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Written by Alex Goff
Tuesday, 23 August 2011 19:18 |
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GoffonRugby: Anger is Good |
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Columns -
Goff on Rugby
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One of the upshots of the recent string of games by the USA Men’s National Team is that fans are angry.
They are frustrated because they see a team that should have come out of August with three victories, and a team that squandered opportunities.
 All that is fine. But what is gratifying to me is the anger. Go ahead, be angry. Care. It’s what we all should be doing.
The most disturbing thing for me during 2006 when the Eagles lost 56-7 to Canada in a World Cup Qualifier that they were simply not prepared for, was that fans just seemed to shrug. Having been sold, at the time, a bill of goods on how helpless we all were to control our rugby destiny, many fans simply gave up on the dream.
I still remember one comment sent to me that year, which said something like: “Wow, the United States will never compete in my lifetime.”
I found the sentiment to be pervasive, and sad.
We are better than that. Losing to Canada by 49 points is not acceptable, and fans now see that losing 27-7, especially when you have the game by the throat, is unacceptable.
The anger, and I hope the players understand this, is just the other side of the coin that contains elation. We don’t want a shrug of the shoulders during a loss, and nor do we want one during a win. I personally would like to see USA fans be more demonstrative and passionate during internationals. And I hope those that converge on New Zealand this September will be boisterous and proud.
We have nothing to lose by caring.
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Written by Press Release
Tuesday, 23 August 2011 18:43 |
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Glendale to Host Small College Finals |
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Colleges -
Small Colleges
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The City of Glendale, Colo. and the National Small College Rugby Organization (NSCRO) are pleased to announce that an agreement has been reached to hold the 2012 and 2013 NSCRO Men's Collegiate Division 3 National Rugby Championship at Infinity Park. The 2012 event will be held on April 28 and 29.
The City of Glendale built Infinity Park in 2007 for rugby use and declared rugby to be the official sport of the town. Infinity Park has since hosted many major national championships as well as national and international tournaments.
"The City is pleased to support NSCRO and their small college national championship event as a further extension of the City's goal to bring national caliber events into Glendale and Infinity Park," said Patrick Guthrie, Director of Sports Development and Broadcast for Infinity Park. Additional information about Infinity Park can be found at http://www.infinityparkatglendale.com/ .
NSCRO was co-founded by Steve Cohen and Chip Auscavitch in 2007 in order to establish an official organization to create and oversee a National Division 3 Collegiate playoff system. NSCRO does this for Men's and Women's Division 3 and and Women's Division 4. Starting this Fall season, about 170 teams are expected to be competing in Division 3 and be eligible for qualifying for the NSCRO playoffs. This is a growth of nearly 70% from 2009. Information about NSCRO can be found at www.nscro.org and by contacting NSCRO President, Steve Cohen, at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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NSCRO has been continually working to raise the profile of small college rugby by hosting the Division 3 Championships at quality venues. Prior to 2009, the Championships (both NSCRO and its predecessor, the East Coast Championship) were hosted by a local rugby club, including collegiate venues at Furman University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Wake Forest University and Hamilton College. In 2010 and again in 2011, the City of Virginia Beach's Sportsplex Stadium became the venue for the Championship event.
The Sportsplex Stadium is recognized as one of the finest facilities in the country and the experience was a great one for the teams and the fans in attendance. With Infinity Park becoming the venue for its Championship, NSCRO has again raised the profile for these deserving student-athletes.
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Written by RUGBYMag Staff
Tuesday, 23 August 2011 15:34 |
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Premier Members Can Enter RWC Contest |
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Off The Field -
RUGBYMag Reader News
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RUGBYMag.com is unveiling a new Rugby World Cup Pool Play Prediction Contest. This contest is open only to RUGBYMag.com Premier Subscribers (which includes anyone who had a Rugby Magazine print subscription). Fans are asked to pick five teams to follow during pool play, as well as four top scorers and four top try-scorers. Participants earn points for their picks, and the top ten will all win prizes. Later on in the World Cup we will unveil a contest for predicting the knockout rounds. Both of these contests are only open to RUGBYMag.com Premier Members. To get details and enter, go here. To subscribe to RUGBYMag.com Premier first, go here.
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Written by RUGBYMag Staff
Tuesday, 23 August 2011 18:24 |
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Serevi Camp Wraps, Visits Seahawks |
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Colleges -
Camps & Clinics
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 Serevi Rugby put a wrap on its first-ever Serevi Rugby Academy on Saturday, August 20th with a scrimmage at Seattle's Magnuson Park. On the sideline providing running feedback and commentary were two of the game's legends: Fijian great and Serevi Rugby co-founder Waisale Serevi and New Zealand All Blacks' Coach Gordon Tietjens.
Tietjens had arrived from New Zealand on Thursday, just in time to join all 30 Academy participants at a Seattle Seahawks practice, after which Seahawks' Coach Pete Carroll addressed the Serevi Rugby players. Carroll also took time to compare notes on high performance with Serevi, Tietjens and U.S. National Coach Al Caravelli, who was at the Academy Thursday and Friday to assess talent. Carroll arranged for Serevi Rugby participants to sit in the team section for Saturday's exhibition game against Minnesota.
After talking to the players about intensity, nutrition and attention to detail, Tietjens put the group of elite players through two grueling workouts on Friday, driving home points from his morning lecture. Tietjens and Caravelli then joined Serevi on the shores of Lake Washington Friday evening for a Serevi Rugby-hosted event to benefit Washington State rugby.
Several camp participants, including Rocco Mauer, Tim Stanfill and Peter Tiberio, left the Academy Friday night to head to San Diego with Caravelli and the Collegiate All Stars.
After the Academy, Serevi noted "We couldn't have asked for a better week. I ran the Academy as I would for a national team and players responded. They brought their A games and showed great passion and camaraderie. Gordon Tietjens was magic on Friday. Having Al in the house added to the sense of urgency we feel around growing this game in North America. I can hardly wait for the next Academy."
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Written by RUGBYMag Staff
Tuesday, 23 August 2011 14:51 |
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Rugby World Cup Prediction Contest - Pool Play |
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RUGBYmag Premier -
Exclusive News
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Page 1212 of 1494 |
