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Rugby Travel Life is good – especially if you are a rugby coach or player. One of the great benefits of the job is travel. In the last couple of years I have been fortunate enough to get the opportunity to travel throughout the United States, Ireland, and the United Kingdom for rugby. I have made unbelievable friends and seen some amazing sites during my travels, which in turn has led me to an observation. Rugby is a world-wide community which allows you to explore new countries and meet new people while still have something in common. No matter who you are or where you go, if you are a rugby player or coach, you are welcome. In a word, rugby is about extended family. With that in mind, I am going to spend the next few entries describing my recent visit to England with the United States U18 Rugby team. The Eagles The United States rugby team is known as the Eagles. We have a men’s side (the term used for a team), U19 side, U18 side, and U17 side. The ‘U” stands for under and the number signifies the age level of the players. These groupings are based on IRB (International Rugby Board –the governing body for world rugby) classifications. Our country has similar sides for women and girls rugby. The highest honor for anyone in rugby is to represent their country on the field. I was recently honored with this distinction and had the opportunity to serve as the Manager/Coach of the USA U18 squad which traveled to England. It is difficult to describe the pride one feels when asked to represent our country. I can only imagine the feeling is the same for any sport in which an individual has an equal opportunity. When one considers the number of coaches and players that are involved with the game in the United States, the honor becomes even more significant. England The U18 squad traveled to England for an eight day tour on April 9. The tour included matches against Rotherham Rugby Academy, Leeds Rugby Academy, and Leicester Rugby Academy. All of these academies are associated with premier-level professional teams. While the age of the English players was the same as ours, they were all in the process (depending on performance) of signing professional contracts with their clubs. All members of the American squad are high school players – many of whom have played no more than one or two years. It is clear that we had a decided disadvantage going into the tour, but we believe that you only get better if you play the best. The level of play was unbelievable – the English teams were highly competitive and skilled, providing us no end of trouble. The scores (Rotherham 42-8, Leeds 47-7, and Leicester 62-7) were indicative of the English skill, but not of the Americans’ heart and courage. While we were outmatched on the field, the boys never gave up and received the admiration of the English crowds. This was an amazing opportunity for the American side and provided us with an chance to learn from some of the best coaches and players in the world. I know that as American rugby continues to grow, we will become more and more competitive with our international counterparts in the years to come. In the next installment of The Pitch, I will share my daily journal for the trip so you can have a look at the day to day of a tour. Cheers!
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