Dhani Jones tries out Rugby, first hand.

[GMJ]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>

Dhani Jones has enjoyed a long American Football career in the NFL and reached the pinnacle of his sport by playing in the Superbowl with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2005, but on a recent visit to England he decided to try his hand at rugby for the first time.

The 30-year-old, who spent last season with the Cincinnati Bengals, is something of TV celebrity back home in the States and asked the world’s oldest open rugby club Blackheath of south east London if he could join them to try out a new sport for a travel show.</div>

Article

Radio interview is located in this webcast: "They do a lot more drinking than I'm used to."

 

[AEM]

I've always liked Dhani Jones (except when the Eagles were playing NY, of course), but I had no idea he liked rugby so much. How great would it be if he signed up for a longer term?

 

[GMJ]

I'd love to see our NFL talent try out the game, but that's obviously never going to happen.

Could you guys imagine if we put our NFL talent and progression (pop warner - high school - college - pro) into rugby? GODDAMN we would win every single regional tournament, and wipe out everyone for every single world cup. It wouldn't even be funny how badly the world would hate the USA after we dominate every 4 years.

 

[AEM]

I'd love to see a major-league domestic rugby organization - it could overtake MLS in a heartbeat.

 

[GMJ]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (AEM @ Mar 2 2008, 12:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I'd love to see a major-league domestic rugby organization - it could overtake MLS in a heartbeat.

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I'd at least like to see collegiate rugby get some national coverage outside of CSTV. Hell Figure Skating gets national coverage, but I could see collegiate rugby getting the same sort of interest that Arena Football has. Dartmouth-Westpoint, Cal-BYU games would be awesome to watch.

 

[AEM]

How many collegiate rugby programs are teams rather than clubs though?

 

[GMJ]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (AEM @ Mar 2 2008, 08:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>How many collegiate rugby programs are teams rather than clubs though?</div>

It's my understanding that most programs are clubs, however that's never been an obstacle financially. Still, the teams wouldn't negotiate with the networks by themselves, they all play under USA Rugby.

 

[AEM]

Yeah, what I'm getting at is whether the NCAA would stick its nose in when the club teams become 'team' teams. It's the NCAA part that worries me. They screw up many things...

 

[GMJ]

Well I'm not sure I see that happening. Currently rugby teams aren't "varsity" in the sense that they are organized by the NCAA; the teams are "owned" and maintained by USA Rugby (the organization that runs our national team). Sure, some programs get more school funding than others (Cal, for example), but if the NCAA wants to absorb rugby they'd have to work out a deal with USA Rugby. Plus even then each team functions as a club so there's real no obligation anyway.

 

[AEM]

I guess that would make some sense, assuming that USA Rugby has the clout to deal with the NCAA. (I really dislike a lot about its policies...)

So are there any petitions out there to USA Rugby?

 

[GMJ]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (AEM @ Mar 2 2008, 10:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>So are there any petitions out there to USA Rugby?</div>

Why I'm so happy you asked!

It's currently around 21,000

 

[AEM]

I signed it!

 

[GMJ]

As did I not too long ago! It's a really interesting game for those not familiar with the game/culture. A lot of football players pick it up in the spring and get hooked. Perhaps it could be just as accessible to people that get to watch it.

Commentary would also play a big role in how it grabs the audience. A foreigner would make it quaint to add an accent to the game (Sign Ian Robertson!), or try to American-ize the feel of the game.

 

[AEM]

I'm copying the petition link into my sig.

 

[M Two One]

I don't find this much of a big deal since the majority of the USA Eagles' players were former pro American footballers and already aren't anywhere as good as players from countries like England, France, New Zealand or South Africa, hell, not even Russia for God's sake.

But anyway, I agree that ESPN is crap for not putting up rugby union, league or sevens. I'd like to see them bully their way into buying a piece of the Top 14, which is difficult since the French have no interest in playing the sport outside of their national channels and Canal Plus. Hence why not even the mighty EA Sports can gain licensing to the French clubs for their games.

Also, I have bad news for the petitioners in the US. That petition is useless. You won't get any Guinness Premiership, Magners League, etc (basically everything) for a loooooong time due to those league's contracts with Setanta Sports. That's why I have the channel. You have to pay a lot to get the channel, but man is it worth it. I just hope they get the Top 14 and Pro D2 someday because then I'm set.