Yesterday when the list of participants at the latest Eagles 7s camp was announced Danny Barrett was listed as unavailable because he was currently on trial with a club in Europe. It turns out that club is Gloucester where he and Seamus Kelly are both having one month stints. According to the Gloucester Citizen both players are on the bench today for Gloucester United in their 'A' League match against Bristol.
Two Americans on trial with .@gloucesterrugby United tonight. Internationals flanker Danny Barrett and centre Seamus Kelly - both on bench
— Glos Citizen Rugby (@Citizen_Rugby) September 22, 2014
Gloucester have not had a good start to the season with a 1-2 record including an embarrassing defeat to Northampton to start the season. That could potentially open up a spot for either Barrett or Kelly. Either way they should give themselves good training and playing time ahead of the ARC and the Eagles fall tour.
For a few years, Argentina had a side in the Currie Cup competition for a few years. I wonder what it would take to create an 'American' team based in the UK?
ReplyDeleteIt's been talked about but the two biggest obstacles are 1) money, and 2) the inability of some players to get a work permit.
DeleteGreat news for two awesome players. Hopefully Cal Rugby is getting some good PR out if this. They are getting more of their rugby players professional contracts than their football program!
ReplyDeleteProbably note since Cal has 30 players in the NFL: http://espn.go.com/nfl/college/_/letter/c
ReplyDeleteI wasn't implying throughout history. I was pointing out that lately Cal hasnt been sending as many players to the NFL. This last draft they had two players go. http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/schools/_/id/2123/year/2014/california
DeleteReally what i was trying to point out is that College rugby programs need to let fans and potential players know that professional contracts happen. For fringe football players with zero chance of a NFL contract taking a look at rugby might not be a horrible idea. Obviously professional contracts for American Players are still extremely rare but think of the amount of talent that is currently in American College Football that will never see playing time in the NFL. Just a thought...