'It's an easy ten-hour flight': Stories of overseas Premier 15s players
Would you move halfway across the world to pursue a lifelong dream? Even if it meant leaving your family and friends behind or spending Christmas thousands of miles away from home alone in a rented room? What if it meant seeing your team mates more than you saw your husband?
For most overseas players in the Premier 15s, that’s the reality of their decision to move to England, to play high quality rugby, all in aid of being the best versions of themselves and making it to a World Cup.
The debate of moving to the UK is one USA Eagles international Kristine Sommer, formerly of Harlequins and now at Gloucester-Hartpury, knows all too well. “I’m playing in England but still work full time remotely for a company in the States, so my hours are from 3:30 in the afternoon to 1:30 or 2:00 in the morning. I acknowledge that this is probably my last year of being abroad and potentially playing international rugby,” Sommer states matter-of-factly.
“We choose to be here but this is the reality that we’re living. We do get a stipend from the club, some players get housing support and match fees, and on paper that looks good but it’s not enough and you have to sacrifice all these other things to do what we’re doing.
“There’s 17 USA internationals in the Premiership, and it’s really hard for the older ones, we’re always thinking how do I transition after this is done? A handful have quit their jobs to be over in the UK as they can’t substantiate full time remote work, so that’s hard for them and being semi-professional here is great, but it doesn’t pay the bills.”
Maya and Kristine ? Gloucester-Hartpury pic.twitter.com/AEBxj4U5ls
— USA Rugby (@USARugby) October 16, 2021
Sommer goes on to explain more about her personal situation which makes her choice to move overseas even more remarkable.
“My husband is in Seattle, we got married in June last year and we bought a house right before I moved to Harlequins, so he keeps up our home and it’s an easy ten hour flight but it’s hard seeing everything happening at home and then you leave it to grow your career, but you’re kind of living both lives and with the time difference and working, most the time I feel like a zombie!”
USA Eagles captain Kate Zackary who plies her trade for Exeter Chiefs spoke to RugbyPass+ last year and said: “It’s known within the women’s game that you’re probably going to have to uproot if you want to pursue your dreams of becoming a better player. It’s a big decision, changing lifestyles, jobs, moving, decisions to retire or start families. Players want to put themselves in the best position possible ahead of the World Cup.”
?? TRY OF THE WEEK ??
Take it away, @katezack28 ??#Premier15s @ExeterChiefs @exechiefswomen @USAWomenEagles @USARugby pic.twitter.com/n47cEWVDhq
— Premiership Women's Rugby (@ThePWR) February 8, 2022
So are the sacrifices really worth it, and why has the Premier 15s attracted so many from North America?
“Most players are just hoping this environment will give them a spot on the World Cup team, that’s the reason most of us are here. Also, there is no rugby in the States and this is a year we need to do whatever we can to get as many games and as many touches on the ball, and just play rugby” said Sommers.
“They keep postponing the league in America. The States is so large and for the Women’s Premier League there are ten teams and you have to fly to different states to play, so it’s not financially feasible and all of those costs go on the players.
“Playing for Seattle we had to fly to the East Coast multiple times in the season, which was too expensive, or we had to travel over the Canadian border, and with Covid the borders closed so it got harder to cross casually on the weekends with 30 rugby players.”
In England we take for granted the fact that the longest journey players may have to make is DMP Durham Sharks to Exeter Chiefs (a drive of 5 and a half hours), however, this would be considered a short jaunt when playing in the American or Canadian leagues.
Canadian international DaLeaka Menin, who joined Loughborough Lightning in 2017 when the Premier 15s first began, who now plays for Exeter Chiefs, describes her decision to move across the Atlantic.
“When I moved over, I’d just finished university and was told about this league England had just put together and I was quite hesitant at first. It was just supposed to be a year’s experience and see what happens but this is now my fourth year!
“There is no constant league you can play in in Canada. There is too much snow in winter with nothing beyond the summer season and with how widespread we are, there’s maybe four internationals scattered throughout the league so the level is quite a bit lower than it is in England.
“Deciding to come across was a really big move for me. My parents have struggled with it as you’re not just moving down the road, it’s across the ocean and it’s not easy to get there and it’s costly. The first two years I was over here I paid for my own visa and did part-time work in 12 to 24 hour shifts in between training with Loughborough. I try not to think of it as sacrifices as they’re still choices.
“For my first three years I didn’t go home for Christmas and when I went back this year I realised how much I’ve missed it. Friends and family are far away but they have been really supportive as they know this is what I want to do and I’m stepping forward in my development as an athlete. My mum always asks when I am coming home to start a career.
“I am now a contracted athlete with Exeter and get a little bit of money but I’m not making foundations for anything career based and the money isn’t as sustainable as I wish it was. The club have provided me with accommodation, and I receive a monthly amount of money which helps me pay for food and my phone bill and I’m not struggling to survive but I’m always thinking do I stay another year, or do I start thinking about what I’m going to do once rugby finishes? And I’m only 26!
“I’m also not legally able to work for any company other than Exeter Chiefs which puts a financial pressure on girls coming over. For me to work here I have to work under the umbrella of Exeter Chiefs- that’s just how the league is set up at the moment.
“Playing overseas is something that isn’t pushed on us internationals, but it’s encouraged by the coaches. Some of the girls that speak French, it’s more of a draw to play in France as it’s their first language.
“In my opinion the Premier 15s is the best league you can play in and it’s boosting rugby in America and Canada because we have so many internationals here, it’s really helping to grow the game.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
4 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
4 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
45 Go to comments