| FORUMS > The Virtual Terrace > A video Statement about the USA Situation |
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Due to the size of the file I am not able to attach it - and I have not had a chance to upload it - but it is posted as a public file on my Facebook account - you do not have to friend request to see it - just log into FB to view - https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?v ... =2&theater
After taking 2 days to think about and consider the players named to the USA National Rugby League team for the world cup, I have recorded a video statement.
I took the last 2 days to talk to players from both the AMNRL and the USARL. Players who were both close to making the USA team and some who are just active in trying to develop the sport in the USA.
I also talked to a few friends and professional contacts from other international Rugby League teams and organizations, to make sure that I was able to construct a well written response, rather than a reaction.
After all of this, it is my belief that the SINGLE LARGEST OPPORTUNITY to grow Rugby League in the USA has been missed by simply not naming 6 known domestic players to the team, and instead filling the team with "HERITAGE PLAYERS".
Rugby League in the USA, although growing, is still a very minor sport. The USA Rugby League Community (Players, Sponsors and Fans) are not familiar for the most part with much of the game on an international stage. This is due partly to the large scale that American Sports are promoted. The ONLY Rugby League they are familiar with is that which is grown locally, and thus the domestic players and better known that any others, including the Superstars of the sport from Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Etc.
Due to this, the lack of known AMNRL and USARL players will mean that 99% of the USA Rugby League Community will NOT identify with the National Team at all, and thus have little, if any interest in its performance in the Rugby League World Cup. It will not matter who well the team does, it will have little or no effect on the development on a domestic level.
YES, this is my personal opinion, but after being one of the many trying to develop Rugby League in the USA for the past 15 years, being a team owner for the last 8, and dedicating the largest part of those eight years exclusively to the sport, I am confident that this opinion is shared with a majority of the USA Rugby League Community.
Daryl "Spinner" Howland
Co-owner and Founder
THE JACKSONVILLE AXEMEN
www.jaxaxe.com |
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Due to the size of the file I am not able to attach it - and I have not had a chance to upload it - but it is posted as a public file on my Facebook account - you do not have to friend request to see it - just log into FB to view - https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?v ... =2&theater
After taking 2 days to think about and consider the players named to the USA National Rugby League team for the world cup, I have recorded a video statement.
I took the last 2 days to talk to players from both the AMNRL and the USARL. Players who were both close to making the USA team and some who are just active in trying to develop the sport in the USA.
I also talked to a few friends and professional contacts from other international Rugby League teams and organizations, to make sure that I was able to construct a well written response, rather than a reaction.
After all of this, it is my belief that the SINGLE LARGEST OPPORTUNITY to grow Rugby League in the USA has been missed by simply not naming 6 known domestic players to the team, and instead filling the team with "HERITAGE PLAYERS".
Rugby League in the USA, although growing, is still a very minor sport. The USA Rugby League Community (Players, Sponsors and Fans) are not familiar for the most part with much of the game on an international stage. This is due partly to the large scale that American Sports are promoted. The ONLY Rugby League they are familiar with is that which is grown locally, and thus the domestic players and better known that any others, including the Superstars of the sport from Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Etc.
Due to this, the lack of known AMNRL and USARL players will mean that 99% of the USA Rugby League Community will NOT identify with the National Team at all, and thus have little, if any interest in its performance in the Rugby League World Cup. It will not matter who well the team does, it will have little or no effect on the development on a domestic level.
YES, this is my personal opinion, but after being one of the many trying to develop Rugby League in the USA for the past 15 years, being a team owner for the last 8, and dedicating the largest part of those eight years exclusively to the sport, I am confident that this opinion is shared with a majority of the USA Rugby League Community.
Daryl "Spinner" Howland
Co-owner and Founder
THE JACKSONVILLE AXEMEN
www.jaxaxe.com | |
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Very good video, I saw this going around on Facebook earlier. I completely agree with your sentiments that it's a big opportunity missed. We all know how fiercely Americans will support their own and how patriotic American people are. To name a team with barely any domestic players really is a shock, one name in particular I view as synonymous with USARL is Apple Pope. He's probably the most commonly recognised USA player and I was surprised to not see him named in the squad.
It's a real shame that more domestic players haven't been given the chance to experience the highest level of Rugby League and I hope your video carries some weight in hopefully gaining change. Best of luck.
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[quote="Frank Zappa":1sacjrvf]Some scientists claim that hydrogen, because it is so plentiful, is the basic building block of the universe. I dispute that. I say there is more stupidity than hydrogen, and that is the basic building block of the universe.[/quote:1sacjrvf]
[quote="The_Enforcer":1sacjrvf]Most idiotic post ever goes to Grimmy..... The way to restart should be an arm wrestle between a designated player from each side.[/quote:1sacjrvf]: |
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Whole heartedly agree. The eligibility rules make an absolute mockery of our international game. IMO a player should need to have lived in the country for which he is going to play for at least 5 years, be born in the country or have a parent born in the country, and speak the language fluently (I'm looking at you, Italy!). If that means some teams are uncompetitive, or that we have to have a professional world cup and an amateur world cup rather than just one competition then so be it. The USA team should be made up of proud americans, not aussies who couldn't make their own national side.
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Good video and keep up the good work in the USA! I agree with you, 100%.
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i love john wayne & lee van cleef.
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I've followed the ups and downs of USA RL over the past few years. I can certainly see what spinner is saying. It would be great for the domestic players to get a chance and this would give the competition in the states a great deal of credibility. However this is a world cup and although the American public love to cheer on their fellow countrymen , if the are to make waves in the competition they need to field the strongest available team.
The bigger issue for me would be the coach............ if the USA had an head coach from the domestic comp that would give them something to be proud of and someone for the Americans to really get behind.
There are many highly qualified coaches in the UK who are looking for work .......I am sure many of them would love the chance to come over to the US and assist in the development of coaches over there. That is the place to start in my opinion.
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The best solution probably would have been to allow the 3 new sides - Cook Islands, USA and Italy to take in bigger squads so they could give some young stars of the future a World Cup experience. Maybe 4 to 6 extra players.
They might not get game time in the competition games, but being in a squad with pro players would be a great learning experience, and at least they would have a chance to force their way into the team if good enough.
I don't think letting a weak side be lambs to the slaughter would be in anyone's interest.
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We can be bold enough to make a stand and do battle for our views and beliefs. But we must strive to be mature enough not to resort to unnecessary personal attacks upon people with opposing views.:d7dc4b20b2c2dd7b76ac6eac29d5604e_47035.gif |
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Whilst I understand the sentiment.
All sides do this now, in many different sports.
Over in the UK this debate has been had for years. In the end though when that team takes to the field, the fans will cheer them on.
If the USA were to make a quarter final that would be a big shot in the arm. There has to be a long term plan for international RL. Domestic competitions will wither without a strong international game.
RU has taught us that.
The major question is how do we support these leagues in other nations to the point where a strong side has more domestic players. We can't do it from SL or NRL funding, could it be done through money made on the international games??
Could the USA get an invite into the 4 nations next time it's down under???
It's tough to say whether it's better to put out a domestic team and risk hammerings or go with more heritage players and try to get as far as you can?? What I'm certain of is sports is results based so which ever coach was in charge they will pick whomever they can to get the best result.
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