This Is American Rugby sat down with U.S.A 7's head coach Al Caravelli to talk about all aspect of rugby in America. In part 1 we talked about the recentely completed IRB Series, his choice for team MVP, best newcomer, and most improved player for the season, as well as Olympic funding. In part 2 we talk about preparations for the Pan-Am games, professionalization, crossover athletes, and the CRC.
This Is American Rugby: What kind of team are you looking to take to the Pan-Am games? The first team or a developmental side?
Al Caravelli: I'm looking to take the best team available to win a gold medal. If we are able to win a gold medal, the USOC and other around the world will take notice.
TIAR: Nigel Melville has recently stated that he hopes to have the 7's team become professional. How do you feel about that and what would it mean to your team?
AC: I'm thrilled. A lot of people say that we have five years to get ready for 2016; no we don't. Olympic qualifiers [begin] in 2014. This year the series begins in November with the Gold Coast and has nine stops. In 2012-13 there will be ten stops. In total, with training and other commitments, that would mean missing an average of 38 weeks of work a year. I don't know of any employer that will let anybody take all of that time off.
TIAR: What is your relationship with Eddie O'Sullivan like? Do you overlap on scouting, etc.?
AC: There is nothing formal, but if they [15's] find somebody they will contact me and vice-versa. If they find somebody they want to take a look at and possibly bring into camp, they will often send them my way becasue we assemble more often. I'm more in communication with Matt Sherman because he is in charge of the age-grade players. There isn't a formal relationship, but it is a working relationship. Here in the United States we just don't have the depth to say "hey, you're going to play 7's and you're going to play 15's," the choice goes to the player. However, there is a lot of overlap. If you look at the team that played Russia [in the Churchill Cup], the back-line was almost all 7's players. The Pan-Am pool has about fifteen guys that are on the World Cup squad.
TIAR: Do you see 7's as a developmental tool for the 15's team or as a specialization?
AC: I think in the future it will separate itself more, but right now it is more about overlap with the 15's team. If you look at how many guys got their breaks through 7's, that is some of our [U.S.A.'s] top guys. It may not be a formal developmental tool for 15's, but I would say that a lot of our guys get seen through 7's. Chris Wyles, Kevin Swiryn, and Zee Ngwenya all were seen through 7's.
TIAR: What do you look for in a crossover athlete?
AC: It's the same thing I look for in a guy who's playing rugby. It's a guy that has got good feet, explosiveness, and speed. For us to be able to contend for a gold medal, we have to get guys that are faster than what we have today. England has Dan Norton, New Zealand has Declan O'Donnell, etc., that are game changers. What else we look for is an individual is someone who has a professional attitude. Being a professional is not dictated by money. Do you take care of nutrition, recover, conditioning? When I talk to a young man, does he have that discipline that is required to be an Olympian? Does he have the ability to say "I'm going to dedicate the next five years of my life to becoming an Olympian and help my team win a medal?" You ahve to have a strong network of support from your friends and family to help you put in the time it takes. Talent will only get you so far and you have to have the mentality to take the next step.
AC: I got a lot of calls from agents after the CRC and Las Vegas aksing everything from what is your starting salary to what is the commission rate for their agency, etc. I have to educate these guys that we're a pay-to-play sport. People say why don't I go out and get an athlete that was taken in the 4th round of the NFL draft. Well, show me one that wants to play rugby. I used to invite some of these crossover athlete to camp sight unseen, but now if I get a guy I will ask a club with good coaching if I can send over a player to play for them. We can then see if they can learn the game well and if they can help their clubs. We will see them at the National Championships and Club Championships, and if they're good enough, they will be picked for the NASC. I think this is the best pathway going forward. Some people say I am giving these guys [crossovers] preferential treatment, but how is that different from anyone else? They have to prove themselves on the club level first.
TIAR: How has the CRC impacted your reruiting?
AC: The tournament this year was definitely a big improvement over last year in terms of quality of play. You could tell universities had more players with 7's experience. Coaching expereience has also improve. We still have a long way to go but we are seeing continous improving. The visual of 7's on TV is the biggest improvement. I'm getting a lot of calls and e-mails from players asking how that can tryout and play. I got an e-mail from a couple of overseas players that want to go to school in the United States but also play 7's. The majority of the CRC schools got more prime time TV time than their 'anchor sports.' Someon like Nate Ebner never would have been released if the event didn't draw this much attention.
