Five Summer Questions for the Eagles

There is no doubt that this is an important summer for the Eagles. Despite there being no trophy to play for, head coach Mike Tolkin will want to figure out who are the players he can depend on going forward. For their part, the players will want to show that they belong and deserve to be a part of the team going forward. So with that in mind, in my latest piece on RugbyRugby, I examine five questions for the Eagles heading into the summer test series. Let me know what you think.

Club Championship Weekend Preview

After months of duking it out on fields across America, the Super League, DI, DII, and DIII club champions will be crowned this weekend. The Super League final will be held in Seattle on saturday while the DI, DII, and DII semi-finals and final will be held at Infinity Park in Glendale on saturday and sunday. The Super League final should be available online while at least some matches from Infinity Park will be televised. So with that in mind, let's take a look at the match-ups and schedule. (Make sure you buy your tickets to Infinity Park here.)

Super League-

Could you ask for a better matchup than two undefeated teams in OPSB an NYAC for the Super League final? Both teams have been absolutely dominant throughout the regular season and statistically speaking, not much separates the two. OPSB ended the season scoring 32 tries, 53 conversions, and had a point differential of +261. NYAC scored 35 tries, 51 conversions, and had a point differential of +242.

Both teams are loaded with national teams players. Brian Doyle, Mike Petri, Lou Stanfill, Toby L'Estrange (NYAC), Pate Tuilevuka, and Andrew Durutalo (OPSB) were all called into the latest national team camp by Eagles head coach Mike Tolkin. OPSB also has U.S.A. 7's players Mike Palefau and Miles Craigwell in their lineup. While having national team players on their roster has been a plus all season, it could be a negative factor this weekend as some of those players may be unavailable because of national team duty. If that is the case, the edge could go to OPSB who stand to lose fewer of their key players. For example, OPSB is quarterbacked by former Fiji 7's player Emosi Vucago and can bring legend Waisale Serevi off the bench as well.

It's not only the players on both sides that are of high calibre, but it is their overall organization as well. Both teams are led by able coaches in Bruce McLane (NYAC) and Evan Haigh (OPSB). Both organizations have made a point to running their practice sessions as professionally as possible and are on solid footing. Seeing solid organizations rewarded with a trip to a title match should come as little surprise, but it is still nice to see.

It should be a tight game, so if you are in the Seattle area, go check out the match at Magnuson Park at 1 p.m. local time.

DI-

Semi-finals: Belmont Shore vs. Metropolis and Glendale vs. Palmer.

Glendale have to be considered the favorites to repeat as champions. Not only are they playing on their home field but have a star-studded lineup as well. Even thought they will be without the services of Eagles Nic Johnson (injury), and possibly James Paterson (camp), they still have the veteran Nese Malifa, Stan Moaalii, and Dewon Reed. DI or not, Glendale might have the best team in the country and have shown that all season. For Palmer, it will be a tough ask to defeat the Raptors but they have shown they can knock off tough teams in the past, such as the Chicago Lions and they should not be discounted. The Raptors have lost before so it can be done.

Belmont Shore are favored to win over Metropolis. The team from Southern California had a very strong season against some tough competition and will be looking to show that they have what it takes to be the champions. Metropolis however, will want to show the rugby community that there are strong DI teams from somewhere other than the West. The team from Minnesota are a scrappy bunch that won't give up and could surprise Belmont. Metropolis also have plenty of experience in the semi-finals as well.

In the end however, Glendale and Belmont are two of the best teams in the country. The DI title should be decided between the two in a strong match. The absence of Johnson and Paterson will be a big blow to the Raptors, but they still have the pieces to repeat at champions.

DII-

Semi-finals: Rocky Gorge vs. Santa Rosa and Old Aztecs vs. Wisconsin.

Rocky Gorge, from Laurel, Maryland have quietly been building a strong side and should be tough. The same goes from Santa Rosa who are often overshadowed in Northern California by "bigger" clubs. Old Aztecs from San Diego are another tough team who will go up against a relatively unknown Wisconsin side. One of the great things about DII, and DII for that matter, is that you never know how one team will match up against another. These divisions are so wide open and that makes for good rugby.

DIII-

Semi-finals: New Orleans vs. Tuscon and South Bay vs. Philly Whitemarsh.

New Orleans have had a strong season, but then again all the clubs in the semi-finals have. The quality of rugby may not be as high as in the other divisions, but all the matches should be close and entertaining.

Schedule-

Saturday

• New Orleans vs. Tucson, 11:00 a.m. et/8:00 a.m. pt
• South Bay vs. Philly Whitemarsh, 1:00 p.m. et/10:00 a.m. pt
• Rocky Gorge vs. Santa Rosa, 3:00 p.m. et/12:00 a.m. pt
• OPSB vs. NYAC, 4:00 p.m. et/1:00 p.m. pt
• Old Aztecs vs. Wisconsin, 5:00 p.m. et/2:00 p.m. pt
• Belmont Shore vs. Metropolis, 6:30 p.m. et/4:30 p.m. pt
• Palmer vs. Glendale 8:30 p.m. et/5:30 p.m. pt

Sunday

• DIII Consolation, 12:30 p.m. et/9:30 a.m. pt
• DIII Final, 1:00 p.m. et/10:00 a.m. pt
• DII Consolation, 1:30 p.m. et/10:30 a.m. pt
• DII Final, 2:30 p.m. et/11:30 a.m. pt
• DI Consolation, 4:30 p.m. et/1:30 p.m. pt
• DI Final, 5:00 p.m. et/2:00 p.m. et

Opening Kick

Opening Kick is a segment devoted to bringing you all Eagles and USA rugby related news in one location.

Eagles/7's:

Congrats to Shawn Pittman and London Welsh who won the RFU Championship title yesterday after knocking off Andrew Suniula and the Cornish Pirates over two legs.

Now all that's left for the Exiles to do is to get the RFU to overturn their previous ruling that they are ineligible for promotion. They have one fan in ESPNScrum's Graham Jenkins who says the club as set the standard on and off the pitch.

While Pittman and Suniula are lucky to be playing in England, other Americans are not. In a terrific post, Mike Petri explains the problems of having only an American passport.

College:

The future of the DI-A is uncertain, but Pat Clifton has his opinion of what should happen to the league: let it die.

The CRC is fast approaching. Rugbymag has the rosters from all the teams competing in the tournament.

Navy head coach Mike Flanagan believes that his team can improve upon their two previous disappointing performances in the competition.

The Arizona Daily Star examines the career path of Peter Tiberio.

Tournament hosts (essentially) Temple has been practicing hard in preparation for this weekend.

NBC is once again ready to host the tournament and will offer 8 hours of live programming.

Club:

Glendale got some bad news ahead of this week's DI championship weekend when it was revealed that Nic Johnson would be unavailable. The team now turns to veteran Nese Malifa and a host of other players to lead the team to a title.

Metropolis, whose recent appearances at nationals have flown under the radar, are looking to take Belmont Shore by surprise this weekend.

Here are the video highlights from NYAC's win over Life last saturday.

Tidbits:

U.S. territory Guam are still alive in World Cup qualifying. They'll play India next to see who will continue to progress.

If you are a high school player in the Columbus, Ohio area this weekend, make sure you head out to a free clinic. Former U.S.A. 7's coach Al Caravelli will be there. The clinic is being held in conjunction with the Larrimer Cup.

Mock 2012 Super League Draft

With the college reason recently coming to a finish and the club season preparing to do the same this weekend, it's time to do a little bit of rugby fantasy and imagine what it would be like if the Super League had a draft of the top college players in the country.

Let's pretend that there are two rounds to the draft with each Super League team picking once per round based on how they finished last season. Any player, regardless of what year they are in, is eligible for the draft (we'll pretend there is lots of money to throw around to lure kids out of school). This mock draft is definitely not scientific and not meant to be a list of player rankings from the best on down, but is meant to have fun with the intricacies of matching a player to a team. Some players may be better rugby players than those drafted above them but that does' t make them the best fit for that team. So with that disclaimer in mind, take a look at this mock draft and then share your opinion in the comments. (No calling other people idiots or belittling ideas. You're more persuasive if you simple make a case for your opinion).

Round 1:

1. Boston (8 pts)- JP Eloff, Davenport University: There is no better player currently playing college rugby, or player with as much potential as the flyhalf from Davenport. Eloff has been an All-American multiple times and will be a part of the Eagles setup in the future. Boston would be foolish to pass up on Eloff.

2. Dallas (9 pts)- Don Pati, Utah: Like Eloff, Pati is young, athletic, smart, and plays a key position. Having been a key member of a good programme, Pati would be an excellent player for any team. He would be a piece that Dallas could build around for the future.

3. Old Blue (18 pts)- Madison Hughes, Dartmouth: Another young player, Hughes is already the leader of a strong Dartmouth team. He is the future winger for the Eagles and would instantly make Old Blue better.

4. Denver (19 pts)- Cam Dolan, Life: Dolan brings international experience and would instantly give Denver some size and bite.

5. Chicago (19 pts)- Ray Forrester, BYU: Chicago already has a great prop in Tim Paulson but the addition of Forrester would arguably give the Griffins the best front row in the league.

6. SFGG (29 pts)- Andrew Cook, St. Mary's: The loss of Chris Biller really hurt SFGG this past year. He may not be as polished as Biller, but Cook would be a great replacement.

7. Life (29 pts)- Shaun Davies, BYU: Davies was the best player in the DI-A last year. He is a great decision maker who is solid on defense. He has upside but is a little older. He would fit in extremely well for an experience Life team.

8. OPSB (43 pts)- Mikey Su'a, BYU: If there is one weakness on a strong OPSB side it's up front. Su'a would be a strong body that would help their scrum.

9. NYAC (44 pts)- Will Holder, Army: NYAC don't need many additions but adding the second best flyhalf in college rugby would be a perfect compliment to Mike Petri and would allow Toby L'Estrange to move to centre or the wing.

Round 2:

10. Boston- Shaun Potgeiter, Arkansas State: After going with skill in the first round, Boston goes big and adds the strong Potgeiter.

11. Dallas- Tim Stanfill, Central Washington: A speedy winger with a bright future, Stanfill would be a great addition for a Dallas team needing help in the back.

12. Old Blue- Nate Brakeley, Dartmouth: Old Blue needs some size and in Brakeley they pick up one of the best locks in the college game.

13. Denver- Ryan Roundy, BYU: Strength and tenacity is what Roundy brings to the table and would be a great asset for the Barbarians.

14. Chicago- Kingsley McGown, St. Mary's: The current U-20's star has all the tools to be a successful Super League player. He's young, quick, and would be a good fit for the Giffins.

15. SFGG- Seamus Kelly, Cal: Kelly might be the best centre in the country and would fill a need for SFGG.

16. Life- Hynie Leaaetoa, BYU: The recent Eagles camp invitee would be a solid contributor to Life with great upside.

17. OPSB- Matt Crawford, St. Mary's: Again going with a forward, OPSB would do well with the steady Crawford.

18. NYAC- Thretton Palamo, Utah: Palamo now only sporadically plays rugby and may pursue football after college, but he may be worth taking a risk on for a loaded NYAC side.

Again, these are just speculations. It would be fun to see something like this come to fruition but that will come with time. Let me know who you would select.

Magleby Should Get the Eagles 7's Job

The U.S. 7's program needs certainty and the longer they go without a head coach, the less certainty there is. That is why in my latest RugbyRugby column I argue that Alex Magleby should be named the permanent head coach of the 7's team. During his time with the team there was a dramatic improvement. Not in the results (which will come later), but in the attitude surrounding the team. Magleby has brought a whole new approach that was needed for the team. Everywhere he has gone he has been successful and deserves the Eagles job.

Let me know what you think, should Mags get the job full-time?

Opening Kick

Opening Kick is a segment devoted to bringing you all Eagles and USA rugby related news in one location.

Eagles/7's:

The audition for Eagles positions has moved on to centre, where several players are fighting for a spot. (Membership required)

It's the final day for Americans in Europe as Shawn Pittman's London Welsh and Andrew Suniula's Cornish Pirates go head-to-head for the RFU Championship crown. The Londoners take a 16 point lead into the second leg.

Suniula will get the start while Pittman is not in the lineup.

Just a London Welsh received some bad news prior to last week's match, the Cornish Pirates received another blow to their hopes of building a stadium yesterday.

After a lull during the World Cup, attendance in the Aviva Premiership rose by about one percent last season.

College:

The Marietta Daily Journal examined the growing dividends for rugby at Life University.

After the announcement that teams from the PAC-12 are looking to form a rugby conference comes the news that teams from the Big 10 might do the same.

Temple and Notre Dame took part in a demonstration at the Comcast Tower in Philadelphia ahead of this weekend's CRC.

Rugbymag has video from BYU's press conference following their win over Arkansas State in the DI-A final.

Club:

Old Puget Sound Beach won comfortably over San Francisco Golden Gate over the weekend. Here are the highlights.

After flying under the radar for most of the season, Santa Rosa are looking to make a statement this weakend in the DII semi-finals.

Women:

All-Star winning Midwest Thunderbird captain Christy Riggenberg says that without question time together helped the team to the title.

Tidbits:

Tom Billups examines some training methodologies for 7's ahead of the summer 7's season.

Interview with Alex Magleby

We sat down with current Dartmouth head coach and interim U.S.A. 7's head coach Alex Magleby to talk about the future of the U.S.A. 7's team.

This Is American Rugby: Do you think the season was a success or do you think the team mostly treaded water over the last year?

Alex Magleby: The object is to win right? So we didn't get the victories throughout the Series that we wanted to.

The team showed continued improvement in the last 4 tournaments. We started to learn how to play our way into the finals, winning on Day 2, making it to the last game on the last day in all of the last four tournaments, beating teams we struggled with at the beginning of the Series. But we didn't finish off tournaments like we should or want to, so that remains a work-in-progress.

Measurables for the most part were all positive at the end of the season -- with good improvements in our restart retention (Kicking and Receiving) and linebreak production on attack at all time highs. Our fitness and tackle rate are still below the goal, but the team has been improving in these rates as well over the last couple of months. Lot of work ahead.

TIAR: Who were some of the players that stood out to you throughout the year?

AM: Shalom and Zach continued to improve on the field as well as growing as leaders off the field, helping the team culture to continue to evolve. Colin is starting to piece together multiple moments in a match -- when he is fit and playing well the team plays well. Andrew continues to transition his body type and has become a real attacking threat with soft hands, good feet through contact, and a quality presence at the defensive contest. Mike Palefau does more work than pretty much anyone, with the best tackle rate on the team -- we have asked a lot of him minutes wise. Folau was really starting to come into his own as an attacking threat and play-maker before the injury.

TIAR: When you took over, turnovers and keeping possession seemed to be a major problem for the team but improved as time went on. Was there something you changed about the way the team plays that may have cut down on those errors?

AM: Turnovers are a pretty broad category. Improvements in restart retention has helped those numbers; the distance between players on attack has helped reduce passing / handling errors as well as increased ruck retention. The on-field work-rate and culture has continued to improve which helps the speed of support and psychology of "panic".

TIAR: The teams you chose for the last four legs of the Series seemed to emphasis power over speed, was that a conscious decision on your part? If so, what prompted that decision?

AM: Maintaining possession was a key for us -- restarts, rucks, scrums, LOs -- so that did play a bit part in selections. But there wasn't / isn't a really developed player pool at the moment so not a lot of options that are "circuit-ready". Hopefully we will be able to change that through the club 7s season this summer and by August have a much more robust and accountable player pool and development system in place.

TIAR: You were only brought in on an interim basis. Would you be interested in staying on a head coach of the 7's team? Would you be willing to give up the head coaching job at Dartmouth for the position?

AM: I really enjoyed working with this Eagle 7s group. A good bunch of players to work with and grow with as a coach. There are a lot of moving pieces, and either way I'm pretty excited for both 7s rugby in the US and Dartmouth Rugby's continued growth.

TIAR: What is your vision for the setup of the 7's team? If you are made permanent coach, is there a specific path you would like to see players take to getting on the national team?

AM: Again, a lot of moving pieces. We do need an accountable identification process and development pathway. That starts in the coming few weeks with ensuring a smooth transition for athlete-supported national 7s players back into the club 7s ranks for the domestic season; dialoguing with club 7s coaches throughout the country on a regular basis; transitioning collegiate and u20 players into the 7s system; acquiring budgets to support development time together on the ground and on tours; building Olympic Development Programs throughout the country on a trial and learn best-case-practice basis this summer; identify and inject speed into the club 7s system and into the national pool (already-committed rugby players as well as cross-over athletes); an Olympic road-show to help with the latter....the list goes on.

TIAR: Are there any collegiate players that you think could make the jump to a professional 7's contract?

AM: Yes, sure. Look at Rocco, Pete, Colin, and Blaine as examples. It is a big jump from collegiate and club domestic rugby to the circuit--key will be to identify athletes that in 3 years time will, at their peak, be the best rugby athletes in their position in the world, and not just players who have maxed out at the top of the domestic pyramid today. We see two types at the top of the domestic game at the moment--those who have worked very hard to maximize their potential and have hit their athletic peak; and those who are on par with this former group but still have a huge growth opportunity ahead to maximize their potential.

TIAR: Have you, or the folks at U.S.A Rugby, been in contact with those running Grand Prix Rugby?

AM: I can't speak on behalf of USA Rugby. I have not spoken directly to Grand Prix Rugby.

TIAR: Since the 7's team has offered contracts, has there been greater interest from Americans playing overseas regarding joining the 7's team.

AM: I’m not able to compare previous interest (before I was hired) to now. It's piqued interest.

TIAR: What do you feel is the greatest strength of the U.S.A. 7's program?

AM: Balance of player types -- steppers, size, and a bit of speed. We need to work hard to find more of the latter, as we look to up-skill the former.

Poll Tuesday: Who Will Win the Super League?

So by now you've returned from your long weekend and are back doing what you typically do whatever it is you do on a Tuesday. Why not break off that "case of the Tuesdays" by voting in our poll?!

Last week we asked you how this last college season compared to previous college seasons. Here are the results:

Better than most-61%

College Rugby?-30%

Not as good-5%

Never be rivaled-2%

About the same-0%

This week we ask you who will win the Super League title. Both OPSB and NYAC head into the final with perfect records and have looked pretty good during the regular season and playoffs. Something will have to give as the two teams square off in Seattle. NYAC could be missing Brian Doyle, Lou Stanfill, Mike Petri, and Toby L'Estrange to Eagles camp while OPSB could be without Pate Tuilevuka. So now it's up to you. Vote for who you think will win the league and explain why in the comments.

OPSB

NYAC

Eagles Abroad: Weekend Review

It was a championship weekend in Europe for one American and will be for one more on Wednesday. Here's how Americans overseas did last weekend:

Hanno Dirksen started and played 80 minutes for the Ospreys as they beat Leinster for the RaboDirect Pro12 title on Sunday.

Andrew Suniula started and played 63 minutes in the first leg of the RFU Championship final last Wednesday. Shawn Pittman was a late scratch from the lineup as the Exiles won 37-21. The two team play next wednesday in the deciding game.

Seta Tuilevuka was not in the lineup for Montpellier as they lost to Castres 31-15 on Friday in the Top 14 playoffs. Tuilevuka and Montpellier's season is finished.

Opening Kick

Opening Kick is a segment devoted to bringing you all Eagles and USA rugby related news in one location.

All-Americans:

The Junior All-Americans finished up their trip to Canada with two wins after coming from behind to beat the Canadians on Saturday night. Noah Tarrant and Pierce Dargan led the way for the Americans.

Eagles/7's:

Like Flyhalf, Hooker is a position that Mike Tolkin sees as open. Here's a look at some players in camp that are auditioning for the role. (Membership required)

Harlequins are the champions of English rugby after they defeated Leicester over the weekend.

It was a tight match in the RaboDirect Pro12 final but Hanno Dirksen at the Ospreys got a one point victory over Leinster.

ESPNScrum's Graham Jenkins says the RFU's decision to block London Welsh from the Premiership is another misstep in English rugby.

Here's one way of sending a message. The entire Kenyan sevens got the axe for their results in last year's Series.

Club:

The Super League final is set as NYAC defeated Life and Old Puget Sound Beach knocked off San Francisco Golden Gate.

OPSB and SFGG were meeting for the third time this year and to ensure a season sweep, OPSB had to come out sharp. (Membership required)

The final will be played in Seattle this Saturday. Five players called into Eagles camp (Brian Doyle, Lou Stanfill, Mike Petri, Toby L'Estrange, and Pate Tuilevuka) could miss the match.

College:

Cal, Utah, Arizona, Arizona St., and UCLA have agreed to form a PAC-12 conference. Whether this will be in DI-A or DI-AA is to be determined as are other details.

U.S.A. Rugby recently came out with new eligibility rules for college athletes. Alex Goff wonders why new rules are always about keeping players out, rather than letting them in. (Membership required)

Here's another opinion that says the new rules will hurt veterans. (Membership required)

The University of Arizona, led by U.S.A. 7's player Peter Tiberio, are looking to improve upon last year's quarterfinal appearance at this year's CRC.

Will Holder is out of the Army squad playing the CRC to attend Eagles camp, but that doesn't mean that Army aren't dangerous without him.

Former Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell says that college rugby is a perfect fit for Philadelphia.

Rugbymag has named their 2012 Collegiate All-Americans. The boys at Rugbymag also discuss admission standards and the college game in a podcast.

Women:

The Midwest Thunderbirds are the 2012 All-Star champions after defeating the Mid-Atlantic.

Elsewhere in the tournament, the Pacific Coast gained promotion to Tier I with a win over the West.

Youth:

Herriman won the Utah High School championship over the weekend. That's quite a feat considering it is only the second year of the club's existence.

Local Pennsylvania club Downington have seen their club have success in just a short amount of time and they want to see that carry over to the High School bracket of the CRC.

Tidbits:

Training specialist Aaron Manheimer looks at what it takes to transition from 15s play to 7s. (Membership required)

Rugby Weekend: Your Commentary

It's another big weekend for rugby. It all begins with two big finals in Europe. The Harlequins and Leicester square off from the Aviva Premiership title on Saturday and Leinster play Ospreys in the RaboDirect Pro12 final on Sunday. The U.S. Super League has two big semi-finals as well. If you have something to say, do it here!

Eagles Abroad: Weekend Preview & TV

Well, it's pretty simple of Americans overseas this week. Win and get a championship or win and advance through the playoffs.

Shawn Pittman was a late scratch from the London Welsh lineup as they picked up an important 37-21 victory over the Cornish Pirates last wednesday. Andrew Suniula, who started and played 63 minutes in the first leg, will want to return the favor as the two team play next wednesday in the deciding game.

Hanno Dirksen and the Ospreys face Leinster for the RaboDirect Pro12 title on Sunday. Dirksen is expected to start.

Seta Tuilevuka and Montpellier play Castres on Friday in the Top 14 playoffs.

T.V. Listings:

*Here are the times for Super Rugby this weekend. All matches are on DirectTV.

Friday

• Castres vs. Montpellier, 3:00 p.m. et/12:00 p.m. pt (ESPN3)

Saturday

• Leicester vs. Harlequins, 10:00 a.m. et/7:00 a.m. et (live on Fox Soccer Plus)
• Life vs. NYAC, 1:00 p.m. et/10:00 a.m. pt (Rugby Super League Network, click for a link to the match)
• Toulon vs. Racing Metro, 3:00 p.m. et/12:00 p.m. pt (ESPN3)

Sunday

• Leinster vs. Ospreys, 11:00 a.m. et/8:00 a.m. pt (live on Fox Soccer Plus)

The Super League: Semi-finals and other Notes

With all the commotion of the collegiate championships and the European seasons winding down, it's easy to forget the Super League has completed its longest regular season on record and is down to its final four.

In the East, undefeated NYAC look to continue their run when they take host Life this Saturday. Led by recent Eagles camp invitees Mike Petri, Brian Doyle, Toby L'Estrange, and Lou Stanfill, NYAC have been thorough all season. Arguably the East has been weaker than the West this year but that is not to discount how good NYAC has been. Their scrum has been steady and their backs have shown plenty of dynamism on attack. Having already beaten Life twice this season NYAC will be looking to continue that dominance. Life will have something to say about that of course. The team from Georgia has two camp invitees of their own in Kris Headlee and Tom Katzfey. Life may not have the strength that they have had in years past but they are a dangerous team and shouldn't be discounted.

Out West it is the battle of two teams that really don't like it other. It was only a couple of years ago that Old Puget Sound Beach consistently finished at the bottom of the Super League, but after some rejuvenation and an injection of new talent, OPSB is riding high and looking to capture their first undefeated season and league title. Led by camp invitees Pate Tuilevuka and Andrew Durutalo, OPSB is a powerful side with plenty of experience. Enhancing the squad are Durutalo's 7's teammates Miles Craigwell and Mike Palefau. Running the show is former Fiji 7's player Emosi Vucago. OPSB's opposition in the match is San Francisco Golden Gate who, as kings of American rugby over the last decade, will want to stop the up and comers. Losing Chris Biller, Samu Manoa, and Dan LaPrevotte in the offseason really hurt SFGG but they still have plenty of talent. Mose Timoteo was called into camp and should get a good look at scrum half for the Eagles. The team certainly has the tools to succeed by stumbling two to OPSB and to the Denver Barbarians has not been a good sign for the club. These two teams clashed last weekend in Seattle with OPSB gutting out a 19-12 win.

MVP Update:

A little while ago we postulated who might be in the running for Super League MVP. Three of those player (Pate Tuilevuka, Mike Petri, and Volney Rouse) will be playing this weekend. Roland Suniula and Ashley Moeke's teams did not make the playoffs. So now that the regular season is finished, who is the favorite to win MVP? It comes down to the age old question of, who is the best player on the best team, or who is the most valuable to their team? If it is the first option the race for MVP should come down to Tuilevuka and Petri. Tuilevuka has seen a career resurgence this year through excellent play at centre. Petri has been the engine of his NYAC team. Both players are the best players on their respective teams but both would still be good if they were injured. With a likely OPSB-NYAC final, it could come down to who wins that match.

But what if the MVP is the player most valuable to his team. With a question this year that award would have to go to Moeke who has been an absolute stud for Old Blue. The New Yorkers have languished on the bottom of the Super League for the last several years and have had a hard time putting together a competitive squad. Moeke's addition has given then more consistency, especially in the kicking game. He has single-handedly kept them in matches and given them a chance to win. Without him, Old Blue would be back in the bottom of the league.

Super League Players in Eagles Camp:

The Super League saw 12 players called in by Eagles head coach Mike Tolkin to a domestic camp to be held later this month. No surprise that NYAC leads the way with four selections while the Chicago Griffins, Life, and OPSB have two. Old Blue and SFGG have one. The only teams without representation are the Denver Barbarians, Boston, and Dallas.

The 12 players chosen are: Mike Petri, Brian Doyle, Lou Stanfill, Toby L'Estrange (all NYAC), Tim Paulson, Roland Suniula (both Chicago Griffins), Kris Headlee, Tom Katzfey (both Life), Pate Tuilevuka, Andrew Durutalo (both OPSB), Most Timoteo (SFGG), and Luke Hume (Old Blue)

Opening Kick

Opening Kick is a segment devoted to bringing you all Eagles and USA rugby related news in one location.

All-Americans:

The 30 College All-Americans and Honorable Mentions have been selected. It was also revealed that the All-Americans will be touring Ireland in August.

Meanwhile, the Junior All-Americans were successful against Canada on Wednesday and will have a short turnaround before facing the same team on Saturday. For head coach Scott Lawrence, these matches are about find which combinations will be the most effective heading into the JWRT.

Eagles:

Since losing Mike Hercus a few year back the Eagles have looked for a goal kicker. Alex Goff looks at some of the faces in camp and suggests which one might take that role this summer. (Membership required)

London Welsh are appealing the RFU's decision to deny them promotion is they can hold off the Cornish Pirates in the RFU Championship final.

Any hopes of U.S. fans seeing Hanno Dirksen in an Eagles got a little fainter as the Ospreys winger once again stated his desire to represent Wales.

Club:

OPSB captain Josh Osborn doesn't care how his teams wins this weekend against SFGG, he just cares that they do. (Membership required)

NYAC star Lou Stanfill is ready for this weekend when his team takes on Life in the Super League semi-finals. (Membership required)

Women:

Women's Eagles head coach Pete Steinberg knows exactly what he wants from this weekend's Women's All-Star competition.

College:

Apparently the changes in college eligibility announced a while back have caused some problems, including resignations and potential lawsuits.

Cal has announced the 16 freshman that will be joining the programme next fall.

Tidbits:

The Utah High School playoffs are this weekend. Click here for more information on times and locations.

Trevor Cassidy is a young American player who has gone out of his way to seek high-level rugby. He shares his story over at RugbyRugby.

Hall of Fame coach Gordon Tietjens gives what he thinks are the keys to success in Sevens.

Game of the Week: Aviva Premiership Final

It's not Chris Wyles versus Samu Manoa and Chris Biller, but the Aviva Premiership final between Harlequins and Leicester promises to be one of the better rugby matches of the season. The Harelquins tore through the Premiership staying and finishing in first place all year long. Led by Nick Easter, Joe Marler, Nick Evans and others, the Quins have been strong in the forwards and lethal in the backs. Not only can they score with precision, but they are extremely adept at defense. Leicester though, are a powerful side. The defending champions will be hungry to repeat and will look to the Tuilagi brothers to give a strong performance. Harlequins narrowly beat Northampton to reach the title match while Leicester won comfortably over the Saracens. Having a final featuring the top two teams from the regular season makes it hard to predict a winner, but easy to predict a great match.

When: 10:00 a.m. et/7:00 a.m. pt Saturday May 26th

Where: Twickenham, or live on Fox Soccer Plus

Opening Kick

Opening Kick is a segment devoted to bringing you all Eagles and USA rugby related news in one location.

Eagles/7's:

To say it was an up and down day for Shawn Pittman and London Welsh would be an understatement. First they received the news that the RFU has judged that they do not fit the criteria for promotion, and then go go out and pick up a big 37-27 victory over the Cornish Pirates in the first leg of the RFU Championship final.

Needless to say, but London Welsh expressed disappointment in the RFU's decision and will be appealing the ruling.

Andrew Suniula started and played 63 minutes for the Pirates while Shawn Pittman was a late scratch from the Exiles lineup.

Flyhalf is a position the Eagles have struggled with since the departure of Mike Hercus. Alex Goff looks at the options in camps and suggests who might have the lead. (Membership required)

Ospreys coach Steven Tandy says that Hanno Dirksen is the heir to Shane Williams at the club. This article has quotes from Dirksen and states that he will be eligible to play for Wales in January 2014.

Eddie O'Sullivan has been linked to yet another coaching position, this time it's Super Rugby side Western Force.

All-Americans:

Led by Kingsley McGowan's three tries, the U.S. U-20's defeated Canada 27-22 in British Columbia last night.

College:

Veteran Utah sportswriter is a little confused about the levels of rugby in this country and wonders if that impacts the importance of BYU's national title.

It's the end of the season and that means awards time. The Northwest College Rugby Conference has picked their All-Conference Team.

Elsewhere, Rugbymag has chosen their All DI-AA and All DII teams.

The Eastern Penn RFU has changed their named to the Keystone Conference and has added two new members.

Does the CRC have the "Holy Cow Factor?" One man seems to think so.

Women:

The Women's All-Star tournament will be held this weekend in Pittsburgh. The matches start and saturday and will be available online.

Club:

The Pacific Coast Grizzlies will be hosting open tryouts for their 7's team on June 2 at Treasure Island in San Francisco.

NYAC hooker Conor Coyne says his team has the right attitude to win.

Tidbits:

ELITE Rugby Camps will be hosting free clinics in Colorado, California, and Oregon.

The Impact of American Samoa

The IRB announced this week that American Samoa has been granted full IRB membership and is now eligible for all IRB events such as the World Cup and the Sevens Series. While it is great that the international rugby community is continuing to grow, there is no doubt that this move will have a significant affect on rugby in the United States. Exactly what that may be and whether that is a positive or a negative is another story.

As an unincorporated territory of the United States, residents of American Samoa are U.S. nationals but not U.S. citizens. This means that they are entitled to free entry into the U.S. to live and to work. However, they are not allowed to vote in national elections and must abide by residency rules established for resident aliens. If one parent is a U.S. citizen than any children may also apply to be U.S. citizens. Okay, but what does this mean for the U.S. rugby team? That is what is unclear.

One of the biggest question is how IRB defines nationality? Would a player born in American Samoa be eligible for both American Samoa and the United States or would they have to be U.S. citizens? One of the few situations similar to this circumstance is the Cook Islands, which have an independent rugby union but whose players are New Zealand citizens. A quick scan for famous players from the Cook Islands seems to show that many of their players had multiple playing options and chose the Cook Islands once it was clear they weren't going to be a Wallaby or an All Black. So would American Samoans make the same decision to wait for a chance with the Eagles? They would probably have a better shot at making the World Cup but the Eagles are no All Blacks and might not be able to attract the best players.

This potential drain could be a big problem for the United States. On the 2011 World Cup squad there were four players on the roster that qualified for the U.S. through American Samoa: Junior Sifa, Nese Malifa, Andrew Suniula, and Roland Suniula. Worryingly for the U.S., both Malifa and Roland Suniula represented the two options at flyhalf. The U.S. has consistently struggled to develop their own domestic flyhalf and have always had to rely on outside help, which recently has come from American Samoans received training in Australia or New Zealand. Malifa and Suniula are still relatively young and are tied to the Eagles, but this development will certainly put more pressure on the U.S. to develop players in "skilled" positions.

While there are plenty of things to worry about for the Eagles, there are also some positives. Full IRB membership will help grow rugby on the islands and could eventually push more players to represent the United States. If more and more players are playing the game and developing key skills, some of the better players might be drawn to the Eagles as a chance to play in the World Cup or on the IRB Sevens Series. We could always use more players with a U.S. option and this certainly wouldn't hurt.

How exactly this situation shakes out will be determined over the next several years. It could hurt the U.S. but at the same time it could be a blessing in disguise. Here's hoping it's the latter.

Opening Kick

Opening Kick is a segment devoted to bringing you all Eagles and USA rugby related news in one location.

Eagles/7's/All-Americans:

Andrew Suniula will be starting for the Cornish Pirates while Shawn Pittman will come off the bench for London Welsh as the two clash today in the first leg of the RFU Championship final.

It seems as if Todd Clever will not be moving to the Stormers on loan after the Stormers announced the couldn't reach a deal with Clever and his Japanese team.

The Eagles will be convening in camp later this month with several noticeable absences. Alex Goff looks at who is missing and why. (Membership required)

Mike Tolkin sat down for an interview with RugbyWrapUp to discuss a number of topics concerning the Eagles programme.

Alex Magleby is expected to release a report soon detailing plans for developments sides that will feed into the Eagles. (Membership required)

Zack Test and Shalom Suniula are in Sri Lanka to play in the Carlton 7's tournament. This comes on the heals of Andrew Durutalo and Rocco Mauer playing in last week's Roma 7's.

Canada have named their team that will take on the U.S. U-20's today in Victoria.

Women:

The Women's 7's team had a great weekend in Amsterdam. Jackie Finlan has a possession by possession breakdown of the final against Canada. (Membership required)

College:

BYU's newspaper, The Universe, takes a closer look at how BYU won the DI-A championship.

Western Washington University added a pair of experienced coaches recently. Peace Arch News has more on their background.

St. Edwards has joined the Southwest Conference replacing the departed Sam Houston State.

Youth:

Premiership coaches will be in America for the next several weeks to help run youth camps.

One week after participating in nationals, High School teams in Utah will fight for the state championship.

Poll Tuesday: How Do You Rate This Year's College Rugby

The college rugby season has come to an end. Don't worry, there will still be some Sevens events, but the 15's season is finished. Last weekend Lindenwood, Davenport, and BYU we all crowned champions in a great event in Utah. Overall it was a great advertisement not only for college rugby in this country but for rugby in general. In preparation for last weekend we asked you who would win the DI-A championship. 86% of you predicted correctly that BYU would win while 13% picked Arkansas State.

This week we ask you how you feel about the overall college rugby season. In comparison to previous years do you think the season was:

Never be rivaled

Better than most

About the same

Not as good

College rugby?

The Future of DI-A rugby

The DI-A has potentially played its last match. After two years of competition, the league is seeing teams leave by the handfuls and appears to be on the brink of collapse. While the league has certainly had its strong aspects, such as the terrific level of play, it hasn't brought in the type of sponsorship that has been promised. This was one of the reasons cited by Cal's Jack Clark for his teams withdrawal from the league.

In my latest piece at RugbyRugby I take a look at what the future looks like for college rugby if the DI-A folds. Could rugby move closer to the NCAA model? It's certainly possible. Take a look at the article and tell me what you think.

Opening Kick

Opening Kick is a segment devoted to bringing you all Eagles and USA rugby related news in one location.

Eagles/7's/All-Americans:

Rumours have Todd Clever being linked with a loan move to the Stormers who have had injury concerns recently.

More details regarding the new Pacific Rim Competition are emerging with the latest idea being a series of matches in Hawaii. (Membership required)

The draw for the 2015 World Cup will be held on December 3rd. Depending on where they finish in qualifying, the Eagles could be Americas 1 or Americas 2.

It's been reported on for awhile now but the RFU Championship have officially changed their playoff format for next year.

All-Americans:

Junior All-Americans coach Scott Lawrence has named a 32-man squad that will play a pair of matches this week against Canada.

Alex Goff sat down with College All-Americans head coach Matt Sherman about is scouting ahead of the summer assembly. (Membership required)

College:

Despite coming up short in the final against BYU, Arkansas State head coach Matt Huckaby is proud of the way his team played.

After the match, BYU preformed that Haka as a sign of respect to Arkansas State.

Women:

Phaidra Knight is back with her interviews. This time she talks to Lynelle Kugler.

Reaction: DI-A Final, BYU 49-42 Arkansas State

There are plenty of positives to take out of the DI-A final for American rugby fans. First and foremost, because the match featured two well prepared and coached teams, the quality of rugby on display was extremely high. The game may not have featured the two best teams from the regular season but there is not doubt that it featured the two best teams at the time. That made for some excellent rugby and great television. Credit to BYU for putting together a consistent season and being deserved champions. At the same time, credit to Arkansas State for showing exactly how competitive college rugby can be. The Redwolves showed a lot of heart and some pretty good skill. Their line outs were fantastic and their scrum play was excellent as well. BYU is BYU though and their overall quality was enough to get them the victory.

The game also featured some excellent play by standout players. Shaun Davies fully lived up to his billing as a national team camp invitee. He was organized, vocal, great in the tackles, and powerful in the open field. The same could be said for his counterpart, Abe Yoshiyasu, who played a fantastic match of his own. If I were a Super League side, say Dallas, I would be making a call to see if I could get him to play for me next season. Other standout players included BYU's Ray Forrester who was consistently strong in the scrum and Arkansas State's Shaun Potgeiter who was massive on defense. Ryan Roundy had an excellent match and could have been considered Man of the Match over fellow standout Mikey Su'a.

Still, outside of the field of play this match had a lot for American fans to cheer about. The 8,733 fans that turned out to the match was a great crowd. They were loud, into the game, and were very knowledgable about the sport. All credit to them for making it a great atmosphere. Better yet, it should be noted that BYU and other schools have had good crowds all season. BYU regularly had over 2,000 fans at their matches. Arizona drew well, as did other schools. That may not have translated into enough financial success to cover the league's costs, but it goes to show that fans will turn out to matches in this country.

Lastly, the broadcast of the match was excellent. Brian Hightower and Brian Vizard did a great job during the match of not oversimplifying the game for someone just tuning into rugby but also not throwing in so much jargon that it was impossible to follow. Hopefully NBC and others took notice and they'll get another shot at being a broadcast team. The quality of the stream was excellent as well. I don't know how much it cost to put on the production, but it would be nice if we could get two or three of those matches a month during the regular season.

Overall, it was a great night and a great advertisement for rugby in the country.

Eagles Abroad: Weekend Review

It was finals weekend as the European cup season wrapped up over the weekend. One American went home happy while another did not. Elsewhere, clubs are gearing up for their respective league finals and playoffs.

France:

Top 14

Taku Ngwenya started and played 80 minutes for Biarritz as they beat Toulon in the Amlin Challenge Cup final 21-18 on Friday. It's been an up and down season for Ngwenya and Biarritz but a trophy is certainly nice.

Seta Tuilevuka and Montpellier have the weekend off before playing Castres in the Top 14 playoffs.

Scott LaValla and Stade Francais have finished their season.

Pro D2

Inaki Basauri and Perigueux have finished their season.

British Isles/Ireland:

Aviva Premiership

Chris Wyles and Saracens have finished their season.

Samu Manoa, Chris Biller, and Northampton have finished their season.

Paul Emerick and Wasps have finished their season.

RFU Championship

Andrew Suniula and the Cornish Pirates will play Shawn Pittman and London Welsh next Wednesday in the first leg of the RFU Championship title series. The Pirates will host the first leg.

Robbie Shaw, Mike MacDonald and Leeds have finished with their season.

RaboDirect Pro 12

Callum Black did not dress for Ulster as they lost to Leinster 42-14 in the Heineken Cup final on Saturday.

Hanno Dirksen and the Ospreys have the weekend off before facing Leinster for the RaboDirect Pro12 title.

Tommy Seymour and the Glasgow Warriors have finished their season.

Other

Tim Usasz and Barking have finished their season.

South Africa:

Vodacom Cup

J.J. Gagiano and the Golden Lions have finished their season.

Opening Kick

Opening Kick is a segment devoted to bringing you all Eagles and USA rugby related news in one location.

Eagles/7's:

Mike Tolkin announced his 36-man roster for a domestic camp later this month. Some of the invitees, like Dave Ryan and Toby L'Estrange may be players fans are unfamiliar with. Alex Goff tries to get you caught up with some background info. (Membership required)

While the IRB Sevens Series may have wrapped up but Rocco Mauer and Eagles camp invitee Andrew Durutalo were busy helping a select team win the Roma 7's over the weekend.

After a season of struggles, Taku Ngwenya and Biarritz have claimed glory in winning the Amlin Challenge Cup over Toulon 21-18. The win gives Biarritz a place in next year's Heineken Cup.

Speaking of the Heineken Cup, Leinster topped fellow Irish side Ulster 42-14 to win the title.

The finances for Premiership teams is on the rise. Four of the teams posted a profit, which is a good mark for the league.

American Samoa have officially been granted full IRB membership.

College:

BYU are the DI-A champions after a 49-42 victory over Arkansas State. Graduating senior Mikey Su'a was named the Man of the Match.

One of the highlights of the night was the 8,733 fans that turned out to watch the match.

Shaun Davies had a strong match for the Couagars while his counterpart Abe Yoshiyasu also played well. BYU's Hoseki Kofe had to be stretchered off during the match but should be just fine.

Here are the video highlights of the match.

Davenport first had to fight through Dartmouth on Friday then had to overcome San Diego St. on Saturday to win the DI-AA title for the second year in a row. Arguably the best player in college rugby, JP Eloff, was name the Man of the Match.

San Diego St. defeated Tennessee in the other semi-final to make it to the title match.

Lindenwood capped off a great season with the DII championship. They defeated Salisbury 50-12 in the final. Salisbury had beaten rivals Towson while Lindenwood defeated Utah Valley to reach the title match.

Lindenwood are a new programme but according to Alex Goff, they have done a tremendous job putting together a strong roster.

In preparation for the CRC, Delaware have won the Subaru 7's.

Women:

The U.S.A. Women's Sevens had finished their season on a strong note with a runner-up finish in Amsterdam. The Eagles beat South Africa, Wales, and England on Day 1 and then beat Australia and Spain on Day 2 before losing to Canada in the final.

Youth:

Cathedral are the High School Club Champions after blanking United 51-0. Dixon High School are the High School Champions after defeating Penn High School.

United, who were runners-up a year ago as well, are feeling the sting of the loss.

Club:

In the last weekend of Super League play, NYAC remained undefeated with a victory over Dallas. OPSB also stayed undefeated with a 19-12 victory over SFGG. Old Blue also finished the season on a high note with a win over Boston.

Eagles Camp Positional Breakdown

Mike Tolkin has chosen the 36 players that will participate in his domestic camp. So who is in camp? In my latest RugbyRugby article I break down the camp roster position by position and give my thoughts on who might make the summer roster.

Let me know what you think. Share your opinions in the comments.

A Look At The Eagles Camp Roster

Mike Tolkin announced his 36-man roster for a domestic camp to be held in West Point, New York from May 31 to June 2. The camp was organized to give domestic players a chance to train with foreign-based players ahead of the June Test Series.

Returning to the side are sixteen players who played in last year’s Rugby World Cup, including stalwarts Mike MacDonald, Taku Ngwenya, Todd Clever, Mike Petri, and Chris Wyles. These players will continue to form the backbone of the team as the push for the 2015 Rugby World Cup begins. Five veterans from the last World Cup have chosen to retire: John van der Giessen, Tim Usasz, Kevin Swiryn, Phil Thiel, and Brian McClenahan.

Fourteen of the players have been invited to camp for the first time, including overseas based players Dave Ryan and James Hilterbrand. Twelve players, including several first-timers in camp from the Rugby Super League, have been invited. Among this group are Tim Paulson of the Chicago Griffins who has spent some time with the Sale Sharks, Toby L’Estrange of NYAC/Australia, and Luke Hume a former Rugby League and 7’s player who is playing with Old Blue. Six players come from the college ranks including Cam Dolan (Life), Andrew Cook (St. Mary’s), Shaun Davies (BYU), and Will Holder (Army).

This is a great list of returning veterans and young talent. Some of the more inexperienced players may not be ready to contribute right away to the team, but introducing them early on to the pace of the international game is not a bad idea. A player like Cam Dolan or Will Holder could be a big part of the team by the time the 2015 Rugby World Cup rolls around.

However, for all the names that have been included on the list there are a couple of names missing that certainly haven’t gone unnoticed, the first of which is Samu Manoa. Manoa made waves last Summer when he basically forfeited a chance to play in the World Cup in order to sign a contract with Northampton. That move has paid off handsomely as Manoa became a big part of the Northampton team that made it to the Aviva Premiership playoffs. He amassed over over 1,600 minutes in 27 starts for the Saints and earned himself a new contract. Some had wondered if that meant he has turned his back on the national team, but the real cause of Manoa missing from this list is most likely injury. The former SFGG star missed the last several Premiership matches with a hamstring injury. He may not be healthy enough and may not be worth risking his time at Northampton for three matches that won’t impact World Cup qualifying.

Other omissions from the team include Robbie Shaw, Inaki Basauri, JJ Gagiano, and Nic Johnson. Johnson suffered a concussion recently and may be out in order to recover. Gagiano appeared in several matches for the Golden Lions this Spring but just got married and may not have been available. Some of the more intriguing, yet unsurprising absences for the Eagles are U.S.-qualified players Callum Black, Hanno Dirksen, and Tommy Seymour. No word yet as to whether any of these players were invited to camp and turned the invitation down.

Overall, Mike Tolkin has chosen a nice blend of youth and experience. A couple of those young players include Derek Asburn and Taylor Mokate. Both players went overseas this last year to gain experience. Together with a young Scott LaValla, Asburn and Mokate could form a very tough forward combination. Other young players on the team include James Paterson, Cam Dolan, Andrew Cook, Will Holder, and Toby L’Estrange. How this blend of experience and youth will work out during the test matches has yet to be determined, but it is an absolutely positive sign that Mike Tolkin is ready to take the team forward going into 2015.

U.S.A. Camp Roster:

Forwards- Mike MacDonald (At Large), Mate Moeakiola (Park City-Paris), Shawn Pittman (London Welsh), Dave Ryan (Lazio), Chris Biller (Northampton), Derek Asburn (Oxford), Andrew Cook (St. Mary’s), James Hilterbrand (Manly), Eric Fry (Old Boys University), Tim Paulson (Chicago Griffins), Ray Forrester (BYU), Tolifili Liufau (Uson), Brian Doyle (NYAC), Kris Headlee (Life), Tom Katzfey (Life), Todd Clever (NTT Shining Arcs), Lou Stanfill (NYAC), Scott LaValla (Stade Francais), Cam Dolan (Life University), Taylor Mokate (Old Boys University), Andrew Durutalo (OPSB/USA Rugby Sevens), and Hynie Leaaetoa (BYU)

Backs- Mike Petri (NYAC), Most Timoteo (SFGG), Shaun Davies (BYU), Roland Suniula (Chicago Griffins), Will Holder (Army), Toby L’Estrange (NYAC), Paul Emerick (London Wasps), Andrew Suniula (Cornish Pirates), Pate Tuilevuka (OPSB), Taku Ngwenya (Biarritz), James Paterson (Glendale), Colin Hawley (USA Rugby Sevens), Chris Wyles (Saracens), Luke Hume (Old Blue)

Blaine Scully (USA Rugby Sevens) is out injured.