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'It is difficult' - The immediate task facing USA Rugby after red letter day
Gary Gold has paid tribute to the men who transformed USA Rugby from a bankrupt organisation just 20 months ago into the hosts of the 2031 men’s and 2033 women’s Rugby World Cup tournaments.
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The USA Rugby Board of Directors and Congress voted to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy, as a result of insurmountable financial problems on March 30, 2020, leaving Gold, the head coach, and his Eagles players out of work. However, a solution was found that allowed the sport to be revived and now USA Rugby has been handed the chance to finally give the game a significant place in the American sporting landscape.
Gold will now face even more pressure to secure qualification for the 2023 Cup in France by beating Chile in qualifying in July to join England, Argentina, Japan and Samoa in Pool D. He told RugbyPass: “It is brilliant that this has happened and there is now something tangible that we can touch and move towards. But, if you are trying to build confidence in the host country then it is important you are competing at World Cups.
“While we are celebrating the exceptionally good news today, we are still suffering from the effects of bankruptcy 20 months ago and I am not sure that many people at that time would have bet on us being awarded a World Cup.
“Fair play to the guys like Ross Young, Paul Santinelli and Jim Brown at USA Rugby, they got us pretty much unharmed through bankruptcy and while we have had to start again, this is a real life line. It is a very strong step in the right direction and it’s very exciting times.”
Gold has always dismissed the idea that just throwing money at the sport in the USA would allow it to compete against the established NFL, NHL and NBA and is adamant growth has to be based on established clubs and academies to ensure success. He said: “The idea that some philanthropist was going to ride in on his white horse and write out a cheque for hundreds of millions of dollars was never going to happen.
“When Japan was awarded the World Cup their Top League was a good competition but I don’t think it was in a better state than what the MLR is at the moment. You are going to see a lot of people getting behind the build-up and while nine years is a long time, in many ways it is short time to get things done.
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“Luckily in terms of stadia the USA is far ahead but now it is about getting the real work done at youth and academy level because the squad of 33 players who will go to the 2031 men’s World Cup are probably between 15 and 20-years old now. There is a lot of work that needs to be done in the development of those players.
“Getting playing numbers up to 450,000 is feasible. Of course NBA, NFL, and NHL are massive sports but once you come out of college and university, if you haven’t made the draft then unlike rugby, there aren’t amateur NFL teams to join. Therefore, there are thousands of talented football players whose careers are done – that is not how rugby works.
“I am not going to says that in my life time rugby is going to compete with NFL, NHL or NBA. But can rugby grow in America as soccer has done since the 1994 FIFA World Cup? Most definitely. The country is now going to stage the third biggest sporting event in the world and that will be followed by the women’s Rugby World Cup which bodes really well for the game globally.”
The USA Eagles have to beat Chile home and away in July to secure a place in the World Cup in France next year and failure would be seen a significant pot hole on the road to 2031.
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South African Gold can take comfort from the return to fitness of key players for the matches away to Chile on July 9 and home in Glendale on July16. He said: “It is difficult at the moment because Chile have been playing regularly and we haven’t assembled or played. We are going to be playing the French Barbarians in Houston on July 2 and it’s Regulation 9 window and we should have access to all our players around the world- that will be the first time for a long time.
“We had some real important injuries to AJ McGinty( Sale), Titi Lamositele (Montepellier) and Joe Taufatee (ex-Lyon) and Paul Lasike (ex-Harlequins)– four critical players for us. Paul is back at Utah and has got a little calf problem but hopefully be ready for the games in July.
“It is important we are flying the flag at all the World Cups and each tournament is a stepping stone towards 2031. You want to give guys as much experience of World Cups as possible to have that knowledge and understanding and if you did miss out on one of those tournaments it wouldn’t be a game changer it just wouldn’t be ideal.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Good decision, very good player but not international quality. But so was Jamison Gibson Park …..
3 Go to commentsLoose forwards always look good going forward and winning. It’s the same loose forwards for the Crusaders and the Canes this year as last year. Too much of the shiny new things getting noticed here while older consistent ones getting bagged. It’s early days. Calm the farm.
5 Go to commentsThanks Nick, and on the money. We tend to be apathetic until something REALLY BAD happens, then we aren't! At least this applies to the Reb players and coach, if not the spectators. They seem to be getting very quick ball at times. Have they altered something, or is it just all of the skills coming together at the right time? It seems almost the opposite of the Reds, who started the season with quick ball, but haven't been showing that in the last 3 losing games. Is it attitude (McDermott hasn't looked “right” to me for 3 weeks), or something else?
29 Go to commentsGood summary. As said, Sevu Reece has been electrifying for the Crusaders. Great try and he has been everywhere. Amazing he is now equal with Caleb Ralph , club record of 52 tries for the Crusaders. That record beckons. Good to see Dallas McLeod getting regular starts at last. A big few weeks are ahead.
5 Go to commentsGood article/interview.As was said Christian Lio-Willie was barnstorming when he came on for the Crusaders. What happened at the end, self-explanatory.Captain fantastic Scott Barrett is due back soon as well, once they are back from Aussie. Great to see Ethan Blackadder back last week.
1 Go to commentsYou must have been watching one team, Andrew - and even then you missed the brightest star in the Chiefs pack - Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 2 turnovers, genuine line-out presence and grunt around the field, and the soft hands of a back.
5 Go to commentsHaha what a crock of sh!t these headlines are. Moorby’s best year was that first. Still doesn’t seem to have the same game about him as when he was fresh but has bounced back well this season to be playing consistent tight accurate footy
3 Go to commentsIt’s even dumber than Bernard Foley not kicking the penalty to touch in the Melbourne Bledisloe in 2022.
3 Go to commentsYes, they are traveling well but it’s early days. The Chiefs were in front with 20 to go while they snatched a last minute win v the Reds. Keep calm.
1 Go to commentsThe failure of the Irish system / rugby playing style to produce their own backs has them looking elsewhere for innovation and flair - not that Jordie has much flair. He’s a converted fullback. The Canes have plenty of other younger options.
9 Go to comments1.Watch Wallace Sititi be the wild card AB. A genuine full time no 8 2. Luke J like Sotutu has not delivered. 3. Chiefs have all the right cattle but badly miss the leadership of Webber. LJ is about as unconvincing as Sam Cane when under the pump. They had the winning of that game in the second half then fell apart.
5 Go to commentsYes the Rebels are showing signs of life because they are literally playing for their live -lihoods and thanks to their Australian attack coach. However they are still playing an essentially dull boring south african style for the rest of the time. And Geoff Parling must be the most useless lineout coach ever. Worse than Steve Hansen even. Interestingly we are starting to see more cheap shots and attempts to get away with cheating by Australian players, now they are being influenced by Joe Schmidt. It was exactly the same when Rennie started out as Wallaby coach and thru his tenure. Trying to teach Australians to play like kiwis doesn’t work, as the last 20 years has conclusively demonstrated. Especially when we are not as good at it as kiwis. Which of course is the whole idea …..
29 Go to commentsGreat signing, not sure where he’ll fit in though. As for him ‘playing alongside RG Snyman, that’s highly debatable given the likelyhood that the latter will spend most of the season on sick leave.
9 Go to commentsWowee!
9 Go to commentsEvery team that has played a game in Africa this Champions Cup season is already out of the competition - including the SA teams. Could be a concidence.
30 Go to commentsthat should offer some experiences for Jordie.
9 Go to commentsJust remember: He is not a winger. Took Ian Foster 2 years to figure that out.
9 Go to commentsExcellent article, Nick. We (your RP colleague Brett McKay and my 8/9 Combo cohost), are going to have LSL on our podcast later this month. He has shown consistent excellence as a leader and lock. I’ll chat with you offline about a line of questioning if you have time. H
29 Go to commentsSo no Irish fan or journalist suggested JGP was as good as DuPont. Then even the guy who supposedly did is from Wales and said JGP would be the best around if it was t for DuPont. Right, so what is this story about again
19 Go to commentsGreat news for the URC. Leinster will always attract top talent. Another huge name added to their stable
9 Go to comments