Green shoots running through revitalisation of rugby in America
A STORY has been doing the rounds among the Irish press pack in the Windy City this week. Several paid a visit to the famous Billy Goat Tavern, a well-known haunt nestled away under a bridge downtown. A few Irish fans were also in said establishment and were chatting to the barman.
‘What are you guys doing in Chicago for the week?’
‘We’re over for the rugby on Saturday.’
‘Oh yeah, I remember Ireland played here a few years ago. It was really cool actually. A few of the Black Stars called in here one day before the game.’
‘Black Stars?’ the fans replied inquisitively. ‘Do you mean the All Blacks?’
‘Oh, is that what they’re called?’ replied the man behind the bar.
Rugby may have made giant strides in the USA but remains a sleeping giant. However, the rugby ties between America and Ireland have never been stronger.
Yesterday, Ireland returned to Soldier Field, the scene of their historic triumph over the All Blacks this time two years’ ago. The opposition, atmosphere and sense of occasion was never going to live up to the highs of 2016 but it was another successful venture across the Atlantic.
Ireland are certainly fond of playing on US soil. Yesterday’s clash with the Azzurri was Ireland’s third Test on Stateside in two years, a 55-19 victory over the US Eagles at the Red Bull Arena in New Jersey in the summer of 2017 bookended by the two matches in the Windy City.
The US Eagles will return the favour when they visit Dublin at the end of the month for Ireland’s final November Test and there will be plenty of familiar faces in Gary Gold’s squad. Dublin native Greg McWilliams – a former St Michael’s and Monkstown fly-half – is the Eagles’ attack coach. McWilliams spent some time at Carton House to soak up Schmidt’s knowledge back in 2014 and that experience has paid rich dividends.
The current Eagles squad is loaded with expats who followed the American dream with an exciting World Cup campaign coming down the tracks next year. Regarded as the minnows of Pool C, the Eagles will face England, France, Argentina and Tonga in a punishing group.
Not that the likes of John Quill will be too fazed by that. The Cork man started for the Eagles against the Maori All Blacks at Soldier Field following Ireland’s clash with Italy yesterday. The former UCC and Dolphin backrower, who qualifies via his New York-born mother, earned his 28th cap for his adopted country yesterday.
He was joined on the field by Wexford native Dylan Fawsitt – a former Blackrock hooker – and Paul Mullen, a promising tighthead prop who hails from the Aran Islands. Mullen recently signed a four-month deal with the Newcastle Falcons in the Gallagher Premiership. England’s top league is home to arguably the biggest Irish success story in the States – AJ MacGinty. The Dublin-born No 10 played a pivotal role in Connacht’s stunning Pro12 title win in 2016 before moving on to Sale Sharks the following season.
MacGinty played against Ireland in that New Jersey test but the former Blackrock College man is out for a lengthy spell after undergoing shoulder surgery last month.
The most exciting development in American rugby is unquestionably the launch of Major League Rugby last year, the latest attempt at a vibrant and competitive professional league structure in the country.
There have been a few false starts. Pro Rugby, a five-team professional league, was launched in 2016 but collapsed after just eight months due to financial issues and boardroom in-fighting.
Major League Rugby, however, looks to have strong foundations and could go the distance. The league launched last year with teams from Austin, Texas; Glendale, CO, Houston, New Orleans, San Diego, Seattle, and Salt Lake City. The Seattle Seawolves won the inaugural title with a 23-19 win over the Glendale Raptors in July.
Interestingly, the club’s general manager and co-founder is an Irishman, Adrian Balfour.
The MLR is looking ahead to an exciting second season with Rugby United New York, the city’s first ever professional rugby team set to join the league in 2019. The club was founded by James Kennedy, a Tipperary man who heads up a construction company in the city.
There is plenty of buzz about the new venture with former Ireland and Leinster wing Shane Horgan and Eddie O’Sullivan, who coached Ireland and the Eagles, on board as advisors.
The aforementioned Fawsitt will link up with the club along with former Connacht lock David Gannon.
The Manhattan-based outfit made a big statement of intent by signing Leinster fly-half Cathal Marsh.
‘The opportunity to move to New York, while playing professional rugby, was one that was too good to pass up,’ Marsh said back in September.
You get the feeling many more will follow suit.