Rugby scrumming its way to popularity?

With the help of the International Rugby Board (IRB), Sevens Rugby is finally going to be introduced to the Olympic games. With 205 Olympic Committees, and 118 rugby member unions, there is enough competition to make the sport’s popularity explode.  Rugby is huge in other countries like Ireland, England, Wales, Australia, and New Zealand; where players begin their career during childhood.  The United States is beginning to recognize the sport as a popular, fun, source of entertainment, but most athletes do not become interested until college; where ability to play is most prevalent.  

The US Eagles Seven’s captain, Todd Clever remembers as a kid, “we had about ten teams in northern California. We had to drive about two-and-a-half, three hours to a game.  Now it’s grown so much there’s ten leagues in northern California with ten or twelve teams in each. So it’s grown huge.” Locally, Belmont Shores has begun advertising youth leagues, attempting to introduce the sport to athletes at an earlier age. Perhaps adopting this idea from European countries has influenced their tremendous success in national play; having claimed numerous national titles.

New Zealand Coach Gordon Tietjens, whose side won gold at the Commonwealth Games, said one of the most attractive aspects of Sevens Rugby was its unpredictability. “Many years ago, generally it was New Zealand and Fiji who were considered the top two teams. But we’ve seen the emergence of six or seven teams at any given time that can go out and win a tournament, such as the United States or Kenya.”

The United States won Rugby gold in 1920, after playing one match against France, and again in 1924 after winning two matches.  With the absence of Rugby in the Olympics, is it possible for the US to reclaim their success?  Will we finally catch up to other countries, and recognize Rugby as the best sport ever? We will see in 2014.

Alan Palzer

T-Th 2:00PM