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'Hearing USA chants at Arms Park was pretty surreal'

By Online Editors
Departing Blues player Blaine Scully in action at Arms Park (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Cardiff Blues and Blaine Scully have mutually agreed to part ways following the wing’s four seasons at the Arms Park.

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The USA captain arrived in Wales following the World Cup in 2015, but with a third Rugby World Cup appearance on the horizon and the growing emergence of young talent and new arrivals at the Arms Park, it was time for Scully to move onto his next challenge.

Scully said: “The timing is right, and more than anything I’m grateful for the time my wife and I have had here. Everyone has welcomed us with open arms, and we couldn’t have been prouder to call this team and this place home for the last couple of years.

“I’m excited to return to the United States and focus on the upcoming World Cup, and then look forward to our next experience. I wish the Blues great success going forward. They will always have a special place in my heart.”

Scully, 31, made 52 appearances for the region, scoring 12 tries in the process, most notably a crucial late try in last season’s European Challenge Cup triumph over Gloucester. The wing leaves Wales with nothing but gratitude for every moment he has shared in a Cardiff Blues jersey.

View this post on Instagram

Farewell Letter to @cardiff_blues. Nothing but grateful. • Blues Family, As our 2019 season comes to an end, so does my time with the Cardiff Blues, and I could not be more thankful for the past four seasons. My wife Shannon and I are leaving Cardiff with tremendous gratitude for an experience filled with amazing people and memories. All things in sport are temporary. As opposed to being sad or fearful when things come to a close, I believe we can chose to be grateful for what the experience has given us – new opportunities to maximize, challenges to help us grow, teammates who become family, and above all, moments to remind us to always enjoy the ride. The timing is now right for Shannon and I to look forward to our next challenge. Individually, I will be focusing on National Team responsibilities and the Rugby World Cup in Japan. To the Blues family, thanks for welcoming Shannon and me into your home, city and country. Hospitality and laughs were never in short order. To my teammates, thank you for allowing me to share the field with you. We had some incredible moments. Lifting the European Challenge Cup in Bilbao will be forever a highlight in my life. To the supporters, thank you for the never-ending love. I will always remember the chants of “USA, USA, USA” echoing throughout Cardiff Arms Park accompanied by the drum. To Cardiff, thank you for allowing us to call you home. You will always have a special place in my heart. My career as a professional rugby player has always centered on a few things – constant self improvement and being a player of positive impact who actively contributes to the team. I can proudly say that I put all I had into the Blues Jersey and always left it all on the field. Thanks to all. Cheers, Blaine . . . #rugby #cardiffblues #usarugby #usarugbyplayers #rugbyvalues #rugbyethos #rugbylife . @cardiff_blues @pro14official @cardiffbluessc @cardiffbluesbro @cardiff_blues_community @usarugby @usarugbyplayers @eaglesoverseas

A post shared by Blaine Scully (@blainescully1) on

He continued: “I have been very fortunate to have played for two of the proudest and most historic clubs in Europe (Leicester Tigers and Cardiff Blues) and to share a field (Arms Park) that so many greats have played on, in front of so many wonderful fans and supporters for these last years. That’s not something I could ever have imagined as a young kid from California.

“Hearing USA chants throughout the Arms Park in Cardiff, Wales’ capital city is pretty surreal at times. We’ve had some incredible results on the field, I was very fortunate to be a part of that and I’m leaving with nothing but gratitude.”

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Bull Shark 2 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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