by Nigel Melville
Nigel Melville Direct

DID YOU KNOW: By age 14, girls drop out of sport twice the rate boys do. Update your profile picture to yourself playing rugby as a youth in support of Gatorade & the Women’s Sports Foundation efforts to #KeepHerInTheGame.

In support of the Keep Her In The Game campaign we have been asking you to post photos of you playing on our Facebook page, great timing for the women’s game with the West taking on the USA U20′s in todays Women’s All Stars Final at Glendale (kicki-off 4pm), followed by the USA Eagles v Georgia at 7.00pm. It will be a great days rugby and tickets are selling fast, should be a sell out! Get your tickets HERE

Eagles Rested and Ready

Mike Tolkin’s Eagles arrived in Glendale earlier in the week to prepare for their test against the Georgian National Team this evening. Against Canada a narrow loss was a huge disappointment for the team, they simply should have won the game, but for a couple of early mistakes that lead to tries I am sure that they would have – but that’s sport, its about 80 minutes and in international rugby mistakes cost you games – lessons learned!

I spent time with Mike Tolkin and watched the team train yesterday, there is a lot of excitement about this team, they have high energy, they are young and working very very hard. The goal is to build the team for the 2015 Rugby World Cup and today’s game will be an important part of that process.

The brooding Georgians arrived last Sunday, and as usual they are a huge team, most play in France these days, and of course, they will be physical and very direct.

Following today’s game in Glendale, the team head of for their biggest challenge of the summer schedule against Italy in Houston next Saturday at the BBVA Compass Stadium. Tickets for the game have been selling well and we look to be heading towards a record crowd for an Eagles game in the USA – well done to all involved in promoting the event, a great team effort that kicked off at the Houston Rodeo in the spring. We still have tickets to sell, click HERE for more details.

USA Roster For Today’s Game

15 Chris Wyles (Saracens)
14 Luke Hume (Old Blue)
13 Paul Emerick (London Wasps)
12 Andrew Suniula (Cornish Pirates)
11 James Paterson (Glendale Raptors)
10 Roland Suniula (Chicago Griffins)
9 Mike Petri (NYAC)
1 Shawn Pittman (London Welsh)
2 Chris Biller (Northampton Saints)
3 Eric Fry (Wellington Old Boys RFC)
4 Louis Stanfill (NYAC)
5 Brian Doyle (NYAC)
6 Taylor Mokate (Wellington Old Boys RFC)
7 Scott Lavalla (Stade Francais)
8 Todd Clever* (NTT Shining Arcs)

Reserves

16 Derek Asbun (Oxford University – England)
17 Tolifili (Andre) Liufau (l’Uson Rugby)
18 Mike MacDonald (At Large)
19 Andrew Durutalo (USA Rugby Sevens/Old Puget Sound Beach)
20 Shaun Davies (BYU)
21 Will Holder (Army)
22 Colin Hawley (USA Rugby Sevens)

Watch the USA take on Georgia AND Italy LIVE

USA Rugby is pleased to announce the broadcast schedule for the upcoming June Test Series LIVE and On-Demand!

The USA Eagles will take on Georgia at Infinity Park in Glendale, Colo. on June 16. The Eagles then move to Houston, TX. where they will take on Italy at BBVA Compass Stadium on June 23.

You can watch all the action LIVE and On-Demand on Universal Sports AND universalsports.com!

Tune in to Universal Sports at 9 PM ET/7 PM MT to watch the US take on Georgia LIVE from Colorado.

Watch the USA face Italy starting at 8:30 PM ET/7:30 PM CT in a rematch of the 2011 Rugby World Cup battle!

You can also catch all the action LIVE AND ON-DEMAND at universalsports.com for just $8.99 for BOTH GAMES!

Can’t watch the game LIVE? Tune into Universal Sports and watch the re-broadcast of both games! See the table below for re-air dates and times (all times ET, subject to change).

Check to see if your Cable provider carries Universal Sports. If not, call today to demand it and help grow the game of rugby!

Still haven’t got your tickets to the big games? Avoid the lines at the stadium! Get your tickets online today!

Georgia @ USA | Infinity Park at Glendale | Glendale, CO | June 16, 2012 | Get tickets here!

Italy @ USA | BBVA Compass Stadium | Houston, TX | June 23, 2012 | Get tickets here!

U20′s Arrive In Salt Lake City

Yesterday the eight U20 international teams participating in this years Junior World Trophy event arrived in Salt Lake City. The competition is the second tier U20 event with the Junior World Championship currently taking place in South Africa. In Salt Lake the USA U20′s will open their account on Monday against the tournament favorites Tonga and then play Russia and Chile

The IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy 2012 kicks off in Salt Lake City, USA, on Monday, June 18, with eight teams from six Regions gathering in the Utah capital. Each is seeking to win the trophy and thereby be promoted to next year’s IRB Junior World Championship in France, the world’s premier age-grade Rugby tournament.

While tournament organisers are expecting passionate home support as USA faces a tough opener against Tonga at Murray Rugby Park, don’t be surprised if the Pacific Islanders bring their own fans as there is a sizable Polynesian community locally making for what should be a great atmosphere in the 4,000-capacity venue.

The quadruple-header match action at the ground kicks off at midday with Japan taking on Zimbabwe before Chile plays Russia and Georgia faces Canada. It will be a festival of high-class Rugby with spectators receiving astonishing value for their match ticket price of just US$5.

“The JWRT is a wonderful opportunity for young players from all over the globe to bring their skills to the attention of the world. The experience of being at a major youth tournament will stand to them as their Rugby careers develop and they have a rare chance to forge friendships to last a lifetime.” said Tom Jones, IRB North America.

“I have no doubt that Salt Lake City 2012 will be a resounding success, promoting age grade Rugby at its best with its values of respect, fair play and passion.”

“I am sure that the reward for USA Rugby’s hard work and dedication in organising this special event will be a Trophy of which the US and the global Rugby family can be proud.”

The JWRT reflects Rugby’s growth and is a key part of the IRB’s commitment to growing the Game beyond its traditional heartlands. With teams involved from South America, North America, Asia, Europe, Oceania and Africa, this truly is a global tournament.

And Rugby fans across the world can savour every try, tackle and pass as all 16 matches are streamed live for the first time and available all over the world. The streaming can be accessed through KSL or Deseret News.

The IRB will also make available to the media regular updates, match reports, rights-free photographs and audio interviews via the IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy 2012 official website.

The players competing at the JWRT – and its sister tournament, the JWC – are the stars of tomorrow. More than 80 players who first came to the attention of an international audience at JWRT since its inception in 2008 have gone to represent their countries at full senior Test level and, undoubtedly, this year’s crop will be no exception.

In addition, the unique spirit that Rugby engenders will be on display as the teams take time out to conduct training sessions in schools and other community outreach activities while in Salt Lake City.

Through their passion and enthusiasm, it is hoped these talented players can inspire more local young people to take up the sport or develop further the skills they have already learned. This will be the legacy that the JWRT 2012 will leave behind long after the players have returned home.

Round One, Monday June 18 (all times are local)

Murray Rugby Park, Salt Lake City

Japan v Zimbabwe, 12.00
Chile v Russia, 14.00
Georgia v Canada, 16.00
USA v Tonga, 18.00

With an impressive resume as player, coach and administrator, Nigel David Melville took over as CEO and President of Rugby Operations of USA Rugby, the National Governing Body of the sport in America, in 2006.  In addition to his full time job promoting the sport in the U.S., Melville has launched his own blog, Nigel Melville Direct, to further the discussion and his passion for what it will take to make the U.S. a great rugby playing nation.

CLICK HERE to read more on Nigel Melville