over the last few years I have noticed a change of rugby in america, most of it you can see the difference alone here in the SF bay area from how it was just 3 to 4 years ago. south valley high school team was once just live oak high school rugby, but they have merged with south valley mens and created a youth program. Bellarmine college prep was once a club team that loosely used the Bellarmine name and colors, now they have been accepted by the school and "brought" into its athletic department and boast teams in all levels of high school rugby. The club i currently coach with is relatively new with three years as a youth program and entering two with a high school program. As I have stated before the college I have played at before, San Jose state, has slowly redeveloped them self's over the last two years to carry them self's as a varsity program on campus. Each player is given a warm up track suite, two sets of jerseys and now travel to away games in the school charter bus when available . My point with all of this is a few years ago rugby was a after thought to many areas and schools, now rugby not just in the youth department , is starting to catch fire. Colleges big and small see the value of having a rugby program on campus. Men's and high school programs are now starting youth clubs in order to rise and keep the talent flowing through the programs as the years go on. Last year we had 16 k attend a eagles match in Huston against Italy and lets face it many of us including me when we first heard of the match being played in Huston scratched out heads, and it proved us wrong and made headlines around the country and world. This year in Las Vegas they had 4k more attend the three day event more then last year , 67k (+). USA rugby along with Canada will finally have a consistent summer competition in place with inclusion into pacific nations. South Africa lions will stop by in so-cal to take on a all star team that already will have mr. Captain America him self involved and mike Tolkien coaching. Even though they want other "super stars" involved be sure to see some eagles and Canadian players mixed in the line up. almost every week rugby is making headlines through out the country from news paper write up's to news stories on tv. there is no denying that rugby even though it is not to the level of football or "soccer" in this country, it is on the up swing and in 5-10 years time there is no reason why there shouldn't be a true rugby league in north America thriving.
but non the less we still have a few bumps in the road to fix.
1) the college division issues, having teams join conferences has so far been a plus and very helpful but teams having to play or wanting to play in specific divisions that so far have done nothing but water down that specific competition is a problem and some solution needs to come up
2)men's pro league. i know there have been many recent rumors about this possibly happening with in a few years, but until we see pen hit paper and physical evidence happening with this, its still only going to be a dream for many ruggers in north america.
3)women's rugby, usa rugby needs to do more for womens rugby. this year they added more spots for womens 7's full time. but what they should also do is if anything encourage every new mens college program, after 3-4 years they should start a womens program also. this way the large gaps between the few womens programs already around will begin to slowly close. why not offer incitements toward mens clubs also that start up a womens side, such as help with paying for team gear, or with help securing a playing field.
there may be many more "key" areas that USA rugby needs to attend to but these are the few areas that worry me. the youth movement seems to be doing just fine on its own and have full faith that it will prosper.
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