Originally run in the Sacramento Bee

When he graduated from Jesuit High School five years ago, Sacramento's Blaine Scully had never played rugby.

Now he's a four-time college All-American and a member of the U.S. National Team, vying to make the 30-man squad that will compete in September's Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

Scully, a senior co-captain this season on an undefeated Cal team that survived a tumultuous year to win the national championship, the Bears' 19th in 21 years, said he wants to play professional rugby overseas. And he hopes to compete in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Rugby will return to the Games for the first time since 1924 (with a seven-a-side format instead of the traditional 15-a-side).

The past two years, Scully has competed twice in Scotland and once in England for coach Al Caravelli's U.S. National Sevens Team.
"If he continues to work, I don't see any reason why he can't be on the squad that will challenge to be on the podium in 2016," said Caravelli, who hopes to coach that U.S. Olympic team. "He strives for perfection all the time."

Scully graduated from Cal with a history degree, and he has long thought about attending law school, but for now he'll continue to "chase the rugby rainbow" and see where it leads him.

Scully began this unlikely journey during his freshman year at UCLA after arriving as an all-around athlete without a team. He lettered in basketball, swimming and water polo at Jesuit, and planned to play water polo in college but he had a change of heart.

Scully can thank former Jesuit rugby star Pierce Cooley, his high school friend, for launching his love of rugby.

Cooley was playing rugby at UCLA, and he made what turned out to be a brilliant suggestion.

"He said, 'Hey, you should try out for the team,' " Scully said.

For Scully, it was love at first scrum.

Scully enjoys contact

Scully quickly discovered he was a natural with his combination of speed, power, leaping ability and grit. By his second season, he earned All-American honors. Then he transferred to Cal to join coach Jack Clark's national powerhouse program, and his rugby skills skyrocketed.
"It was by far the best decision I've ever made in my entire life," Scully said of transferring to Cal. "It just shaped my life in every respect, from being a student and an athlete."

Clark and assistant coach Tom Billups helped hone Scully's rugby skills, but he came to Berkeley with plenty of qualities that can't be taught.

"He's a highly competitive guy," Clark said. "He's not afraid of a battle of physical wills. Contact is not something he shies away from. Rugby's an 80-minute contest and no timeouts. You've got to grind. You've got to be willing to keep going."

Although Scully didn't play rugby or football in high school, he said his love for bone-jarring contact is "kind of in my blood." His late father, Steve, played football at Santa Clara, where he was a hard-hitting safety. His older brother, Sean, played football at Saint Mary's College and Sacramento State.
"I love the physical aspect (of rugby)," Scully said. "That just came naturally to me."

Scully credits his mother, Jan, for his resiliency and drive. In 1994, Scully's father Steven, an attorney, suffered a fatal heart attack while working out. He died during Jan's first run for Sacramento County District Attorney, a race she won. She has held the job ever since.

"I really can't say enough about my mom and what she did for me and my sister (Tara) as well," Scully said. "Her ability to shoulder the entire burden of losing the person she loved most and holding the family together, and also having a very demanding job with a lot on the line – just an incredible person. A lot of people might have fallen apart at that point. Nothing stopped her. She's my true role model."

Jan Scully held the family together for a few years before marrying Brian Royce, a Sacramento area oral surgeon, who adopted her children and became, "just like a real dad for me," Blaine said.

"Blaine has always valued his family and people around him that he loves," Jan said. "He just loves his family. He likes to make us proud. He just has a good heart."

Cal rugby saved

That heart helped Scully become a leader of Cal's rugby team during trying times this season. For starters, the Bears didn't play a true home match because construction on Memorial Stadium forced them to to turn Witter Rugby Field into a practice facility for multiple sports, including football.
Then there were problems with the newly installed artificial turf that limited the area available for practice.

That wasn't the worst news. In September, Cal's storied rugby program was slated to be downgraded to a club sport. It took a fund raising drive to save the program, which was reinstated in February.

"There's a lot of angst with that," Clark said. "Internally, it took a steady hand. Blaine was remarkable."

Said Scully: "Our entire (rugby) community raised us from the dead."

Cal capped its perfect season with a 21-14 victory over BYU at Rio Tinto Stadium near Salt Lake City. It was the second title in Scully's three years at Cal.
"It was an uphill climb the whole way, but we just wouldn't quit until we got to the top," Scully said.

Next, Scully will join fellow All-Americans for three matches this month against a visiting team from New Zealand, concluding July 16 at Stanford. Then he'll join the U.S. National Team in the Denver area to prepare for two matches against Canada and one against Japan.
On June 18 in Worcester, England, Scully played in his first official "test game" for the U.S. National Team against Russia. He started at fullback in the bowl final of the Churchill Cup. After a tentative start, Scully came on strong in a 32-25 victory.

Four other former Bears played for the United States that day – Jesuit graduates Colin Hawley, Louis Stanfill and Eric Fry, along with Chris Biller. Those familiar faces helped Scully adjust to his new, high-stress surroundings.

"It was a learning experience," Scully said. "It took me about 20 minutes to kind of settle myself into the game. That's when I got my first touch of the ball. After that it all kind of made sense."

Scully will have to continue his strong play to earn a spot of the World Cup roster.

"I wouldn't bet against him," Clark said.

The teams competing in the Rugby World Cup 2011 competition will be welcomed to New Zealand with a series of marae-based and civic events in early September.

Tournament organizer Rugby New Zealand 2011 today confirmed arrangements for the Official Team Welcomes for each of the 20 participating teams at the event.

Welcomes take place between September 1 and 8 and involve 12 marae and eight civic ceremonies around the country. A marae is a Maori sacred meeting place.

Japan will be the first team welcomed on September 1 at Aotea Square in Auckland and Russia, the last, at Blenheim's Omaka Marae on September 8.

Rugby New Zealand 2011 team services manager Michelle Hooper said the welcomes would uniquely New Zealand flavored.

"They will combine local cultural elements and distinctive regional hospitality to ensure teams begin their stay here in a memorable way."

The location of each welcome has been determined by the region the team will first stay in, said Hooper.

"The regions have really embraced this concept, have been central to planning and are thrilled about being the first to welcome the teams to New Zealand and the opportunity it provides to showcase themselves to the world."

Team Welcome Ceremonies
Japan - Auckland, Aotea Square; Sept 1

Romania - Ashburton Events Centre; Sept 2

Namibia - Gisborne Te Poho o Rawiri Marae; Sept 3

France - Auckland Orakei Marae, Bastion Point; Sept 3

Italy - Nelson Whakatau Marae; Sept 3

New Zealand - Auckland, Aotea Square; Sept 3

USA - Whanganui Putiki Marae; Sept 4

Argentina - Dunedin Town Hall; Sept 4

Ireland - Queenstown, Skyline; Sept 4

Wales - Wellington Takapuwahia Marae, Porirua; Sept 4

South Africa - Wellington Te Raukura; Sept 5

Canada - Northland Waitangi, Paihia; Sept 5

Tonga - Auckland Papakura Marae, Papakura; Sept 6

Georgia - Queenstown, Skyline; Sept 6

Fiji - Tauranga, Huria Marae; Sept 6

Australia - Auckland, Aotea Square; Sept 6

England - Dunedin Town Hall; Sept 6

Samoa - Rotorua Ohinemutu; Sept 8

Scotland - Invercargill Te Rau Aroha Marae; Sept 8

Russia - Blenheim Omaka Marae; Sept 8

The Pacific Tyees talented team made up of young players from Canada's National 7's side and youth National Teams defeated the Howlers 17 - 7 at the CFL half time game between Lions and Roughriders in Vancouver on June 22, 2011 in front of some 25,000 fans. This was the third of a series of 7s games the Howlers organized and played in half time of Canadian Football League games in Regina, Calgary and now Vancouver to showcase our exiting game to the the Canadian sporting public.

Walaisi Serevi and Michael Fuailefau on the attack. (Photo courtesy of Karl Fix)

The Howlers along with everyone he played against and all the fans watching had the privilege to witness Fiji's legendary "magician" Waisale Serevi who is considered by most the greatest 7s player in the history of the game. "Vinaka" Serevi for letting us witness greatness!

Dog River Howlers Roster
Chase Sereda - Vancouver BC
Michael Fuailefau - Victoria BC
Colin Brown - Vancouver BC
Sean Mercier - Vancouver BC
Patrick Kay - Victoria BC
Waisale Serevi - Fiji/Seattle WA
Joe Dolesau - Burnaby BC
Mike Okech - Vancouver BC
Rain De Guzman - Burnaby BC

Head Coach - Shane Thompson
Team Manager - Rodger Swany


Pacific Tyees Roster
Kurtis Appeldorn - Abbotsford RFC
Jeff McKinnon - Capilano RFC (UBC)
Beau Parker - University of Victoria
Andrew Crow - University of Western Ontario (Castaways RFC)
Keaton Styles - University of Victoria (Bayside RFC)
Liam Murray - University of Victoria (Capilano RFC)
Mike McDonald - Capilano RFC
Graeme Minty - UBC Ravens

Head Coach - Geraint John
Team Manager - Brian Hunter


Referee
Dave Smortchevsky

Referee Assistants
Sam Langridge
Sherry Trumbull

Irish Independent News' Brendan Fanning followed the Eagles during their Churchill Cup preparation in England, and Sunday, after a 44-13 loss to Tonga, his story ran. Go here to read the full story. Fanning focused on the hurdles the Eagles have to clear because of rugby's amateurism in the States, and the resolve they show in clearing said hurdles.

Late Bloomers
"I started when I was 16 -- which is old, but young by American standards," (Scott) LaValla says. "I actually wanted to play when I was 15 but my mom wouldn't let me because she didn't want me to get hurt, it was an under 19 club and 15 was too young."That tells you something about the lack of opportunity, that a 15-year-old in Washington State didn't have ready access to a team of his peers.

Jersey presentation for Tonga
They do this for every Test and they take it very seriously. The format is that the coach speaks, followed by the captain who then presents the jerseys to his team-mates. It's not easy to come up with something clever to say every time the team plays a Test match and O'Sullivan sticks to the theme that the world could end tomorrow, so be safe and use very moment.

"If you're lucky you might go on and win another 20 or 30 caps, or you might win none," he says. "So approach this as if it's your last and give it everything."

Captain Todd Clever looks like he is happier playing in front of a crowd than addressing one, but he bristles with passion. "Whether you do this for your wife or girlfriend or family, or for your dog, I dunno -- just dig deep out there tomorrow."

Postmatch dinner

Dinner is fairly sombre but there are new caps to be handed out to Eric Fry, Troy Hall and Tai Enosa. There is a warmth about the congratulations from each of their colleagues that reminds you what team sport is about. No horrendous concoctions are forced down the necks of the debutants. In fact, there is no alcohol at all. They disappear off to bed leaving the coach sharing some raspberry crumble and a jug of water with this correspondent.

O'Sullivan on the American game

"I don't find it difficult," Eddie O'Sullivan says, "and I'll tell you why: I made a mental adjustment coming to the US that this was going to be a part of the job that I didn't have with Ireland. With Ireland I knew that every need would be catered for, every cheque would be written, and if we needed a week off to be paid for then the IRFU never sold the team short in any way. I always felt I was reasonable about it and didn't do anything stupid. But I knew that with America -- as it was in '99 -- you'd have to cut your cloth and there would be other issues to be dealt with. So I got on with it. I'd prefer I didn't have to deal with them but the reality is that I do.

"In some way it's just a different headset about doing the same job. I would hope you get the impression from watching them, even for a brief time, that they're a decent bunch of young fellas who train very hard. They want to learn and there aren't any drama queens, they wouldn't be accepted here. And the staff are a good group of American lads who by and large are doing it because they love it, not because someone is writing them a cheque because most of them don't get a cheque. And that energy gets you over a lot of stuff.

"It goes back to something I've been saying about American rugby: people say to me why do you coach in America, are you stupid going there? And I've said this a thousand times: the problems America have in order to play rugby are a multitude and if we had half the problems in Europe we'd probably play something else. They overcome immense geographical, climatic, financial issues to play the game. These fellas do this stuff every week, it's not a big deal. Like, fellas trying to get off work to get a flight that they paid for themselves to go and play a league match. People would scratch their heads and ask why would you do that?"