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'Being an American kid I never thought I'd be on the same field as Quade Cooper'

By Finn Morton
Quade Cooper playing for Souths in Brisbane.

On the 13th of June, 24 players from a pool of over 400 prospects were drafted into Major League Rugby squads for next season.

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Two of the players picked in the inaugural Major League Rugby Collegiate Draft also share an Australian connection, having both played for club side the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia.

Bronson Teles and Patrick Madden were both awarded the Mark Loane Medal in 2016 and 2017 respectively, which allowed the American High School players to come to Brisbane as they continued their rugby development.

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Quade Cooper playing club rugby in Brisbane.

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Quade Cooper playing club rugby in Brisbane.

From the University of Arizona, Teles was selected 21st overall by Dallas Jackals who were announced as the competitions 13thand newest franchise at the beginning of this month.

Denmark-born Teles began playing rugby at the age of nine for Texan club Katy Barbarians. Being drafted was the result of years of hard work and resilience, and the backrower is looking forward to helping shape a franchise in their inaugural season.

“To be involved in the first ever Major League Rugby Draft was already a milestone for me as well as a moment that I’ll never forget. To say that I was drafted let alone is still a surreal feeling,” Teles told RugbyPass.

“I have dreamt about moments like these and I can certainly say that I absorbed every second of the draft process. It was a spectacular moment in my life and an extraordinary feeling to be with my family on the special day. Now it’s time to work and make the most of my opportunity.

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“It’s very exciting to be a part of a new franchise. New opportunities, new challenges and new expectations at hand. It’s exciting to be a part of the Dallas culture and atmosphere, and bring the game to that side of Texas.”

Reflecting on his time in Australia, Teles revealed that he learnt a lot from the opportunity to come Down Under.

“Playing at UQ was a special time in my life. The rugby, the culture, the boys, all around was class. Immersing myself in the developmental academies that UQ had to offer was extraordinary.

“The boys were amazing and showed me the ropes of Brisbane. I couldn’t have had a better time in Australia. Loved every second of my time there.”

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Teles’ High School All-American teammate Patrick Madden was awarded the same accolade a year later, visiting Australia in 2018.

Madden began playing rugby at five-years-old, when his neighbour started the first youth club in San Diego.

It was then only fitting that MLR powerhouse San Diego Legion took a chance on the hometown prospect years later, who was drafted 12th overall.

The playmaker has looked to make the most of any and all rugby opportunities over the years, which included following in Teles footsteps.

“I got into my first year of Uni and I got a call from Salty Thompson who at the time was the USA High School All-American coach, and he informed me about the Mark Loane Medal which was the partnership between Mark Loane and the UQ Business and Law program,” Madden said.

“Getting that call, that was another call that I’ll never forget just like the call from San Diego Legion. I remember I was sitting in my dorm room and I got the call from Salty saying ‘hey, you’ve won this award and I know it’s a lot but if you do accept it, we have to get you out to New York for the award ceremony in November.

“Then from there, you’re spending your entire summer in Brisbane playing for UQ.’”

At just 19-years-old, Madden made the tough decision to move to Australia for the summer to pursue his rugby ambitions by learning all that he could.

Less than 24 hours after arriving Down Under, he’d played a game and a half for his new club before celebrating with a well-earned rest as he continued to battle jetlag.

“I just wanted to go and be a sponge. Picking up as much knowledge as I can, picking the brains of some of the best rugby minds in the country, and being at such a respected club like UQ.

“It put me in the right position to excel in my career and so I knew it was another stepping stone in doing what I want to do, which is playing professional rugby and hopefully one day, getting my first cap as an Eagle.”

“It was when Quade Cooper was playing for Souths at the time, so being an American kid I never thought I’d be on the same field as Quade Cooper, so that was amazing. I don’t think I’d be in the position that I am today without my time spent with UQ.”

Madden will train and play alongside former England captain Chris Robshaw, who penned a contract with the Legion for the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

Having the opportunity to learn from the international talent such as Robshaw and Legion co-coach Zack Test, he’s itching to get to work with the 2019 MLR runners up.

“I actually just got off the phone with [Zack] Testy yesterday, just going over what he expects for me coming into the pre-season, what I need to work on and just some key points. We started chatting about the opportunity that I have.

“To be a 21-year-old and be training day-in and day-out with the likes of Chris Robshaw, it looks like Ma’a Nonu will be coming back, Joe Pietersen, you just go down the list and there’s all these international players who are now playing in MLR.

“I’m happy San Diego is willing to take a shot on the local kid. There’s a lot of stuff that’s sent me this way, UQ and my time in Brisbane being one of them.”

Teles and Madden felt that they grew as rugby players from their time in Australia, which led to them being drafted earlier this month.

Both players will look to debut for their new teams when Major League Rugby returns next year.

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J
Jon 5 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

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j
john 8 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

32 Go to comments
A
Adrian 10 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

32 Go to comments
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