. Central Washington earned a berth to nationals after winning the NCRC final in Seattle. Air Force did the same at the Rocky Mountain 7's, as did Texas at the Southwest 7's.

Dartmouth have once against clinched the top spot in the Ivy Conference. They beat Brown 28-5.

In the MAC, Central Michigan beat Cincinnati, while Bowling Green's match against Ohio was postponed.

Indiana moved to the top of the Big Ten East with a win over Michigan State.

Middlebury and Boston College stayed a top the Northeastern Conference with wins over the weekend.

Rugby continues to take hold on college campuses around the country, including at UCCS.

Willamette University defeated Oregon State, who were without their top players, in a match in Seaside, Oregon.

Club:

Buffalo and Old Blue both went into their Empire Conference match over the weekend undefeated, and it was Buffalo that emerged with the win.

Middlesex clinched a spot in the New England playoffs over the weekend. They are joined by Boston, Boston Irish Wolfhounds, and Mystic River.

Columbus scored an upset win over the Chicago Lions to toss things up in the Midwest. Here are the latest standings from the conference.

Life defeated New Orleans to stay perfect.

Even though they aren't eligible for the playoffs this year, the Utah Islanders showed they are a team to be reckoned with in DII in the future with a win over Glendale.

World:

The match between Australia and New Zealand may have ended in a draw over the weekend, but the rivalry is hardly over, especially after Steve Hansen accuses the Wallabies of stealing players, and Scott Higginbotham was suspended for head-butting Ritchie McCaw.

Former All Blacks captain Wilson Whineray has passed away.

France will be without Theirry Dusautoir this fall after he suffered an injury.

Tidbits:

Here is a great article about how the U.S. Navy uses rugby to promote relationships with other countries.

Play Rugby is looking for a coordinator. Click here for more details on the position.

World Rugby Weekend Review

There was a lot going on in the world of rugby this weekend outside of the Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup. First and foremost was the exciting match between Australia and New Zealand. The Currie Cup and ITM Cup also entered their semi-finals stage. Take the jump to read more.

Amlin Challenge Cup Round 2 Recap

Pool 1: Mont-de-Marsan have endured a horrid campaign in the Top 14 so far and looked to Europe to gain some positives on the season. However, a 69-26 thrashing at the hands of London Irish aren't going to do any favors for their confidence. Jamie Gibson got things started for the Exiles with a try less than a minute into the game. From then on the tries came often, 11 in total, to send London Irish to the top of Pool 1.

The other match of the pool saw Gloucester stay close to London Irish by defeating Bordeaux 25-13 at home. Will James scored a try in the 5th minute (he was also sin binned in 51st minute), while Billy Twelvetrees and Charlie Sharples added one a piece. Gloucester scored all the points they needed by halftime while Bordeaux picked up their only try in the 80th minute.

Take the jump to read more.

Heineken Cup Round 2 Recap

Pool 1: The Saracens and Racing Metro headed to Brussels to decide who would lead Pool 1 after two rounds. It was Racing Metro that struck first via a Olly Barkley penalty in the 1st minute, but from then on it was all Saracens. Charlie Hodgson hit a penalty of his own before Chris Wyles, who was making this 100th appearance for Saracens, picked up the games first try in the 21st minute. Steve Borthwick then added another six minutes later. At the half the score was Saracens 20, Racing Metro 3. Racing Metro came out better in the second half and scored a try through Juan Imhoff, but Will Fraser's try for the Saracens in the 76th minute iced the match. Final score: Saracens 30-13 Racing Metro. The win now means that Saracens lead Pool 1 with nine points.

Take the jump to read more.

Live Commentary: Eagles Selects vs. Uruguay

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Live Stream

Selects starting lineup: Fenoglio, Asbun, Paulsen, Civetta, Harriman, Duechle, Headlee, Katzfey, Davies, Pangelinan, Craigwell, McDonald, Gericke, Dirksen, Chapman.

Bench: Moaalii, Wallace, Haydock, Fry, Mateialona, Tracy, Cowley

Uruguay starting lineup: Corral, Avalo, Rombys, Palomeque, Soares de Lima, Lamanna, de Freitas, Magno, Vecino, Duran, Silva, Martinez, Gibernau, Mieres, Etcheverry

Bench: de Mula, Duran, Sagario, Sanguinetti, Lijtenstein, Alonso, Favaro, Bueno

Minute 2: The Eagles are already looking better in attack. The scrum is getting pushed back though.
Minute 6: No rain and pretty good conditions in Victoria, but the team have combined for five knock-ons so far.
Minute 7: Uruguay with a really threatening sequence but another knock-on stops the play.
Minute 9: U.S. commits a penalty on their own scrum. Etchevarry converts rights in front of the posts. Uruguay 3-0 Selects.
Minute 13: The U.S. has had a bit of possession in the last few minutes but turnovers from both sides have prevented chances.
Minute 19: Lots of penalties for the Selects. The latest leads to another penalty kick attempt for Uruguay. The kick is good. Uruguay 6-0 Selects.
Minute 22: Ref Bryan Arciero gave the Selects a bit of a talking to. You have to think that if they keep it up a card is on its way.
Minute 24: Good effort from the Eagles leads to a Uruguay penalty. McDonald's kick is good! Uruguay 6-3 Selects.
Minute 28: A big of a lull in play but the Assistant referee wants to get involved again. No cards apparently.
Minute 30: Another good buildup for the U.S. but another knock-on. Someone needs to get these guys some powder.
Minute 33: Uruguay has been dominant in the scrum and maul today. They've really used it to their advantage.
Minute 38: Eric Duechle with a huge run for the try!!! He powered through four or five Uruguayans. Great work. McDonald's conversion is missed. Selects 8-6 Uruguay.
Minute 40: Uruguay comes right back with a threatening run but they knock it on.
Halftime. It's a great way to end the half for the Selects. Hopefully that momentum carries over into the second half.
The second half is underway!
Minute 41: Uruguay starts the second half by going straight to their maul. Can't make much of it though.
Minute 44: Uruguay commits a penalty. McDonald's attempt is missed. The kick was about 40 metres about but right in front of the posts.
Minute 47: A great sequence for the Selects is interrupted by a turnover.
While another Uruguayan player is down, we should note that besides the pitch, this stadium has a good atmosphere.
Minute 51: Derek Asbun looks to have re-injured his ankle. He won't be back.
Minute 53: Penalty try awarded to Uruguay. It was a long-time coming. The conversion is good. Uruguay 13-8 Selects.
The U.S. scrum hasn't been good all week. Two penalty tries. Doesn't bode well for the future.
MInute 56: Not one, but two Uruguayans writhing on the ground now. Who has the magic spray?
Minute 60: Pangelinan had broken away but the U.S. eventually got isolated and turned it over.
Minute 61: The U.S. with another knock-on. Uruguay will try the kick from 45 metres. The kick is no good. Still Uruguay 13-8 Selects.
Minute 66: This time wasting by Uruguay is getting annoying. If you aren't tough enough, get off the pitch. The U.S. commits a penalty and Etcheverry makes it this time. Uruguay 16-8 Selects.
Minute 68: Great drive for the Eagles right near the posts. Uruguay commits a professional foul and have a player put in the bin.
Minute 70: Eric Duechle almost gets try number two but the ball is held up.
Minute 73: The U.S. was unable to make anything of their chance near the line. They subsequently stop a Uruguay opportunity.
Minute 76: Uruguay scores a try. The conversion is good. Uruguay 23-8 Selects.
Yes, the purpose of the tournament is to develop players, but if this is where our development is at, we have problems, serious problems.
Minute 79: The U.S. with another good sequence near the line, but yet another knock-on.
Minute 80+: The U.S. with another penalty. Uruguay converts. Uruguay 26-8 Selects. Salt in the wounds for the Selects.
Minute 80+: The ref has decided to let this game go on forever and the U.S. commits another penalty. The kick is no good.
Full-time

It must be better than this. Losing to Uruguay at any level is unacceptable. Very disappointing from the Eagles all tournament. Not a good way to follow up on a strong summer or lead into a fall campaign. How many of these players could be on the Eagles? Davies was good but beyond him, who? Chapman and Gericke had flashes but more is needed. At least fans will only have to wait until next month to see if an Eagles team can rebound from this tournament.

Well, that's it from us. Thanks for following!

Eagles Abroad: Weekend Preview and TV

It’s crunch time for Americans overseas as the Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup enter their second round, and the Currie Cup enters its playoffs. At least six Americans are ste to start or be on the bench for European teams this weekend and could play a big role for their teams as they try to get a top their groups. Down in South Africa, Marcel Brache will seek to knock off the Lions. Also of note this week, Chris Wyles will make his 100th appearance for the Saracens. Congrats to Chris! It’s also a big weekend for rugby on television with at least 10 matches available. Take the jump to read more.

Interview with Madison Hughes

Hughes at the JWRT. Photo courtesy of IvyRugby.com.

Since first playing for Junior All-Americas at the Junior World Rugby Trophy in 2011, Madison Hughes has been a player U.S. fans have had their eye on as a potential Eagles. We caught up with the JWRT all-time leading scorer to get his thoughts on Dartmouth's current season, being a leader, the Varsity Cup, and more.

Take the jump, check it out, and tell us what you think.

Video: Canada vs. Eagles Selects

Opening Kick

Opening Kick is a segment devoted to bringing you all Eagles and U.S.A. Rugby news in one location.

Eagles:

Chris Wyles will make his 100th appearance for the Saracens tomorrow as he and his team take on Racing Metro in Brussels. Congrats to Chris!

One person that definitely will not make his 100th appearance for his club is Tommy Seymour, he was suspended for this weekend's match for a tip tackle of Vasily Artemyev last weekend.

Cam Dolan (ACL) and Taylor Mokate (broken toe) will be out for the Selects against Uruguay. John Quill is suspended, leaving the team without their starting back-row. (Membership required) Dolan spoke to the press ahead of the match tomorrow.


Prior to the Americas Rugby Championship most people say Uruguay as an easy match. However, after playing tough against Canada and Argentina, Alex Goff explains that they will be no pushover.

This is pretty cool. A player on the U.S. team that lost to France in the last match of their post-Olympic tour 92 years ago has been identified.

The latest Ruggamatrix podcast is out where the lads talk ARC and more.

Women:

The Harvard Independent has a great look at the university's women's rugby team in their "rugby issue."

The Women Eagles need your help. They are seeking donates to help sponsor their fall tour to Europe.

Davenport just took their women's program varsity and now they are looking for a head coach.

College:

The MAC has been one of the most active conferences this fall. Cody Secker has a preview of this weekend's matches.

Notre Dame College has finished its first season as a varsity team with a perfect record.

If you are looking for a great story of dedicated rugby people in this country, look no further than the Massachusetts Marine Academy.

Club:

Rugbymag tries to clear up the latest playoff picture in DI.

Vermont isn't known for rugby, but Burlington are trying to change that. They recruited heavily over the last year and it's paying off with wins.

World:

If the All Blacks beat the Wallabies this Saturday, they will equal the 1969 All Blacks and 1998 Springboks for most consecutive wins.

Brian O'Dricoll has cleared up any confusion and now says he has no desire to make the switch to Super Rugby.

In a "only in New Zealand" moment, Richie McCaw's new book is read aloud on television.

Bath and Gloucester have made it two for two in the Amlin Challenge Cup after defeating Agen and Bordeaux respectively.

Sir Ian McGeechan says that the Aviva Premiership would do well to get rid of relegation.

The South Africa Sevens are just 50 days away. Port Elizabeth, where the event will be held, says that it is ready to host.

ESPNScrum's Sin Bin takes a look at some interesting stories, including Sam Warburton's finger.

What Canada Does Well

There is not hiding that it has been a rough week for the Eagles Selects and the Eagles 7’s. The Selects were completely out played against Argentina and Canada, and the Eagles 7’s only won one match in the Gold Coast. Still, what hurts the most about the last week is the fact that Canada is the superior program right now. From top to bottom, they have put their program on stable footing and have invested wisely in their infrastructure, as well as their national team programs. Further, when was the last time a U.S. team, including development, age-grade, or womens beat Canada? If it takes you a while to think of an answer, then it’s been too long. That is a problem, but what is the cause? Take the jump to read more.

Game of the Week: Saracens vs. Racing Metro

With all due respect to the Bledisloe Cup match in Brisbane on Saturday, this week’s Game of the Week belongs to the Saracens-Racing Metro Heineken Cup match in Brussels. It’s hard to get excited about Australia and New Zealand playing for the third time in a couple of months, especially with so many players being out of the test and New Zealand already having won the previous two meetings. However, it is easy to get excited about what should be an intense Heineken Cup match. Both Saracens and Racing Metro are riding high after their respective wins over Edinburgh and Munster last weekend, and will want to beat the other to take the top spot in the group. The match should also be interesting to watch the battle between Olly Barkley and Charlie Hodgson.

Still, what makes this match even more interesting is its location. The Saracens have gone out of their way to try and place fixtures around the world, just recently having plans to host Heineken Cup matches in South Africa and New York thwarted. It will be interesting to see how lively the crowd is and whose supporters are the most vocal.

Who: Saracens, Racing Metro
What: Heineken Cup match
When: Saturday, October 20, 10:40 a.m. et/7:40 a.m. pt
Where: Brussels, Belgium
Why: Why not?
How: Delay on Fox Soccer Plus at 6:00 p.m. et/3:00 p.m. pt

Video: Eagles Highlights, Gold Coast Day 2

Here are the highlights from the Eagles on Day 2 at the Gold Coast 7's

Take the jump for more.

Opening Kick

Opening Kick is a segment devoted to bringing you all Eagles and U.S.A. Rugby news in one location.

Eagles/7's:

Should the Eagles be playing their European matches in Germany? Mike Holzman thinks so in this great piece.

The U.S. is still stinging from their loss to Canada but Gearoid McDonald says the team is fulfilling the purpose of the tournament--developing.

The Selects missed plenty of chances on Tuesday, but as Alex Goff points out, so did Canada.

Shawn Pittman is training and playing with Trinity in Ireland. Rumor has him waiting for a visa to play with Bourgoin in France.

Pat Clifton says that the Eagles 7's need to get tougher, especially in the forwards.

Women:

Women's Eagles head coach Pete Steinberg says the team is taking a new development approach.

One team the Eagles will play on their fall tour is France, who just released their roster.

College:

Penn State beat Army over the weekend in what is only their second match of the fall.

The Volante, the student newspaper at the University of South Dakota, says that rugby is going strong on campus.

World:

Stuart Lancaster is standing firm on his policy not to include French-based players in his squads. Yet, he is considering bringing back Danny Cipriani.

Keven Mealamu is set to reach 100 caps for New Zealand this weekend in the Bledisloe Cup.

The Saracens will take on Racing Metro in Belgium this weekend as round 2 of the Heineken Cup kicks off.

Western Province will take on the Lions in the Currie Cup semi-finals on Saturday and Eben Eztebeth is looking forward to the challenge.

Tidbits:

ESPNScrum's Scrum Sevens looks at famous incidents of fighting.

Post-Match Analysis: Canada 23-3 Eagles Selects

The Eagles playing Canada earlier this summer.

Unlike the match against Argentina, there are no excuses for the Eagles Selects poor performance against Canada. Right from the opening whistle the U.S. were poor. They couldn’t handle the constant pressure Canada placed on them and they committed too many turnovers when they did have the ball. In the end, the team was lucky to be beaten only 23-3 as Canada had several opportunities for what surely looked to be tries only to have them commit critical turnovers. Take the jump to see how the game played out, as well as the negatives (many) and positives (very few) the match had for the Selects.

Opening Kick

Opening Kick is a segment devoted to bringing you all Eagles and U.S.A. Rugby news in one location.

Eagles/7's:

The Eagles Selects had a disappointing outing against Canada yesterday in the Americas Rugby Championship, losing 23-3.

The team will play Uruguay next, who lost to the Argentina Jaguars 21-10.

Carlin Isles is drawing a lot of attention for his speed. His try against Tonga made the Seven of the Best tries down in the Gold Coast.

Mike Petri, writing for RugbyRugby, says that brining in XV's stars for the Olympics would not be the right decision.

Women:

Nigel Melville, Pam Kosanke, and other officials were down in Houston yesterday (includes audio) to talk about the new Women's IRB Sevens Series.

College:

Texas A&M have qualified for the 7's nationals (to be played in College Station) by winning the SEC over the weekend. Here is the all-tournament team.

Many people wondered if the realignment to more NCAA based conferences would result in blowouts and mismatches. While it has been perfect, Pat Clifton says that overall play is improving.

Gainline argues that college 7's has derailed the idea of a unified season.

Utah is known for having some of the best rugby teams in the country. Dixie State, which is in the south of the state, is hoping to join that list.

Youth:

One of the names for the High School All-Americans assembly in December has been announced. Darien Pickett from West Potomac, Virginia will be with the team.

World:

Referee Bryce Lawrence has retired and his going down swinging.

By and large, the extended powers of the TMO have been judged to be a success in the Premiership.

Northampton boss Jim Mallinder is upset his team only has a five day turnaround between matches.

France have called in 18-year old Gael Fickou for their fall tests. He is joined by several other young players on the team.

A cross-code coaches union has been launched in England.

Speaking of coaches, the British & Irish Lions assistants won't be named until December.

Despite warm overtures from Brian O'Driscoll, Waratahs coach Michael Cheika is not willing to commit to bringing in the Irish star.

Tidbits:

U.S.A. Rugby has launched their 2013 National Development Summit website.

Here is an interesting look at some of the challenges players face once they retire.