usavsco official program

8/12/2019 USAvSCO Official Program

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Letter from the President 2

United States Roster 6-7

Scotland Roster 9-10

Til the Motor Stops 13

An American Sporting Experience 22

Thank you to our sponsors 27


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It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to BBVA Compass Stadium in Houstfor tonights international game between the USA Eagles and Scotland. Oncagain we are expecting a warm Texas welcome for our visitors from Scotland andsuperb day of rugby for everyone involved. Since the Eagles were last in Houstothey have been developing as a team, recording an impressive November Tourin 2013 where they ran the New Zealand Maori All Blacks close in Philadelpbefore recording important wins against Georgia and Russia abroad. They thenfaced World Cup quali ers against Uruguay and we were all delighted for CoaMike Tolkin and his team when they quali ed for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. The signi cance of tonights game is that in just over 12 months time, Scotlanand the Eagles will be meeting again in the 2015 Rugby World Cup pool, a chantonight perhaps for both teams to start their preparations for what will be a veryimportant pool game in Leeds, England on September 27, 2015.

Our visitors from Scotland are currently ranked 10 in the World rankings, they had a disappointing RBS Six Nations tournamenthis year, but with a new coaching team led by former Clermont coach Verne Cotter, the Eagles know they are in for a severe testof their credentials tonight. Scotland have a proud rugby history and continue to compete at the top end of the global game,their regional professional sides are developing well and just last weekend, Glasgow played in the Final of the Rabo DirectChampionship. Included on the rugby agenda this weekend are two other events, the rst being our rst Elite City Sevens, 12 sevens teams competing for a place at the World Club Sevens in London this August. This has provided us with an opportunity to watch 144 of oubest mens sevens players in action and the Eagles Sevens coaches are in attendance looking for talent. The nal will be playedin the stadium tonight; I hope you get to see your cities all stars in action! We have some very special guests joining us for the very rst time at a major event. The USA Wheelchair Rugby team played demonstration game last night in Houston as they prepare for their World Championships later this month. I know you will joinme in welcoming them to our rugby family and wish them every success. This weekend we also say goodbye to our Chairman, Kevin Roberts, who has been our main man since 2006. During his timein charge, the game has grown at every level, we now have more sponsors, bigger events, and record crowds, together with in-creased media and broadcast exposure for the game. I would like to thank him for his support of the game and wish him everysuccess in the future. Finally, thank you, the fans, who are supporting our e orts across the country to grow the game and to raise its visibility at everylevel. Our broadcast partners tonight love the passionate, special atmosphere that you create at our games and, without you,this would not be possible. We are so lucky to have such a passionate fan base for the Eagles that grows every year, I know theteam are so proud of you and want to provide you with a winning performance this weekend. Go Eagles!

Nigel MelvilleCEO and President of Rugby OperationsUSA Rugby

PRESIDENTLETTER FROM THE


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OLIVEKILIFI 9/28/1986 Seattle, WA Prop

PHIL THIEL 10/28/1984 Traverse City, MI Hooker @PhillipThiel

ERIC FRY 9/13/1987 Davis, CA Prop @FryProp

LOUISSTANFILL 5/29/1985 Sacramento, CA Second Row @LouStan ll

HAYDEN

SMITH 4/10/1985 Sydney, AUS Second Row @Hayden_Smit

TODDCLEVER 1/16/1983 Palm Springs, CA Flanker @ToddsClever

SCOTTLAVALLA 4/4/1988 Olympia, WA Flanker

CAMERONDOLAN 3/6/1990 Ft. Myers, FL Number Eight @Cam_Dolan

MIKE PETRI 8/15/1984 Brooklyn, NY Scrum-half

SHALOMSUNIULA 6/4/1988 Auckland, NZL Fly-half @ShalomSuniul

LUKEHUME 1/26/1988 New York, NY Wing

@Luke_Hume_Rugby


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ANDREWSUNIULA 4/30/1982 American Samoa Center @Suni_3

SEAMUSKELLY 5/30/1991 Queens, NY Center

BLAINESCULLY 2/29/1988 Sacramento, CA Wing @blainescully1

CHRISWYLES 9/13/1983 Stamford, CT Fullback @ChrisWyles

THOMASCOOLICAN 8/26/1988 Cleveland, OH Hooker

NICKWALLACE 10/16/1989 Bellingham, WA Prop @NICKtheWAL

TITI LAMOSITELE 2/10/1995 Bellingham, WA Prop @titilamo

TAI TUISAMOA 8/28/1980 San Diego, CA Lock @sole_uso

DANNYBARRETT 3/23/1990 Paci ca, CA Wing

@bookemshaaarkie

FOLAUNIUA 1/27/1985 East Palo Alto, CA Center

CHADLONDON 9/27/1988 Johannesburg, RSA Center

TIMMAUPIN 3/23/1989 Danville, CA Wing


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GORDONREID 3/4/1987 Irvine, SCO Prop

SCOTTLAWSON 9/28/1981 Lanark, SCO Hooker

GEOFFCROSS 12/11/1982 Edinburgh, SCO Prop

RICHIEGRAY 8/24/1989 Rutherglen, SCO Second Row

JIMHAMILTON 11/17/1982 Swindon, ENG Second Row

ALASDAIRSTROKOSCH 2/21/1983 Paisley, SCO Flanker

BLAIRCOWAN 4/21/1986 Upper Hutt, NZL Flanker

JOHNNIEBEATTIE 11/21/1985 Glasgow, SCO Number Eight

GREIGLAIDLAW 10/12/1985 Edinburgh, SCO Scrum-half

FINNRUSSELL 9/23/1992 Stirling, SCO Fly-half

TIMVISSER 5/29/1987 Zeewolde, NED Wing


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DUNCAN TAYLOR 5/9/1989 Northampton, ENG Center

SEANLAMONT 1/15/1981 Perth, SCO Center

SEANMAITLAND 9/14/1988 Tokoroa, NZL Wing

STUARTHOGG 6/24/1992 Melrose, SCO Full-back

PATMACAR

THUR

4/27/1987 Irvine, SCO Hooker

ALEXALLAN 2/28/1992 Harrogate, ENG Prop

MORAYLOW 11/28/1984 Torphins, SCO Prop

GRANTGILCHRIST 8/9/1990 Stirling, SCO Lock

KIERANLOW 1/27/1991 Chichester, ENG Lock

GRAYSONHART 6/19/1988 Kaitaia, NZL Scrum-half

RUARIDHJACKSON 2/12/1988 Northampton, ENG Fly-half

MAXEVANS 9/28/1983 Torquay, ENG Wing


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AMERICAN SALUTE The Great

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n ice skates, CameronDolan would be a couple o

inches taller than his alreadytowering, 6- oot-6 rame.Luckily, ice hockey in Floridawas not as popular as it is now.

Dolan played hockey growing up inEstero be ore realizing it would bedifficult to become a pro essionalwhile playing in the Sunshine State. Hetested his developing athletic abilitieson the baseball diamond and American

ootball gridiron, but none o the sportsthe young Eagle played captured the

passion he elt when he irst went torugby practice.

When I entered reshman year o highschool, it was my schools irst year oexistence, Dolan said. Then they startedup a rugby team. I heard about it but

didnt really play or anything or watchany o the games. Come junior year Ichecked it out and went to practice.It was kind o like all o the sports I hadplayed put together. Youre able to beversatile, use your size, you had to bequick, you had to be athletic, you had tobe agile. It all took off pretty quickly romthere.

Dolan proceeded through the USARugby All-American ranks with the U17s

coached by Sean OLeary in 2007 andthe U18s a year later. During the spring

o 2008, his senior year o high school,Dolan reconnected with OLeary at a

U18s camp.

I saw Sean and I said, Hey, I want to goto college, but I want to be able to playrugby, Dolan recollected. Whats yourtake on that?

The current Notre Dame Rugby Coachtold Dolan he would recommend himto Li e University Director o Rugby ScottLawrence, who was overseeing excitinggrowth in the Marietta, Ga., schools club

program. The Running Eagles won theDivision I National Championship that

year, prompting Dolan to get in conwith OLeary.

Dolan took the all off, workingtraining with the club team, insteadbeginning his collegiate career. Withan undergraduate program, he was to travel to Kenya with the U20s inspring o 2009 or the IRB JuniorRugby Trophy. Dolan captained the teto a second-place inish in its irst ythe competition and returned home good news: ormer Eagle Dan Paynbringing an undergraduate program

Li e.

ill go til the motor stopsDOLAN:

I saw Sean and I said, Hey, I want to go to collegebut I want to be able to play rugby, Dolan


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He had good success at San Diego State,and he wanted to use the resources thatLi e had to our advantage as players andbring in young guys to give them a tasteo college rugby, Dolan said. Its toughto be 18, a team o 18-year-olds playingmens club rugby; it just doesnt happen.

In 2011, Li e inished second in Division1As Mid-South Con erence with a5-1 record andplus-243 point-differential. It wasthe irst year othe rebrandedcompetition andLi es irst orayinto the nationalplayoffs.

E v e n t u a lc h a m p i o nUniversity oC a l i o r n i a ,Berkeley, endedwhat title hopesthe young programdid have in thequarter inal with a merciless, 43-10, winat home. The Golden Bears spankedthe Running Eagles, as Dolan put it, butthe undergrads were just getting started.

In 2012, Li e wrangled the Mid-SouthCon erence title away rom ArkansasState with a per ect, 8-0 record. TheRunning Eagles took advantage othe higher seed and handily de eatedPennsylvania State University in thequarter inal. Another loss to an eventualchampion this time Brigham Young

University sent the Running Eagleshome in the semi inal.

Colton Cariaga captained the team,but Dolan was certainly a leader aferlearning rom some o the best in thecountry.

[Colton] didnt really know much aboutthe orwards, he said. I called lineouts

and played eight, so I was always at theback o scrums, calling scrum moves andstuff like that. He was more o a lead-by-example kind o captain; I was more o

the vocal guy on the ield, trying to lif theboys up, bring them together.

It was not long until Dolans brie historywith rugby began a new chapter withthe national team, with a selection orthe 2012 Americas Rugby Championshipcalling rom Eagles Head Coach MikeTolkin.

No less than six current Eagles were inteam, but Dolan captained the Selectsmatches against Argentina, Canada, aUruguay, though they were all losses

It was always the ultimate goal think its anyones ultimate goal in sport to play or your national team represent your country in a sport oninternational stage, Dolan said.

When Dreturned to University oEagles camp early 2013, proved he eara spot in the trsquad or Eagles sum

lineup. Thohe did not plarole in the maday teams, Dprovided amcompetition the 23 players did go up aga

Ireland and Tonga. Tolkin rewarDolan with his irst internationalJune 19, when the Eagles visited Ja

or a match against Fiji.

Dolan started at number eight in placeTodd Clever, but did not eel as thohe was replacing the teams captaholder o nearly 50 caps at the time.

Hes one o the best players to everor the U.S., Dolan said. I just try

my part as a team member. Its a te

It was always the ultimate goal...to play for your national teamand represent your country in a sport on an international stage,

continued on page


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DATE OPPONENT TIME LOCATION

JUNE 29 Wales TBA Cardi , Wales, UK

JULY 2 England TBA Surrey, ENG, UK

JULY 6 England TBA Surrey, ENG, UK

AUGUST 1 Ireland 11 AM ET FFR Headquarters - Marcoussis 2AUGUST 5 Kazakhstan 7 AM ET FFR Headquarters - Marcoussis 2

AUGUST 9 New Zealand 12 PM ET FFR Headquarters - Marcoussis 2


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game.

Dolan inished the summer with substituteappearances in the Eagles match againstJapan in Tokyo and both legs o the IRBRugby World Cup 2015 Quali ier againstCanada, all losses.

The capped Eagle served as captain orone o the Selects three matches at the2013 Americas Rugby Championshipand was among the starting XV or the

Eagles highest-pro ile rugby match inyears against the New Zealand Maori AllBlacks. Dolan wore the number eight shirtwhile scoring a try in a Man o the Matchper ormance or the Eagles in the loss atPPL Park.

The Eagles continued their Fall Tourto Europe or matches against Georgiaand Russia with Dolan starting in bothvictories. The match against Russia washeld at Saracens Allianz Park in England,where the Eagles Chris Wyles plies histrade in the Aviva Premiership. In the win,Dolan shared try-scoring duties with SamuManoa, who was no stranger to AllianzPark afer signing with NorthamptonSaints in 2011.

A month afer the inal match o 2013,the Saints signed Dolan to a pro essionalcontract.

I elt very honored and blessed to justhave that chance to go to one o the moreprestigious rugby clubs in the world withsome o the best players in the world,Dolan said. I always wanted to be apro essional athlete. It was very surreal,but its not the end goal.

Dolans end goal? Being the best. In beingthe best, the Eagleo eight capswants to take thenational team upthe ladder withhim.

I missed out onthe 2011 WorldCup, he said. Imin a better placenow, Ive aged,Im a little moremature physicallyand mentally asa player; thats

de initely bene icial.

The Eagles quali ied or the 201Cup earlier this year, de eating U just miles away rom Li e Universtough draw in the irst leg in MonBe ore the Eagles can set their sigEngland, however, they will host ScJapan, and Canada during the SumSeries, with the New Zealand Allwaiting or their American return atField in November.

We have a strong team right now,said. When were clicking on all cywe can be one o the top 10 teamsworld. Weve got to igure out wha

or us and just stick with it.

It might be use ul to keep Dolanteam, then, as he holds one o the win percentages on the international albeit with just seven caps.

With a busy schedule ahead as the Eprepare or their seventh World Chis pro essional career at Northacontinues, Dolan is in line ornational team appearances.

Im gonna play as long as my bolet me play, he said. The game chevery year, so Ive got to adapt to itat Northamptons de initely going me be able to do that more easilymore efficiently than another place.

Ill go til themotor stops.


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AN american sporting experienceCREATING

hen Nigel Melville took on the role o ChieExecutive Officer at USA Rugby, he wrote an op-ed piece or The Guardian in the UK detailinghis goals or rugby in America, stating it involvesthe game rom top to bottom, rom grassroots tointernational level. Little did he know the NewZealand All Blacks, the No. 1-ranked team in the

world and Rugby World Cup Champions, would come callingor a match in the United States.

Be ore taking the job, Melville attended the USA Eagles IRB RugbyWorld Cup 2007 Quali ier against Uruguay in Stan ord, Cali .,much like his attendance at the same ixture in Atlanta in Marcho this year.The differencebetween thematches sevenyears apartwent beyondthe entry ee;the Eagleswere not visible to the general and rugby-playing publicenough to even warrant a ticket.

I came rom England, where I was coaching a pro team andinvolved with the national setup, which was 85,000 people

illing a stadium at Twickenham, he said. You had, everyweek, 15,000 people in the stands in these tight stadiums or

club competitions. The World Cup Quali ier was a stark reo , Were quali ying or the same tournament England weHow can it be connected?

It just didnt seem like the same thing. It didnt seem riFans didnt need to buy tickets and they didnt need to becauthere were 500 people there. By asking to bring a can, it mait seem like it wasnt worth anything or it had no value. For it meant something.

Rugby has come a long way in the United States since 20Last year, the Eagles drew a record-breaking 20,181 to BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas, or a m

against IrelaThe Eagm a t c h uagainst the NZealand MAll Blacks a record osold-out cro

o 18,500 ans at PPL Park in Philadelphia, Pa.

Our goal was to make international games look like they now: to make ull stadiums, make it an American sporexperience that aligns to peoples expectations or spoMelville said.

Our goal was to make international games look like theydo now: to make full stadiums, make it an American sportingexperience that aligns to peoples expectations for sport,


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Fan estivals, tailgating events, and an overall sense opro essionalism crept into Eagles international tests ondomestic soil. Facilities like In inity Park in Glendale, Colo., arugby-speci ic venue sel -titled as RugbyTown USA, becamecommon destinations or top-level rugby.

It did not happen overnight, however. Matches were scheduledor other venues, like Toyota Park, a Major League Soccer

stadium in Chicago, Ill., only to be told the match could not beplayed due to ear o tearing up the playing sur ace.

The perception is we would just make a mess o the ground,and then youre convincing the groundsmen to tell othergroundsmen across the country its all right. It was all a bit oa challenge.

Getting into stadiums became easier with more exposure orthe Eagles. The 2007 World Cup helped players like Eaglescaptain Todd Clever become a ace or the Eagles ranchise,but there were still a majority o rugby ans in the United States

unaware a national team was competing in multiple matchesat home each year.

I I were a kid playing the game, I probably wouldnt know whatthe Eagles were and I wouldnt know what the World Cup was,Melville said. Now I think the kids get it. Weve developed a

ollowing or the Eagles and the events and made them events.I you can broaden its appeal and make it look like it shouldlook, then people will aspire to be involved in it, be it a player

or a an.

In 2009, Rookie Rugby, a program aimed at teaching the yoo the United States the basics o rugby in a sa e, non-co

orm o the sport, was launched. Five years later, with and more high school state championships held across thcountry and the creation o the Boys and Girls High SchooAmericans, the seeds o Melvilles plans have begun to lo

A lot o these players coming up every year theyve playing longer, he said.

The youth programs in the UK started when I was a kid in1970s. There were six o us in it in my town. Now the progbeen going or orty years and they get 200 kids a week.thriving community theyve developed. These were all overcountry and now were getting them here.

The pathway rom youth rugby to the national team never been clearer. Young Eagles Scott Lavalla and Seam

Kelly have each played or one o the USA Rugby All-Amteams, while experienced veterans like Clever and Louis Stahave also represented USA Rugby at the under-20 level.

The 2014 Emirates Airline USA Rugby College NaChampionships were held in May at Steuber Rugby Stadion the campus o Stan ord University as part o USA RNational Championship Series, which also consists o CNational Championships and domestic sevens competitio


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While the events are attracting a steadily-increasing number oans each year, the trend didnt happen overnight.

We realized our national championships werent going tobecome these huge events illing huge stadiums. Thats notwhat the NCS is about. Its about players trying to get to thenational inals at different levels. We wanted to make theexperience o going to the national championships special tothose who go to the national championships and or the localmarket to see the games and ollow their teams, and have aplace to have un and have a good weekend.

Ive been here seven years. Its more visible than it ever was,theres more awareness, more television. As a result o that,were getting more high school players, were getting morecollege players. More and better.

The Eagles have quali ied or seven o the eight World Cupssince the inaugural tournament in 1987, though they have

yet to make it out o the pool round. Despite the majority oplayers in the last Eagles domestic camp playing pro essionalrugby overseas and stronger, more visible opponents travelingto America, the Eagles are still ranked 18th in the IRB WorldRankings.

You want instant success, Melville said. Everyone does. Itsso much easier that way.

Its like planting seeds in the ground. Youre growing and willhave to harvest it in a ew years time. Its like wine, I suppose.You grow your vines; they dont really ruit or three years. Now

there are kids coming through who have been playing or iveyears, but it also depends on good coaching, good re ereeing,good competition. They all take time.

The ruits o Melvilles labor can be seen in attendance iguresor domestic and international competition, the amount o kids

picking up a rugby ball on a daily basis, and in the upcoming,marquee matchup with the All Blacks at Soldier Field.

For more in ormation on the Nov. 1 match at Soldier Field,please visit the event website at www.usavallblacks.com.


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THANK YOU TO OUR BUDWEISERFREE RUGBY FAN FEST ZONE SPONS


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