USA Rugby

Found this interesting report.

Whats your thoughts?

http://thescore.thejournal.ie/nrfl-rugby-combine-us-football-1423687-Apr2014/

Good read Geordiefalcon, I just wonder, the type of training the NFL guys do is for short bursts of performance.

In rugby cardio is way more important as the time on the clock works differently, there is a break after every play in NFL, rugby doesn't work that way.

So perfect specimens they may be, but that kind of training is not going to work in rugby union.

Well yes that was exactly my thoughts Bilts:

1) I want rugby to expand, so anything that can help is good. USA "could" be a major player in the game. Their players obviously have the physical requirements, and many posses skills that transfers well to Union - running, beating players etc.

However, as you rightly say

2) Just because individuals have all the physical requirments for the sport doesnt mean you'll make it. Dwain Chambers is a great example of that...and im not sure that Calin Isles will achieve it either.
You need that rugby experience (its an 80 min game not stop start NFl with 10 sec bursts), that knowledge and aptitude for the game. If that Elkins (the 6'4 110k beast) has that, then great, he could have a great rugby career.

I would even say some of the top rugby players like Haskell who are reknowned as immense physical specimens have not shown up better in the game back they also lack that little bit of rugby nouce...and have got by on being supreme athletes.

However i do think the USA team management should be looking closely at these guys and trialling them at the top US rugby clubs.

Just wondering if you guys watched the videos. A few things going on here I think.

1. Clubs turned up to have a look. they'll be making decisions based on their needs and how they view the potential of the players involved. They have other options at home and can look at junior players in Europe, Argentina, SA and the pacific (incl NZ & Australia). So they only need to pick players they have confidence in.

2. Given the cross over from league there is potential for some of these players to do well. I'm guessing in positions that are limited. I'd go for wing and lock. The reason being size, power and pace. many of these guys will have outstanding athletism and the ability to either tackle or run in contact. The issue is they have no idea how to read the game, probably lack endurance and some of the basic skills. That's going to take time.

3. There's potentially more to this than just the players and the clubs. This is a change to exposure in the US. To help develop the game there and to maybe generate interest and income. I suspect this is a big part of it.

4. Looking at the brief tests we saw. It looked like there was enough to give them more of an idea than you'd get from just reading article. For instance they did the standard beep test. I doubt this is a NFL test. It should give some idea of fitness and recovery.

I'm guessing threttan palamo will be signed up. He's just finished 3 years of American football at Utah. Played as defensive end and running back, but also has a rugby pedigree. Played under 19 for Samoa, under 20 for USA and for the USA at the 2007 World Cup. He's still only 24/25.

Yeah you would think someone like him would be signed up.

The question is how much work are you willing to put in to someone around 24/25 years old....

Some positions take more learning than others. And someone whos played high level running back might find centre or wing easy to come to terms with. Or someone playing 6...must be big, strong and tackle. They could probably transfer across.

But something like props are much more technical.

Some of their levels of fitness are impressive though. 100kg for 20 reps at 14st! Thats impressive.

To me it looks like you have to be a good all rounder as an athlete to be good at rugby.

There are lots of physical specimens out there but most of the time they have major weaknesses. No point being great in one area if you're bad in another. Its like a 10 that can kick brilliantly but can't tackle or pass the ball.

Rugby is kind of like F1 racing in many respects. Get the most power while not allowing for too much weight. Also the cars have to last a certain distance etc.
American football is like drag racing. A big burst of speed that looks impressive but the cars are not designed to go too far.

So in reality being a freaky athlete is more of a bonus than anything else. They have to be able to play a bit too. Nadolo with the Crusaders would be such a freak but he has been around a while. Lomu was a freaky athlete but he was up against 12st wingers at the time and that was a big factor for his fame.

Eddie O’Sullivan certainly looks excited by the prospect.

Working in the US I have seen and worked with many professional athletes on the New York sports teams. To me the closest physical specimens to Rugby players are the Ice Hockey players. But we don't play on ice, so...........

Based on my experience, I believe it would take 12-18 months to truly recondition an American Football player for the rigours of Rugby. Don't underestimate these guys, they train professionally, and are phenominally dedicated. Alter their routine to adapt to Rugby and I believe you all would be astounded at their progress, ferocity of training, and single minded focus. To learn the sport of Rugby is another thing entirely. Sometime I think I am still learning.

A forum like this is a great thing for American Rugby.

Physicality may be impressive, but it's not the characteristic that identifies great rugby players. If you think of great rugby players of recent times - McCaw, Carter, O'Driscoll, Wilkenson, Matfield etc - none of them were (are) outstanding physical specimens. If anything it's their outstanding mind rather than their outstanding body that sets them apart...

Yes but they don't need that calibre of players for now do they? Just enough to compete with the teams just above them for now to raise the profile of the game.

They need both, methinks. But not everyone who is going to play right now needs the Rugby IQ of someone who grew up with the sport. Hammer is right - all they need is some level of improvement to raise the profile of Rugby in the US (and Canada). That they can do with improvements in athleticism. This is exactly what that forum in Minneapolis was all about. With some kids coming through the ever growing youth programs with Rugby experience from a young age, as Mr. Fishpaste clearly says the mental part of the equation, then they can really grow. Then, given the two first parts of the equation, the third becomes important, the money. Where and how to fund is still something which is very difficult for Rugby in the US.