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. He has been instrumental in the development of the game at the youth level and the senior level in the U.S.
Ironic that on a week that all eyes will be on Vegas and the new Olympic sport of Rugby sevens, I hear about the sad passing of Marilyn Slater McCapes, the daughter of one of our 1920 and 1924 Gold Medalists.
A long day meeting with the Tier 2′s and hammering out schedules from 2013-2016, not an easy task as we discovered when each nation presented their challenges and needs going forwards.
Today’s meeting of the Tier 2 Nations in Las Vegas is a long awaited opportunity to create a consistent international fixture list that will increase the number and quality of international fixtures for the Eagles 15′s team. There are many barriers to making this happen.
Here’s one for the forwards, World Cup-winning rugby star Sonny Bill Williams is a boxing champion after a first-round knockout over Clarence Tillman.
The Women’s International sevens kicks off on Friday, you can watch the event live via our webcast.
Positive Coaching Alliance has named its list of 50 finalists for the 2012 Double-Goal Coach Awards, including two USA Rugby coaches.
Today the teams on the HSBC World Sevens Series arrive in Las Vegas after competing in the Wellington Sevens this weekend, its a long flight north, crossing the international dateline on the way, and understandably the teams arrive tired and hungry.
Looking back its amazing how you have such vivid memories of special events in your life as if they were just yesterday. This week brought the memories flooding back when Chris Robshaw was named as the captain of England this week with just one cap to his name.
In Wellington the HSBC Sevens has just kicked off the weekend's rugby with the Eagles facing South Africa and England in their opening games! Then the teams head to vegas where I am looking forward to seeing both the Men's and Women's Eagles performa in front of their home fans.
I am looking forward to watching the Eagles Sevens team in action next week in Wellington as they commence their 2012 program. During the last 3 weeks the team have commenced their residency program and this last week had the fortune to work with an old friend of mine, Dave Ellis.
Over 100 of the nation's top women's rugby athletes will convene this week in Lakeland, Fla. for a High Performance Camp at Tiger Town, the Detroit Tigers' spring training facility. The camp will serve as a selection vehicle for national teams and an opportunity for coaches to collaborate and identify talent for the upcoming international season. The camp will start on Wednesday January 11 and conclude on January 15.
During the past two weekends, Scott Lawrence, Head Coach of the Junior All American's held camps in Atlanta and San Francisco to assess talent ahead of a busy year for the team. I had the pleasure of catching up with them at the San Francisco Golden Gate Rugby Club and took the opportunity to assess the scrum halves on show.
I received a comment this morning that players were arriving at the Olympic Training Centre to commence the residency program.
Every year the USA Rugby Youth Conference grows, not just in numbers, but in the quality of the presentations and the take-away information. Its great to see such a cross section of the community puling together to support the growth of the Youth game.
Gilbert has released a new line of rugby cleats. The Gilbert Virtuo 8S is part of the exciting new product. Check it out.
The entire All Blacks apparel line has been updated for 2013/14. Check out the New Zealand All Blacks polo.
The Nike Tiempo is a solid rugby cleat and one of few styles still made from full-grain natural leather.
The Gilbert Blitz 8S rugby cleat is a great cleat at a great price of $69.99. Get a new pair of cleats today.
A cool looking all black rugby cleat with the high performance adidas is known for. Get in the Gear!
Wear the crest of the British and Irish Lions on your t-shirt. A great look for the summer.
$29.99
The All Blacks Performance t-shirt is black with hints of blue from the training jersey. Very Cool.
The New Zealand All Blacks training jersey for 2013/14. Get in the Gear!
The USA Rugby Pro Alternate rugby jersey is perfect for any fan of the Eagles. Get yours to wear during the summer Test matches.
The NEW All Blacks 2013/14 jersey has arrived at World Rugby Shop. Dare to wear the colors of the All Blacks.
