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Written by Pat Clifton
Tuesday, 21 June 2011 12:48 |
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Caravelli's Next Class of Crossovers |
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Sevens -
Club Sevens
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USA Men’s 7s coach Al Caravelli will have his eyes on more crossover athletes this summer. Like he did with Miles Craigwell last year (played with NYAC) Caravelli has linked crossover candidates with competitive 7s clubs.
“We realize that the model we did with Miles last year was the best one, so before we just bring guys who don’t know anything about rugby into camp, we’ve got to set them up for success, and so the best way to do that is to put them with clubs,” he said.
“The understanding I have with these coaches is they’re going to play these guys. They’re going to play every weekend. It doesn’t matter if they lose a game for them…That’s what they need. They need to understand how to play the game, what the rules are, as much as possible when they get invited to the National Team camp.
“Before we would take guys into camp and they didn’t know the rules or how to pass, and we realized we couldn’t risk taking them on tour with us, plus we can see the commitment these guys are going to have if they play club all summer.”
Below are three players Caravelli is tracking. All of them played at Football Championship Subdivision schools.
Taylor Lanigan - OMBAC - Murray State safety
Florida native Lanigan was reportedly recruited by Auburn, Florida Atlantic, Northern Iowa and Bowling Green out of high school. Lanigan is quoted as saying he had some trouble with academics. Lanigan was named to the preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference team prior to his senior year. He ran 4.53 and 4.59 seconds in the 40 at his pro day.
Corey Council - Aspen - Bethune-Cookman running back
A cornerback in high school, the diminutive Council (5-6, 170) became a punt and kickoff return specialist, running back and slot receiver at Bethune-Cookman. In 2009, Council was listed by NFLDraftScout.com as the 94th best running back of his draft class. His pro day 40-yard dash time was 4.54, but NFLDraftScout lists his lowest time as 4.43.
Ken Amsel - Old Blue - Monmouth cornerback
Amsel started in 31 games in Monmouth’s defensive backfield during his sophomore, junior and senior seasons, including all 11each of his final two years. Monmouth is a Football Championship Subdivision program that competes in the Northeast Conference, and the Dallas Cowboys’ Miles Austin played his college ball at Monmouth.
As a 5-9, 200-pound senior at Monmouth, Amsel recorded 45 tackles, including 27 solo stops, which was good enough for eighth amongst Hawks. He led the team with five interceptions and nine pass breakups. His five interceptions was tied for first among all NEC players, and 11th in the NCAA. Amsel was also named to the NEC Academic Honor Roll.
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Written by Alex Goff
Monday, 20 June 2011 20:32 |
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Eagles: Who Worked Hardest? |
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National Teams -
USA Men
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We spent some time tracking the work rate of the USA team in their 32-25 win over Russia Saturday. We looked at who made and missed tackles, and who made a solid contribution at the breakdown. From that we came up with a number that measured a player’s work rate. It wasn’t enough to show up at a ruck, you had to have made an impact (won a turnover, made sure jeopardized ball was safe, or push someone back).
Six players stood out in this measurement: John van der Giessen, Scott LaValla, Shawn Pittman, Paul Emerick, Nese Malifa, and Nick Johnson.
Van Der Giessen had by far the highest work rate. If we factor in big plays, where van der Giessen stole at least three Russian lineouts, you’ve got a heck of a game from the lock.
LaValla was the second-most active, and he too had a couple of big plays, mitigated by the odd mistake. His biggest play, in our book, was late in the game when Blaine Scully made a try-saving tackle that prevented a Russian overload. LaValla passed several other Eagles to get to that breakdown and ensure (along with Paul Emerick and Tai Enosa) that the Eagles won that ball.
Shawn Pittman was outstanding. His scrum work was quite good (look at the tape, it wasn’t Pittman’s side that had trouble), and his tackling and activity at the breakdown shamed his front row mates (like LaValla, running past other static players to get into a ruck that needed getting into). On one of Russia’s many long-range attacking moves, the backs stopped the Bears, but the first forward to show up on the scene was a prop – Pittman.
Emerick may not have passed the ball a great deal, but he ran hard, made his tackles, and was in a lot of rucks, too. Here his 7s experience helps, because as a back he’s not above diving to the floor to snap up a loose ball, a la a flanker.
Malifa wasn’t really a factor in the breakdown – that’s not his job. But his defense, combined with his offensive contributions, justified the Sky Sports Man of the Match award he received. Malifa, by our count, made seven tackles. Of those, three of them (three!) prevented tries. On one of them, he took down a Russian at full pace with no one behind to help.
And finally Nick Johnson. He came on late in the game and put in more work (five tackles and five big rucks) in 20 minutes than some players put in all day
Now this doesn’t mean other players didn’t put in work, just that those players put in the most. Several others had good moments, or worked hard but made a few big mistakes. A few others didn’t work enough.
But we go back to those six players: van der Giessen, LaValla, Pittman, Malifa, Johnson and Emerick as guys who really stood out in terms of work rate. Four of them scored no points, but earned plenty of points in our book.
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Written by RUGBYMag.com News Release
Tuesday, 21 June 2011 11:38 |
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USA Rugby Certifies College Conferences |
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Colleges -
College News
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BOULDER, COLO. — The USA Rugby College Eligibility Committee recently finalized the certification of 10 men’s Division I conferences, one women’s Division I conference, two Division II men’s and one women’s Division III conference.
The two new women’s conferences will join one other women’s rugby conference that was formed earlier this year, Rugby Northeast, which competes in Division II.
Playoff pathways for the new conferences for the 2011-2012 season will be determined by the Men’s and Women’s College Competition Committee.
Per USA Rugby rules, College Premier Division teams entering teams in Division I conference competition will not be eligible for the Division I playoffs. Canadian teams are also not eligible for the playoffs.
DIVISION I MEN’S CONFERENCES
The 10 certified conferences are: Eastern Pennsylvania Rugby Conference, Heart of America Rugby Conference, Ivy Rugby Conference, Mideast Rugby Conference, Midwest Rugby Conference, New York State Rugby Conference, Northern California Rugby Conference, Northwest Collegiate Rugby Conference, Pacific Mountain West Rugby Conference and South Independent Rugby Conference.
Previously certified conferences: Atlantic Coast Rugby League, East Coast Rugby Conference, Southeastern Rugby Conference and Southwest Collegiate Rugby Conference
Members of the Eastern Pennsylvania Rugby Conference:
Conference Commissioner: Dan McHugh
Delaware
Kutztown
Millersville
Shippensburg
St. Joseph’s
Temple
West Chester
Members of the Heart of America Rugby Conference:
Interim Conference Commissioner: Miles Hunter (Oklahoma State)
Arkansas
Kansas
Kansas State
Missouri
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
Truman State
Members of the Ivy Rugby Conference:
Conference President: Steve Siano
Brown
Columbia
Cornell
Dartmouth
Harvard
Penn
Princeton
Yale
Members of the Mideast Rugby Conference:
Conference Commissioner: Tom Rooney (Ohio State)
Bowling Green
Davenport
Indiana
Miami (Ohio)
Michigan State
Ohio State
Purdue
Members of the Midwest Rugby Conference:
Conference Commissioner: Tom Rooney (Ohio State)
Iowa
Iowa State
Minnesota
Nebraska
Northern Iowa
Wisconsin
Wisconsin-Stout
Members of the New York State Rugby Conference:
Conference Commissioner: Andrew McDonnell
Binghamton
Brockport State
Buffalo
Fordham
Iona
Merchant Marine
St. Bonaventure
Stony Brook
Syracuse
Members of the Northern California Rugby Conference:
Conference Commissioner: Matt Sherman (Stanford)
Cal
Chico State
Sacramento State
St. Mary’s
San Jose State
Santa Clara
Stanford
UC Davis
Members of the Northwest Collegiate Rugby Conference:
Interim Conference Commissioner: Mark Webber (Oregon State)
British Columbia
Central Washington
Eastern Washington
Idaho
Oregon
Oregon State
Simon Fraser (B.C.)
Washington
Washington State
Western Washington
Members of the Pacific Mountain West Rugby Conference:
Conference Commissioner: TBD
Claremont
Loyola Marymount
UC Irvine
UC Santa Barbara
UC San Diego
USC
Members of the South Independent Rugby Conference:
Conference Commissioner: Jody Hensley (Middle Tennessee State)
Central Florida
Florida International
Florida State
Georgia Southern
Kennesaw State
Life
Middle Tennessee State
South Florida
DIVISION I WOMEN’S CONFERENCES
The Pacific Mountain Rugby Conference is the first Division I women’s rugby conference.
Members of the Pacific Mountain Rugby Conference:
Conference Commissioner: TBD
Air Force
Arizona State
Cal
Chico State
Claremont
Colorado
Colorado State
Lady Cougars
New Mexico
Oregon
Oregon State
Stanford
UC Davis
UCLA
UC San Diego
UC Santa Barbara
DIVISION II MEN’S CONFERENCES
The previously certified Men’s Division II conference is Rugby Northeast.
Members of the Dixie Rugby League:
Conference Commissioner: Eddie Roberts (North Alabama)
Belmont
Bryan
Freed-Hardeman
Harding
Lee
North Alabama
Sewanee
Tennessee Tech
Tennessee-Martin
Members of the Southern Rugby Conference:
Conference Commissioner: John Roberts (Furman)
Appalachian State
Citadel
Coastal Carolina
College of Charleston
Elon
Furman
Guilford
Lander
UNC-Charlotte
UNC-Greensboro
UNC-Wilmington
DIVISION III WOMEN’S CONFERENCES
The New England Women’s Collegiate Rugby Conference (NEWCRC) is the first Division III women’s rugby conference.
Members of the NEWCRC:
Conference Commissioner: Ben Murray (Smith)
Babson
Holy Cross
MIT
Mount Holyoke
Smith
Wellesley
Wheaton (Mass.)
Worcester Tech
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Written by Pat Clifton
Monday, 20 June 2011 17:41 |
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7s All Americans Update |
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Colleges -
All Americans
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 Since the announcement that there would be a Collegiate 7s All-American squad competing in the Club 7s National All Star Championships in Chula Vista, Calif. in August, we haven’t heard much else, until now.
We now know the 7s AAs will assemble in Chula Vista for a camp Saturday, August 20, six days prior to the kickoff of the 7s NASCs. The budget for this assembly is still undetermined, so it’s unclear how many players will be invited. Eagles 7s coach Al Caravelli said he’d like to see 20, and 7s AAs head coach Alex Magleby indicated between 12 and 20 would be invited.
The final selections will be made by Magleby, but the Dartmouth head coach is conferring with Caravelli on a regular basis.
“It’s a separate deal than the international setup, just like the 15s team is, but we’re measured on how many of our guys eventually become National Team players, so it behooves us to make sure we’re coordinating as much as we can with the National Team coaches,” said Magleby. “That’s what we’ve been doing in 15s, and it’s what we’ll do in 7s.”
The group to be invited to the August camp will named next month, as will the rest of the 7s AAs staff. Magleby said his staff has already been identified, but did not want to divulge too many names before the coaches’ work and travel situations could be sorted out. The one coach Magleby did say would be on staff is David Fee.
Fee, Magleby’s former teammate with the 7s Eagles in the early part of the century, was also on staff with the High School All-American 7s team that won its division in the Las Vegas Invitational in February. During the spring, Fee coaches Brother Rice High School in Chicago.
Magleby said the All-American camp selections should preempt any territorial all-star selections, giving those who don’t make the AAs a chance to still compete in the NASCs in front of national selectors.
“Certainly, any of the college guys that don’t get picked that Al believes have a shot, he’s got the relationships to kind of build on that and get them into their all-star territorial teams,” Magleby said.
Caravelli seems upbeat about the direction the NASCs are heading, and specifically the formation and inclusion of the AAs.
“The new guys that have been coming onto our team. last year was the first time in three years that a guy came out of a club championships, and it was only one guy,” said Caravelli. “The rest of the guys have been coming out of our collegiate ranks.”
RUGBYMag.com intends to name its 7s All-American team before USA Rugby tabs its first squad, so stay tuned to RUGBYMag.com for both lists and any news concerning domestic 7s this summer.
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Rugby Super League manager and SFGG supremo Greg Rocca talks about the RSL's future, and recent past; we get a look at who might join the league and what the league might look like next year.
