Category: Rugby

Nigel Melville, CEO & President Rugby Operations, USA Rugby:

First, can you tell readers how you became the CEO for USARugby and what your main roles are for the organization?

I joined USA Rugby in 2007 as CEO and President of Rugby Operations. That pretty much covers oversight of all aspects of the game.

I am fortunate that I have an excellent staff and can now focus on the next steps for the organization. We started by developing strong youth and high school programs thru State Based Rugby Organizations, we are developing College Conferences now and looking to enhance the Club game. At the High Performance end of the game we have men’s and women’s elite age grade teams and improving National teams.
 
What are the “next steps” for USARugby – what are some of the organizations biggest goals over the next few years and what steps are you taking to realize them?

Rio 2016 is probably our biggest challenge now that Rugby has returned to the Olympic Games. We now have full time sevens players (Men and Women) training at the Olympic Training Center in San Diego, they are now attending more and more events as they develop their squads ahead of Olympic qualification. That’s a pretty big goal for us all!

The other goals revolve around increasing visibility for the game in the media and on TV, and of course developing a professional game for our athletes..
 
How has having been a former coach of Gloucester (England) and the captain of the England National team in the 80’s helped you in your role?

Obviously having been an international player and professional coach has helped me understand the challenges of becoming an elite player and what it will take to make our National Teams competitive.

Off the field, I spent a number of years with Nike and that experience is certainly helping us re-craft our brand and explore opportunities for us to continue to grow.
 
What have been the biggest challenges in getting people to adopt the sport early in the states, and how can they do so?

The challenge is to get people to understand that a sustainable future for the game will come from a strong youth game, that we have to build the game and there are no quick fixes..that has been tried and hasn’t worked – so plant the seeds (get a ball in the hands of kids), be patient, nurture (coach them) and eventually reap the harvest (strong international teams).
 
How has the Pittsburgh area adopted the sport of rugby so far and what big inroads can/will you make to continue to grow interest?

Yes, Rugby is all around you and in Pittsburgh you have an awesome rugby facility that we have used for some of our National College and High School events. The rugby community is passionate and they understand the need to build their programs – they are doing a great job!
 
How does rugby in the states differ from that of your experiences in England and other countries?

Rugby is a global game with over 115 Countries playing the game, so every country has its own challenges – usually related to the weather and availability of facilities, and both are issues here of course.

As with all rugby people, we are pretty resourceful and make it work! Our field is very similar to soccer fields, so this helps, we prefer grass to turf, but we can play on either. The biggest challenge is helping people to understand the game.

Yes, we are a contact sport and no we don’t wear helmets, but we develop good technique, use our arms to wrap in the tackle, keep our heads off the body and this helps us stay safe. In football the head has become a weapon and that’s dangerous…we don’t do that!
 
Tell readers about US Rugby – how has it changed over the years and what are your expectations for this season?

We have grown steadily, our game used to be a club based game outside college with often a poor reputation on college campuses, not too much high school rugby and no youth programs. That has changed and we are experiencing explosive growth in  some key areas. We have some way to go, but we are building a solid base for the game.

One interesting development has been our new coach registration program that trains our coaches in all aspects of player safety and concussion recognition. We want to provide a safe environment for our athletes when they train and when they play.

We also introduced Rookie Rugby in 2008, a non contact game for boys and girls that has far-reaching opportunities for our Countries youth. Rookie Rugby puts a ball in the hands of a young player and they run – fast!! Great fun and great for kids fitness – the anti-obesity issues are a concern for us all – Rookie Rugby will play its part.
 
Tell readers a bit about the in-person experience as a fan? How does it differ from other sports?

Our recent international against Italy in June where over 17,200 fans joined us to watch the USA Eagles Men play Italy in the BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston. I think that gives you an idea about what the vent looks like – its played in MLS Soccer type stadiums, the fan experience includes everything the American Sports fan is looking for – tough athletes and plenty of contact, great food, entertainment and merchandise.

What you will also find are fans that support their teams but recognize and respect their opponents ‘on and off the field’, we are one big global family – one of the world’s ultimate team sports where team spirit, loyalty, commitment and mutual respect are as essential to the game as the ball itself!
 
I’m sure you’ve seen the issues with concussions in other sports. How is rugby dealing with the issue of concussions and the physical nature of the sport in general?

Yes of course all sports are concerned about concussions and we are certainly making our sport as safe as we possibly can. Our coaches all take on online concussion recognition course, understand that there is nothing ‘tough’ about keeping people in play if they show any concussion symptoms and we take these symptoms very seriously indeed.

The game of rugby globally has been trialing a new rule that allows a coach /referee to take a player out of the game for ten minutes to get a player assessed if there is any suspicion that they may not be OK. This trial is working well and I think it will be introduced across the game shortly.
 
What do you think would surprise readers who are newer to the sport of rugby most about the sport?

How some of the values that sport traditionally held are alive and well in rugby today despite so many changes to sport at every level. Probably the most important is mutual respect for everyone involved in the game. We still call our referees ‘sir’, we respect our opponents and spend time with them after the game, develop lasting friendships, support each other on and off the field, value team spirit and are committed to helping the next generation embrace and understand these important values. How refreshing.
 
Any last thoughts for readers?

If you get the chance to watch a game, do it..you will enjoy the whole experience!!

Matt Rippin:

First, can you tell readers how you became the coordinator for the Harlequin’s youth programs and what that entails?
 
I played for the Harlequins until I was about 27. Every member of the Rugby Football Club (that’s the team itself) is expected to contribute to the Rugby Football Association. The RFA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit which owns our field and runs our Youth programs, among other things. I coached at one of our youth sites throughout my career, and after I retired, I was happy to step up my involvement with the RFA.
 
We run a touch-rugby league at four sites in the area: Hazelwood, Garfield, Braddock and Homewood-Larimer.  Our target youths are high-risk boys from 8-14, and our program runs for ten weeks in the late Spring. But we are always looking for new opportunities to expand our reach.

For instance, this Fall we’ll be participating in an after-school program in the Hill District that seeks to expose the kids to Olympic sports (which rugby will become in 2016). Our first priority at all times is mentorship. We’re not recruiting for rugby; we’re trying to teach sportsmanship and teamwork and discipline. Rugby is a great vehicle for those lessons.
 
What have been some of the bigger successes you’ve had to date with these programs?
 
Just this year one of our volunteers, who is a professor at Cal U., reconnected with two alumni of the youth program who now attend Cal. They say that without our rugby program, they never would have stayed on the path they are on. That is always one of the most satisfying aspects of the program–when you see the young men wearing college memorabilia and you feel that you played a role in helping them get there.
 
But I should mention, we’ve also attended the funerals of some of the young men that we’ve coached. We have a lot of successes, but we definitely have our faith tested as well.
 
What’s been the biggest challenge in getting people to adopt the sport early, and how can they do so?
 
They don’t see the game on TV. They want to emulate what they see. At the youth level, it’s a challenge to get them to embrace the game and not just play tag football with a rugby ball.
 
There is a lot of high school rugby out there, though. In Western PA the programs are not run through high school athletic departments–so you don’t have to attend Fox Chapel to play for Fox Chapel’s team, for instance. If you’re interested, there should be a club that’s not too far from you.
 
Football is so dominant right now in our culture, and I think it does a disservice to a lot of kids. A lot of great athletes fall through the cracks in football because they don’t quite fit the game. They’re big, but someone else is bigger; they’re fast but someone else is faster.

Rugby rewards the well-rounded athlete: every player on the field has to run, hit, carry the ball and perhaps even kick. And you can tailor your game to your particular strengths. I think I lot of kids would prefer a game like that.
 
How has the Pittsburgh area adopted the sport of rugby so far and what big inroads can/will you make to continue to grow interest?
 
Rugby is growing all over, and it’s growing in Pittsburgh. Almost every university in the area has a team. And as the high school programs in the area have grown, they have begun to match up favorably with the teams in Philadelphia. Those are marked improvements compared to a mere ten years ago.

Traditionally, rugby has been thought of as a college and private school sport. That’s beginning to change now. Everybody in American rugby is hoping that the addition of Sevens Rugby to the Olympics will help to increase visibility. NBC is also starting to carry games and tournaments.

For our part, we’re looking to expand our youth operation within the city. We hope to be in five or six neighborhoods soon. Although our primary mission is mentorship, the program is also a great opportunity to share the game with communities who haven’t yet experienced it.
 
Tell readers about this year’s team? How has it changed from the 2011 squad and what are your expectations for this season?
 
The team’s looking real good these days. It’s the nature of amateur sports that you always have to rebuild after a few years. That’s where the club was a year ago at this time. But they had a strong 2011 and have opened up 3-0 in 2012. They’re really on the upswing now. I think they have a legitimate shot at the national Sweet 16 this year.
 
Where can they see the Harlequins play, and tell readers a bit about the experience as a fan?
 
Pittsburghers might be surprised to know that this is home to one of the finest rugby facilities in the country. We play at Founder’s Field in Indiana Township, just off Rt. 910. We were one of the first clubs, and are still one of the few, who have our own home field. Most clubs still have to scrounge for time on municipal parks.
 
The game experience is great. If you associate rugby with college hooliganism, you’d be surprised how professional and family-friendly it is: dogs and kids are welcome, and of course you can always get a spot close to the action. This is not to suggest, though, that there isn’t any beer. There is beer. And rugby songs. It’s really a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon.
 
Who are some of the bigger rivals of this team?
 
The Harlequins play in Division I of the Mid-Atlantic Rugby Football Union, so our league rivals are the teams in Philadelphia and DC, plus Norfolk, Raleigh and Charlotte. Our oldest rival is Pittsburgh’s D-II club, although the nature of the rivalry has changed since we’ve moved up and out of their division. We do still play each other, though, almost every Spring, and it’s always a grudge match.
 
Who are the bigger characters on this team and what makes them so? Any examples?
 
Hmm. You could ask every Harlequin in the organization that question and get a different set of answers. I can only answer for my era. In my time I’ve seen a friend jump out of the overhead storage compartment of a bus dressed like Spiderman; I’ve had another friend walk from a party in the North Hills to his home in Shadyside via I-279; I also have three very funny stories that involve knifeplay, but I’ll keep those to myself because I don’t want you to get wrong impression.
 
The thing you need to remember is that these are also some of the smartest, most interesting people I have ever met. And they’re outstanding friends. Rugby players are stereotyped as being buffoons; nothing could be further from the truth. They’re just quirky and uniquely unpretentious.
 
I’m sure you’ve seen the issues with concussions in other sports. How is rugby dealing with the issue of concussions and the physical nature of the sport in general?
 
The rugby community has been out in front of the concussion issue. International rugby had restrictions on players returning from concussions years before the NFL started to take the issue seriously. The Harlequins are interested in taking a leadership role locally, but our plans for that are still in the embryonic stages.
 
Rugby is undeniably a violent sport, but there’s also a lot of common sense written into the rules that mitigates the danger. You can’t launch yourself at a ballcarrier the way they do in football; you can’t tackle above the shoulders; and you have to make an attempt to wrap your arms in a tackle. Most importantly, I think, is that rugby players don’t wear the body armor that American football players do. I tell everyone who will listen that the way to make football safer is to remove the hard plastic shells, which turn players into human battering rams. When your face is exposed to the violence, you learn very quickly how to hit responsibly. And when your neck and shoulders have full range of motion, you can protect yourself.
 
That said, I have seen a few gruesome injuries in my day. The risks can never be fully eliminated.
 
Do you work at all with any of the other local sports teams, and if so, how?
 
Most of our work is with the college rugby teams, with whom we seek close relationships for obvious reasons. Founder’s Field is also host to a lot of the area’s soccer and lacrosse.
 
To this point, we haven’t had any enduring relationships with the three majors sports teams–although some Steelers have been nice enough to make appearances at our Youth Tournament. The Steelers’ new concussion initiative may be an opportunity for us.
 
What do you think would surprise readers most about the sport and about the Harlequins?
 
About the sport: when most people think of rugby, they tend to focus on the contact. But it’s also one of the most grueling tests of endurance and discipline of any sport in the world. The game evolved from soccer, and like soccer it’s a long, continous-flow game played on a huge field. Only with full contact.
 
About the Harlequins: I think as soon as you arrive at Founder’s you’ll appreciate that we’re a lot more than just a social club. We have to put in a lot of extra time to run a class operation–and that’s in addition to our Youth Programs.
Any last thoughts for readers?
 
If you’re interested in anything we do–the team or the volunteer work–you’ve got to go to //www.pittsburghharlequins.org/. We also have a Facebook page. Or you could just swing by the field sometime.

Steve Walsh:

How has the 2011 campaign been so far for the Harlequins?

2011 has seen a young side realize some of its potential. Our attacking has improved and the ability to play for a full 80 minutes or rather never say a game is over are a big part of this team now. Up until last week we were only 4 points from a perfect season.

Who have been some of your more standout players this season?

The improvement has been all over the paddock and someone different seems to step up each week. I think this has been something that has helped the team get better and better.

How do you find and acquire talent?

The young talent comes mostly from the colleges that surround us and we’re now seeing the benefits of the time being put into the local high schools. We have a good pool of experienced guys who attract the type of college player who wants to play Div.1.

Can you describe your coaching style – how do you approach your players and how it’s been received?

Rugby is a game, games are played for enjoyment. I’d like to think I coach so guys enjoy all aspects of the game, use the natural talents they’ve got and help them move quickly to a higher skill level so they can enjoy it even more.

What coaches and playing experiences have helped shape your career?

 I was lucky enough to start playing at age 5, this opens up the whole world early. My father was a big part, he played at a high level. Was coached by Bob Dwyer at Randwick and played alongside people like the Ella brothers and Russel Fairfax so during these years I was playing with the best rugby club in the world (Randwick) who only played attacking football.

This experience enabled me to move to Rugby League to play with South Sydney which showed me in those days what professional sport was all about. The game has taken me as coach and player to the Outback, France and England and now here, so I’ve been blessed with a lot of  great experiences to draw on.

You played rugby for the South Sydney Rabbitohs. First, what is a Rabbitoh? And do you see many differences between the Australian and US rugby styles?

South Sydney was founded in 1908 in the central part of Sydney. The players and locals used to make some money and earn livings catching the rabbits that were plentiful in the area, hence the nickname. I think US rugby is struggling a little to identify it’s own style, there’s been an influx at the international level of foreign coaches and it’s time to appoint an American as the national coach. They certainly like the speed and quick movement that Aussie rugby tries to bring as well as making use of the athletic abilities of its players.

Actor Russell Crowe now owns the Rabbitohs – were you there when he took ownership? Have you spoken to your former teammates about his effect on the team?

I missed Russell Crowe’s administration but coaches and friends I am close to say that he has brought a new professionalism to the club, obviously lifted the profile from the days where it was kicked out of the league. The only thing they’re missing at present are results and titles, but it’s a great club with a fantastic history.

On the US game and “market”, Is the sport growing locally in terms of interest and attendance? How do you get more people interested in the sport?

The game is definitely growing, the college level is the place where gains are being made every day as people come to see what rugby has to offer. When this happens senior level clubs benefit. Attendance has grown a little but in Pittsburgh where there are I think now 4-5 men’s rugby clubs, the competition with other sports is immense.

We need more exposure on many levels. Certainly getting the media more interested is a must as well as somehow informing people what an international sport it is with the vast opportunities it offers those who take part.  Locals getting to the national stage is something that always helps but that’s a huge, though not impossible goal.

How does the fan experience differ from other more “traditional” US sports?

 This game allows the fan to get much closer to all aspects. You can be near the game as a spectator, see the players close-up, interact with players at every level of the game, friends here in Pittsburgh recently came back from the world cup having met some of the highest profile players in the game. It’s tough to do that in any other sport.

I’m not sure if you follow the NFL, but the NFL is ratcheting down the physical play that occurs in the NFL. Is rugby doing the same, or is that physical nature part of the appeal of the sport that you wouldn’t want to strip away?

 There has been some modification over the last couple of years but not to the extent that the physicality of the game has been completely compromised. It’s a great part of the game and an essential part of it also. It is certainly important here in the States as I think the US players like that part of the game and take to it very quickly. Good coaches, and there are many here in the States now, teach technique first which makes the  game extremely safe. It’s a physical sport with hitting and speed, take that away and there is no game.

Any last thoughts for readers?

I think there is a great pool of untapped talent here in the USA that rugby must get hold of. If it gets a small part of that talent who knows where the USA could be on the world stage. The sport needs to get around more and see who’s playing where. Our MARFU league is one of the strongest in the country with a great pool of talent but the avenues for that talent to be recognized seem virtually non-existent. This needs remedied.

First, for those unaware, can you tell readers a bit about the Harlequins – when they were formed, who you play and where fans can see you play?

The Harlequins were formed in 1973 as the University of Pittsburgh Rugby Club.  The team was made up predominantly of Law School and Medical School students at the time, and was soon renamed The Pittsburgh Harlequins. The name came from the “London Harlequins”, one of the top men’s teams in the world at the time.

 The Harlequins have played in every public park and median strip on the East Coast, but created our own facility 15 years ago just outside the city in Harmarville.  Founders Field still ranks as one of the premier rugby specific venues in North America.  The deck of our 8,000sf Clubhouse is the best place in the county to enjoy rugby on a Saturday afternoon.
 
How did you come up with the name for the team?

As I mentioned, the name came from the London Harlequins after many “lesser names” were discarded by the membership.
Where are most players recruited from – do all have rugby backgrounds?

Most players come to the Harlequins from a College program.  Others participated in one of our High school programs or picked up the sport overseas. 

We have a growing number of athletes picking up the sport after college- when for most athletes their sports have no pathway to continue.  Wrestlers, football players, soccer players, basketball players- really any athlete looking to compete at a higher level often find rugby a good fit. 
 
Who are the standout players on the team and league?

Rugby is very truly a team sport, and as such the team succeeds or fails on the collective success of the team and not on the shoulders of any one or two players.  However, there are more than a handful of Harlequin players that have recently gained notice by National team coaches, as well as territorial “all-star” teams. 

Nick Koon recently was selected to represent the Mid-Atlantic region in a National All-Star competition, as well as being the leading scorer on the Harlequins team that recently made the National Championship in 7-a-side rugby.  Nick plays predominantly in the backs, and is arguably one of the fittest men in Rugby.

Luke Titus recently arrived from Australia and is already having a profound impact on the Harlequins game.  Luke played professionally in South Africa and New Zealand, and brings a vision of the game a step beyond what most Americans often experience.  His quick decision making and ‘read’ of the field keep things moving in an already very quick game.  His background in Rugby League (a similar game to Rugby Union, but with closer similarities to American Football) represents the type of faster, standup-defense that international teams are adopting.

Around the league there are standout players, including several that have made the transition from NFL careers and top level NCAA athletes. 
 
Do many of your players move on to international leagues/overseas?

The Harlequins compete using almost 99% local domestic players.  As we mature, more and more players are playing at bigger and better clubs.  We have had players go on to play with clubs in Europe, Australia and New Zealand- the big Rugby centers of the world.  We have had several players selected for National Team camps at several different age-grades; as well as several high school age players winning scholarships to play in college.

We try and annually send several players to play in one of the Southern Hemisphere countries where rugby is the top sport and they are competing in our off-season.  The sport is unique in it’s ability to transcend nationalities- it’s like a giant international brotherhood where you can always find some hospitality with just a few calls.
 
The Harlequins are more than just a club – you are a club that fields teams across various age groups. How does that work and how can inexperienced rugby players get started?

The great part about rugby is that it is an inclusive sport where if you don’t make the first side, you can play in the second or third side game every Saturday.  This way you can train as a team and work your way up in a friendly and competitive atmosphere without having to “ride the bench”.  We work with high school coaches around the region to help develop the level of rugby in Western PA, including hosting regional and national tournaments where they can play higher levels of competition.
 
For those unfamiliar with the game of rugby, how would you describe it’s appeal – what would excite people about the game and game experience?

For spectators Rugby is a great game to watch- especially if you sometime grow tired of TV timeouts and long intermissions!  Rugby is played in two 40-minute halves with a running clock- so the action rarely stops- you’ll want to grab your refreshments ahead of time so you don’t miss anything. 

For players the appeal is many things.  It is a tough physical game, and you have to be fit and smart to do well.  Many players like that when they take the field all the choices for the next 80 minutes are their own- the coach often sits in the stands for higher-level games.  For many crossover athletes, the appeal is that they get to do more than “block that guy”.  Everyone plays offense and defense, makes tackles and carries the ball. 
 
How has the team and sport grown locally – and how have you promoted it to those in Pittsburgh?

The team has grown over the years with the introduction of our facility and the hard work of a group of volunteers that love the sport.  The Harlequins made the transition from Division 2 to Division 1 in the mid 1990’s, followed by visits to national Championship Round of 8 and 16 in recent years.   The sport has grown locally with the expansion of youth and high school programs in the area; trying to keep pace with the huge growth boom of the sport in those age groups nationwide.

In addition, with rugby being reinstated as an Olympic sport in 2012 (the USA was the last team to win a gold medal in the sport) High school and college players right now are the players that will be competing for gold in 2016.  Couple that with the growing number of varsity college programs and scholarships out there, this is a good opportunity for athletes to be a big fish in a little pond.
 
Does having such a diverse and strong ethnic diversity in Pittsburgh help you in that some might be more aware of the sport?

The diversity in Pittsburgh is definitely one of the things that makes the city great- there are a great many opportunities to watch a wide variety of sports in the city beyond the big three; at our facility alone you can watch top level soccer, hurling, lacrosse, Gaelic football and, of course, rugby.  There is a huge support base out there for these “underground” sports, and the many ex-patriots in town are definitely a big part of that- we often call them “funny-talkers”, which coming from a Pittsburgher, is fairly ironic.
 
Any last thoughts for readers?

The Harlequins made our first appearance at a Seven’s National Championship this year, which set the groundwork for a successful Fall Season.  That team was made up entirely of local men; competing against all-star teams importing top-level players from around the world.  We are always looking for experienced players, as well as athletes looking to compete in a new sport at the highest level.  Rugby is fast and athletic, and it can quickly become a passion.  We are home almost every weekend in October, and games are very family friendly.