the USA Rugby Board of Directors, in conjunction with Territorial Union representatives, has named four Geographical Unions (GUs) as part of a pilot program to review a new streamlined union structure. GUs are designed to support anticipated growth in the game and to provide increased member services at the local level.

The Northeast Rugby Union (NRU) split into two GUs: New England RFU (a former LAU) and Northeast (formerly Met New York and New York State LAUs). Texas, a former LAU within the West Territorial Union, is now a standalone GU. Southern California, a former TU, is the fourth pilot GU.

Geographical Unions are defined based on a combination of club density in an area and natural geographical boundaries. A GU may be a single state, multiple states, or parts of a large state.

The template for a GU's organizational structure, financial models and bylaws were developed over a two year period by a committee commissioned by USA Rugby CEO and President of Rugby Operations, Nigel Melville, to research the best and highest performing models from existing LAUs and TUs, other rugby-playing nations, and other national governing bodies (NGBs).

One predominant feature of GUs is a full-time USA Rugby administrator who will live in the GU and partner with local rugby organizations to help facilitate and implement USA Rugby programs at the local level while supporting growth. Pilot GUs will start with part time administrators and transition to full-time over a two to four year period.

The TU/LAU Review Committee is made up of members from around the country including: John Coppinger (Pacific); George Durocher (Mid-Atlantic); Martin Gardner (South); Jeremiah Johnson (Midwest); Danita Knox (South/Committee Chair); Bill Middleton (USAR Board of Directors); Joe Olzaki (Northeast); Bill Sexton (West); and Steve Vent (Southern California).

BOULDER, Colo. -- The Men's Collegiate All-American Sevens team will assemble this Saturday August 20 to train in advance of the Emirates Airlines USA Rugby Men's All-Star Sevens Championship which begins on Friday August 26 at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif.

Head Coach Alexander Magleby coached the Men's Collegiate All-Americans Fifteens15s side to a 2-1 record over the New Zealand Universities in July, and will look to continue that success with the sevens side.  A former USA international himself, Magleby recognizes the importance of giving the top collegiate rugby athletes a high performance training environment.

“It’s important we find a way to give our elite student-athletes an opportunity to compete in high level sevens environments. We need to do a better job of preparing would-be Eagles before they arrive at Coach Caravelli’s door,” Magleby said expressing the need for players to be steeped in sevens-specific skills and knowledge before elevating to the USA Men's Sevens team coached by Al Caravelli.

Skills and knowledge are one thing, but performing at the highest level throughout the grind of a sevens tournament, tour, and season is crucially important to a player's and team's success.  The All-Americans have a great opportunity to exhibit their mental strength as well as their on-field prowess.

“In this assembly, it’s crucial that we create a demanding atmosphere to help identify players who thrive in what will be the more strenuous environment of the IRB Sevens World Series. The goal is to push the students throughout the assembly, not just in the match performances at the end.  Identifying who is a team player, a good tourist, and a growth mindset guy will be imperative to helping build the right depth in our national sevens team.”

Magleby has selected 18 players to attend the camp and tournament, all with the chance to prove themselves in front of National Team selectors including Caravelli.

"We have a diverse talent pool -- some speed, a handful of playmakers, and some restart winners. It's a good mix. A few players are slowly coming off the injured-reserved list, so we will have to do a decent job managing their contact reps. And,obviously with this end of August assembly some collegiate programs are well underway," said Magleby.

"The priority being academics at this stage, some would-be AAs are in full swing with their course work, so were unable to compete at this time. There were a handful of graduates who are now fully immersed into their 'professional' (non-rugby) lives by now, so they too were not considered for a national pathway side. Nonetheless, it's a well-rounded, fit and competitive group."

Men's Collegiate All-Americans Sevens

Muhammed Abdul-Shakoor (Dartmouth), Timothy Acker (Kutztown University), Nate Brakeley (Dartmouth), JP Eloff (Davenport University), Kyle Grossheider (Life University), Will Holder (Army), James Bubba Jones (St. Mary's College), Gareth Jones (Temple), Duncan Kelm (San Diego State University), Garrett Lambert (Life University), David Martini (University of California - Los Angeles), Rocco Mauer (Bowling Green State University), Dustin Muhn (University of California - Berkeley), Don Pati (University of Utah), Jayson Rego (University of Hawaii), Tim Stanfill (Central Washington University), Peter Tiberio (University of Arizona), Brett Willis (California State University - Sacramento)