Usa lacrosse roster. USA Lacrosse Announces 2023 Men’s National Team Roster: Key Players and Tournament Details

Who are the key players named to the 2023 USA Men’s Lacrosse National Team roster. What is the significance of the upcoming World Lacrosse Championship. How has the US team performed historically in international competition.

USA Lacrosse Unveils 23-Man Roster for 2023 World Championship

USA Lacrosse has announced the final 23-man roster for the 2023 World Lacrosse Men’s Championship. The tournament is set to take place from June 21 to July 1 in San Diego, California. This highly anticipated event will feature 30 teams from around the globe, with the United States entering as the reigning world champion and number one seed.

Notable Additions to the Team

Among the standout players named to the roster are former Virginia men’s lacrosse stars Charlie Bertrand and Ryan Conrad. Their selection highlights the continued excellence of the Virginia lacrosse program on the international stage.

• Charlie Bertrand: A versatile attacker/midfielder who helped lead Virginia to a championship in 2021
• Ryan Conrad: An accomplished midfielder and 2019 NCAA champion with Virginia
• Brennan O’Neill: Rising star attacker from Duke University
• Michael Sowers: Prolific scorer and playmaker from Princeton/Duke

The Road to San Diego: Team USA’s Preparation

The selection process for the U.S. roster was rigorous and comprehensive. It involved a 50-player training camp held in Florida earlier this month, coinciding with the IMLCA Winter Summit. This camp marked the fourth training opportunity provided by USA Lacrosse coaches since June, ensuring that the team will be well-prepared for the challenges ahead.

Coaching Leadership

While the article doesn’t specify the head coach for the 2023 team, it’s worth noting that strong leadership will be crucial for the team’s success. The coaching staff will be tasked with molding this talented group of individuals into a cohesive unit capable of defending their world title.

USA’s Dominant History in International Lacrosse

The United States has established itself as the premier force in international men’s lacrosse. How impressive is their record on the world stage?

• 10 world championships won since the first international competition in 1967
• Six consecutive world titles from 1982 to 2002
• Most recent championships in 2010 and 2018

Despite this impressive history, the U.S. team faces a significant challenge in 2023. They are aiming to become the first nation to successfully defend their title in over two decades. The last time a country achieved back-to-back world championships was when the United States completed their streak of six consecutive wins in 2002.

Key Rivals and International Competition

While the United States enters the tournament as favorites, they will face stiff competition from several other lacrosse powerhouses. Which nations pose the greatest threat to USA’s title defense?

Canada: The Primary Challenger

Canada stands out as the most formidable opponent for the United States. The Canadian team has won three world championships, including titles in 2006 and 2014. The rivalry between these two North American lacrosse giants has defined the sport’s international landscape for years.

Since 2002, the world championship has alternated between the United States and Canada:

1. 2006: Canada
2. 2010: United States
3. 2014: Canada
4. 2018: United States

This pattern adds an extra layer of intrigue to the 2023 tournament, as both nations will be eager to break this alternating cycle.

Emerging Lacrosse Nations

While the U.S. and Canada have dominated the sport, other nations have been making significant strides in recent years. Countries like Australia, England, and the Iroquois Nationals have shown the potential to compete at the highest level. The 2023 World Championship will provide an opportunity to assess the growth of lacrosse globally and potentially witness the rise of new challengers.

Player Spotlight: Rising Stars and Veteran Leadership

The 2023 U.S. Men’s National Team roster features an intriguing mix of experienced players and emerging talents. This blend of youth and experience could prove crucial in the team’s quest for another world title.

Veteran Presence

Several players on the roster bring valuable international and professional experience to the team:

• Rob Pannell (A): A dominant attacker with years of professional and international play
• Tom Schreiber (M): Widely regarded as one of the best midfielders in the world
• Michael Ehrhardt (LSM): A defensive stalwart with championship experience

Young Talents to Watch

The roster also includes several younger players who could make a significant impact:

• Brennan O’Neill (A/M): Still in college at Duke, O’Neill is already considered one of the most dynamic offensive players in the game
• JT Giles-Harris (D): A lockdown defender who has quickly established himself as one of the best at his position
• Michael Sowers (A/M): An offensive wizard known for his scoring and playmaking abilities

The combination of these rising stars with established veterans creates a formidable lineup that will be difficult for any opponent to match.

Positional Breakdown: Analyzing Team USA’s Strengths

To understand the potential of this U.S. team, it’s important to examine the roster’s composition across different positions. How does Team USA stack up in each area of the field?

Attack

The U.S. attack unit is loaded with talent and diversity. Players like Rob Pannell, Michael Sowers, and Brennan O’Neill offer a mix of shooting, feeding, and dodging abilities that will keep opposing defenses on their toes. The variety of skill sets in this group should allow for a dynamic and adaptable offensive strategy.

Midfield

The midfield group is equally impressive, featuring two-way players who excel in both offensive and defensive roles. Tom Schreiber leads a unit that includes Ryan Conrad, Connor Kelly, and several specialized defensive midfielders. This versatility will be crucial in controlling the pace of play and adapting to different game situations.

Defense

Team USA’s defense boasts a combination of lockdown individual defenders and savvy team players. JT Giles-Harris and Matthew Dunn anchor a unit that also features versatile long-stick midfielders like Michael Ehrhardt. This group’s ability to communicate and work as a cohesive unit will be key to shutting down the world’s best attackers.

Goalie

The goaltender position is in good hands with Jack Kelly and Blaze Riorden. Both bring high-level professional experience and have the ability to make game-changing saves. Their leadership from the cage will be crucial in organizing the defense and initiating the transition game.

Faceoff Specialists

Securing possession is critical in international play, and Team USA has two of the best faceoff specialists in the world with Trevor Baptiste and TD Ierlan. Their ability to dominate at the X could provide a significant advantage in controlling the flow of the game.

The Impact of Professional Experience on Team USA

One notable aspect of the 2023 U.S. Men’s National Team roster is the extensive professional lacrosse experience many players bring to the table. How does this professional pedigree benefit the team in international competition?

Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) Representation

A significant number of players on the roster compete in the Premier Lacrosse League, widely considered the top professional outdoor lacrosse league in the world. This experience means that many team members are accustomed to playing against elite competition week in and week out.

Some notable PLL teams represented on the U.S. roster include:

• Whipsnakes LC: Matt Rambo, Michael Ehrhardt
• Redwoods LC: Rob Pannell, Charlie Bertrand
• Waterdogs LC: Ryan Conrad, Michael Sowers
• Atlas LC: Trevor Baptiste, Jacob Richard

Benefits of Professional Play

The professional lacrosse experience brings several advantages to Team USA:

1. High-level competition: Players are consistently challenged by the best in the world
2. Tactical diversity: Exposure to various playing styles and strategies
3. Physical preparation: The demands of pro lacrosse ensure players are in top condition
4. Mental toughness: Experience in high-pressure situations translates well to international play

These factors combine to create a squad that is well-prepared for the rigors of international competition and the pressure of representing their country on the world stage.

The Significance of the 2023 World Lacrosse Championship

As the lacrosse world turns its attention to San Diego in 2023, it’s worth considering the broader implications of this tournament for the sport. Why is this event so important for lacrosse on a global scale?

Growing the Game Globally

The World Lacrosse Championship serves as a showcase for the sport, potentially attracting new fans and players from around the world. With 30 teams participating, the tournament highlights the global reach of lacrosse and its potential for further growth.

Olympic Aspirations

Lacrosse has been pushing for inclusion in the Olympic Games, and successful international tournaments like the World Championship are crucial for demonstrating the sport’s global appeal. A well-organized and competitive event in 2023 could bolster lacrosse’s case for future Olympic consideration.

Developing Talent Worldwide

For many participating nations, the World Championship provides invaluable experience for their players and coaches. Competing against top-tier teams like the United States can accelerate the development of lacrosse programs in emerging lacrosse nations.

Celebrating Lacrosse Culture

Beyond the competition on the field, the World Championship serves as a celebration of lacrosse culture and its rich history. The event offers an opportunity to honor the sport’s Native American roots while showcasing its modern global appeal.

As the United States Men’s National Team prepares to defend its title, the eyes of the lacrosse world will be focused on San Diego. The combination of individual talent, professional experience, and the weight of historical success makes Team USA a formidable force. However, with strong challengers like Canada and the rising level of international competition, the 2023 World Lacrosse Championship promises to be an exciting and closely contested tournament that will shape the future of the sport on the global stage.

Virginia Men’s Lacrosse || Bertrand, Conrad Named to 2023 USA’s World Lacrosse Championship Roster

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Former Virginia men’s lacrosse standouts Charlie Bertrand and Ryan Conrad have been named to the 2023 World Lacrosse Men’s Championship final 23-man roster, USA Lacrosse announced Tuesday (Dec. 20). The United States is the reigning world champion and will be the No. 1 seed for the 30-team event which runs June 21 through July 1 in San Diego, California.

Bertrand completed his second season with the Redwoods Lacrosse Club in 2022 after being drafted 24th overall in the 2021 PLL Draft. Bertrand transferred to UVA from Merrimack College to compete in his final collegiate season in the spring of 2021. He appeared in all 18 games of the UVA’s championship run, scoring 26 goals and recording seven assists in the process. Prior to his arrival at UVA, Bertrand won back-to-back NCAA Division-II titles at Merrimack in 2018 and 2019.

At The World Games 2022 in Birmingham, Alabama this past summer, Conrad guided the U. S. to a runner-up finish in the 6-on-6 format. Most recently, Conrad scored three goals in the 2022 PLL Championship game to help the Waterdogs secure their first-ever championship. Originally drafted by the Atlas, Conrad guided UVA to the program’s sixth NCAA championship at Lincoln Financial in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 2019. He finished the 2019 season with 31 goals, 18 assists and 95 ground balls, earning him USILA First Team All-American honors. Conrad was also crowned MVP of the 2019 ACC Tournament, which UVA won at Klöckner Stadium. He was Virginia Athletics’ second-ever Senior CLASS Award recipient – also the first recipient in UVA men’s lacrosse program history.

The U.S. roster was selected following a 50-player training camp in Florida, held in conjunction with the IMLCA Winter Summit, earlier this month. It was the fourth training opportunity USA Lacrosse coaches held with the players since June.

The United States has won a record 10 world championships since the first international competition in 1967, but will face numerous challengers, including three-time champion Canada. The U.S. is looking to become the first nation to repeat as champion at this event in more than two decades. The U.S. and Canada have alternated championships since the U.S. won its sixth straight world championship in 2002. Canada won in 2006 and 2014 while the U.S. won in 2010 and 2018.

2023 U.S. Men’s Team

Name	Pos.	Pro Team(s)	College
Trevor Baptiste	FO	Atlas/Philadelphia	Denver ’18
Jesse Bernhardt	D	Chrome	Maryland ’13
Charlie Bertrand	A/M	Redwoods/Las Vegas	Merrimack ’20/Virginia (Gr.)
Liam Byrnes	LSM	Waterdogs/Panther City	Marquette ’16
Ryan Conrad	M	Waterdogs	Virginia ’19
Matthew Dunn	D	Whipsnakes	Maryland ’16
Michael Ehrhardt	LSM	Whipsnakes	Maryland ’14
JT Giles-Harris	D	Chrome	Duke ’21
Zach Goodrich	SSDM	Cannons	Towson ’19
TD Ierlan	FO	Redwoods/Toronto	Yale ’20/Denver (Gr. )
Connor Kelly	M	Waterdogs/Albany	Maryland ’18
Jack Kelly	G	Redwoods	Brown ’16
Danny Logan	SSDM	Atlas/San Diego	Denver ’21
Kieran McArdle	A	Waterdogs/Albany	St. John’s 14
Brennan O’Neill	A/M		Duke ’24
Rob Pannell	A	Redwoods	Cornell ’13
Matt Rambo	A	Whipsnakes/Philadelphia	Maryland ’17
Jacob Richard	SSDM	Atlas	Marquette ’16
Blaze Riorden	G	Chaos/Philadelphia	Albany ’16
Jack Rowlett	D	Chaos	North Carolina ’19
Tom Schreiber	M	Archers/Toronto	Princeton ’14
Michael Sowers	A/M	Waterdogs	Princeton ’20/Duke (Gr. )
Ryan Terefenko	SSDM	Chrome/Halifax	Ohio State ’21

USA Lacrosse names 23-man roster for U21 Men’s World Championship – Lacrosse TV

by Stephen Ippolito Nov 30, 2021

USA Lacrosse has announced their final 23-man roster for the upcoming U21 Men’s World Championship. The tournament will be held in Limerick, Ireland, from Aug. 10-20, 2022.

Originally the tournament was supposed to be a U19 event and held in the summer of 2020. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, it was postponed multiple times and changed to a U21.

Nick Myers (Ohio State Men’s head coach) will serve as the head coach for a second time. Myers was of course in charge of the U19 that won gold back in 2016.

Myers talked about getting the roster down to 23 players in a press release:

“This national team process has been like no other,” said Myers. “We are grateful for the opportunity we had to compete against outside competition. It had been almost two years since we saw another colored jersey. It was a great step in our team building process. We feel strongly about the pool of men that have been in this USA process in different ways for the past three years. More than just these 23 men have made this team what it is today, and we will be playing for them as well as many others next summer.”

The U.S. has won the last eight tournaments in the U19 grouping (1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2003, 2008, 2012, 2016). Before they compete next July, The team will hold one final training weekend at USA Lacrosse headquarters in June.

Check out the roster below:

• Michael Alexander | D | West Islip (N.Y.) | 2019 | Yale
• Jackson Bonitz | D | McDonogh (Md.) | 2020 | Navy
• Kenny Brower | D | Massapequa (N.Y.) | 2019 | Duke
• Graham Bundy Jr. | M | MICDS (Mo.) | 2019 | Georgetown
• Jake Caputo | M | Middle Creek (N. C.) | 2019 | Duke
• Liam Entenmann | G | Chaminade (N.Y.) | 2019 | Notre Dame
• Brendan Grimes | M | Boys’ Latin (Md.) | 2020 | Johns Hopkins
• Patrick Hackler | M | Skaneateles (N.Y.) | 2019 | Yale
• Cole Herbert | M | Calvert Hall (Md.) | 2020 | North Carolina
• Patrick Kavanagh | A | Chaminade (N.Y.) | 2019 | Notre Dame
• Cole Kirst | A | Seton Hall Prep (N.J.) | 2018 | Lehigh
• Shane Knobloch | M | Moorestown (N.J.) | 2020 | Rutgers
• Quentin Matsui | D | Eden Prairie (Minn.) | 2019 | Virginia
• Jack Monfort | M | Syosset (N.Y.) | 2019 | Yale
• Jake Naso | FO | St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) | 2020 | Duke
• Brennan O’Neill | A | St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) | 2020 | Duke
• Jared Paquette | G | West Islip (N.Y.) | 2019 | Yale
• Danny Parker | M | St. Anthony’s (N.Y.) | 2019 | Virginia
• Ryan Schriber | D | Wilton (Conn.) | 2019 | Michigan
• Alex Slusher | A | Oregon Episcopal School (Ore.) | 2019 | Princeton
• Jacob Snyder | D | Calvert Hall (Md.) | 2019 | Ohio State
• Alec Stathakis | FO | Culver Military (Ind.) | 2019 | Denver
• Lance Tillman | A | Valor Christian (Colo.) | 2019 | North Carolina

Most Popular Sports in Canada

There are several things that make Canada unique and interesting. The country’s wonderful climate, strong economy, low crime rate, and proximity to the US make it one of the best places to visit or live. But a description of Canada cannot be complete without mentioning the wide variety of games enjoyed by thousands of spectators in the country. Canadians value several sporting events not only for entertainment, but also as a means of strengthening the unity of the country. The wide range of sporting events provides Canadians with great opportunities to showcase their talents and compete effectively against the rest of the world at the international level.

10. Wrestling

Wrestling is a popular recreational and competitive sport in Canada. There are various forms of struggle that reflect the diversity and multicultural composition of the country. Freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling are widespread in high schools and colleges. Among the most popular types of wrestling are judo, sambo and submission wrestling. Wrestling was brought to Canada by foreign coaches who visited the country and by sports students who studied in other countries. Canadian wrestlers continue to excel in international arenas such as the World Championships and the Olympics. Some of the popular wrestlers include Daniel Egali, Nicholas Gill and Keith Morgan.

9. Curling

Curling is a popular sport in Canada, especially in the Prairie provinces where several of the country’s popular teams are based in Alberta and Manitoba. Curling in Canada has always been associated with the military and was brought into the country from Scotland. The game is sanctioned by the Canadian Curling Federation. The organization also organizes an annual national championship for the sport. The men’s national curling championship is known as the Tim Hortons Brier, while the women’s championship is called the Scotties Tournament of Hearts. Curling is also a major sporting event in schools and colleges where the top player is selected to compete in national championships.

8. Basketball

Basketball has strong roots in Canada. The modern basketball game was founded by Canadian James Naismith in 1891 while he was a physical education instructor in the United States. Several of the players who took part in the first game came from Canada. Today basketball is one of the main sports in the country, especially in Nova Scotia, Ontario and Alberta. The game is especially popular in high schools and colleges in Nova Scotia. Professional basketball in the country began at 1946, but rose to prominence in 1994 when the NBA granted franchises to the Toronto Raptors and Vancouver Grizzlies. There are currently 30 teams in the Canadian National Basketball Championship.

7. Rugby

Rugby was probably introduced to Canada by the Royal Navy in 1823, which also contributed to its development in different parts of the country. Although the game completely disappeared from the country, it was reintroduced with the formation of the national team and the holding of domestic rebar competitions. Both rugby league and rugby union have gained popularity across the country since their reintroduction. The Canadian Rugby League hosts several domestic and professional competitions. Rugby Union represents four regional teams in the championship. Rugby union has attracted over 13,000 senior players and several junior players across the country, especially in British Columbia.

6. Football

Football has been a popular sport in Canada since 1876. It is the most popular sport in the country in terms of participation rate, with over 2.7 million people participating in the game in 2006. Football in Canada is governed by the Football Association, known as the Canadian Football Association. There are 1450 clubs in 12 regions. There is an annual rebar competition known as the National Championship where the senior men’s team competes for the challenge trophy and the women’s team competes for the Jubilee trophy. The championship also includes the U-18, 16 and 14 levels. The Canadian national football team also competes in several international competitions such as the World Cup and the Olympics.

5. Cricket

Although Canada is not eligible to participate in test matches, the national team is allowed to compete in one-day international matches. The country had a very competitive women’s cricket team and an U-19 team that played in three U-19 World Cup tournaments. The senior men’s team has also competed in three Cricket World Cup tournaments. Cricket in Canada is regulated by Cricket Canada, founded in 1892. The organization organizes domestic inter-provincial games and also introduced the Scotia Shield U-19 competition.and the T20 National Championship.

4. Baseball

Baseball has been played in Canada since the beginning and is one of the most popular sports in the country. The oldest baseball park in the world is still in operation at Labatt Park in Ontario. There is only one Major League in the country, the Toronto Blue Jays. Over 70 Canadian cities have hosted some major league teams. The country also has several independent league teams that take part in the Can-Am League and the American Association. Baseball in Canada is governed by the Baseball Association of Canada, based in Ottawa. Canada is also represented in international competition by the Canadian national baseball team.

3. Football

Football in Canada is a form of net football played by two teams of twelve players each. Football in the country has its origins in rugby but has since evolved into Canadian football. The top sport professional league in the country is known as the Canadian Football League, while Football Canada governs the rebar game. The Gray Cup is one of the major football events in the country, attracting millions of television viewers. The sport is also played at the school and college level across the country while the sport is also played at the major league level during the summer.

2. Lacrosse

Lacrosse was declared the national game of Canada in 1859 and a summer sport in 1994. It is played by thousands of people across Canada. Lacrosse is governed by the Canadian Lacrosse Association, which was formed in 1925. The organization runs senior and junior championship tournaments in both field and boxing lacrosse. There are two professional lacrosse leagues in the country, the National Lacrosse League for the box lacrosse league and Major League Lacrosse for the field lacrosse league. Canada beat the US 15 to 10 in the 2006 World Lacrosse Championship Final, ending a 28-year US winning streak. Great achievements in lacrosse are recognized and awarded by the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

1. Hockey

Hockey is a year-round sport in Canada at all levels. Modern ice hockey in Canada originated in the 19th century and is a popular form of entertainment in the country, involving people of all ages. Some of the popular national championship trophies include the Memorial Cup and the Allan Cup for juniors and senior men, respectively. There are also divisional championships throughout the country. Ice hockey’s governing body is Hockey Canada, which is also a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. The Canadian men’s ice hockey team competes in international tournaments such as the Olympics.

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Rugby in the USA – how it works

In general, the situation with rugby in the USA is not that bad, but still not very good, although there is a positive trend and optimism about the future. Over the past few years, the US team has dropped from 13th to 18th place in the RBI rankings, but this happened more likely due to the fact that the USA (and Russia too) were marking time at the bottom of the second ten in the ranking, while other teams moved ahead.

Despite this, the RRB is very interested in the development of rugby in the US, because in order to ensure the future of rugby, the most developed and richest sports market in the world and 310 million people cannot be ignored. But the fact that this sports market is so developed makes it difficult to “enter” this market. The media space in the United States is already oversaturated with sports, and the viewer simply cannot physically capture all the sporting events and spectacles. In addition to the so-called “big four” traditionally commercially successful sports (American football, baseball, basketball and hockey), which are shown on central television channels and where athletes receive multi-million dollar contracts, ordinary football (soccer) and lacrosse (another specifically American sport somewhat reminiscent of field hockey) are actively developing.

That’s why rugby has a very hard time fighting for a spectator. Most ordinary people know nothing about rugby at all and have never seen it. Rugby is shown very rarely on central TV channels, a couple of times a year, and they practically do not write in newspapers either. The level of the domestic rugby championship is quite low, as he is completely amateur. There are some more developed clubs that can afford to pay for the travel expenses of the players and a little for the coaches at the expense of patrons, but in most clubs the players play practically at their own expense.

In general, a typical “vicious circle” characteristic of many countries with amateur rugby: the national team does not show good results because. no professional home championship, therefore no professional championship. sponsors do not want to invest, therefore, sponsors do not want to invest because there is no mass viewer, therefore, there is no viewer. there is no professional championship and the national team does not show results.

Nevertheless, in terms of the total number of rugby players, the situation is not bad and is constantly improving – there are amateur clubs in almost all major cities, there is a student team in almost every university, and the segment of school teams (14-18 years old) is most actively developing. In total, there are approximately 2 thousand rugby clubs of various levels, in which about are involved 100 thousand registered players of different ages.

Over the past few years there has been a constant debate in the country about the best way to develop rugby – “top down” or “bottom up”. The IRB seems to be betting on the “top down” path – they believe that it is necessary to ensure that the national team shows good results, and then American viewers “on the wave of patriotism” will start watching rugby, signing up for teams en masse and sponsors will be happy to invest in a professional home championship. Under this scheme, the IRB has spent the last few years in the form of grants virtually funding the administration costs of the national team, paying the salaries of the US Rugby Union coach and executives, and attempting to organize a North America 4 championship modeled after the provincial championships in developed rugby countries. For younger age groups, the IRB wants to create “Rugby Academies” following the British-Irish model.

Adherents of the “bottom up” path believe that the funding of the national team at this stage should be minimal, and all funds and efforts should be directed to the development of rugby through the existing system of school and university sports, which is simply unique in America. And when more and more people are introduced to rugby at school and college, then the existing club championship will professionalize on its own due to growing spectator/sponsorship interest. I refer myself to the second group, because. I agree with their thesis that even if the US team wins tomorrow, for example, the national team of England or New Zealand, then this will not even be told in the news due to low spectator interest. And the system of “Rugby Academies” does not make sense. will conflict with the existing university sports system.

The US has a very strong school and college sports system. At the same time, most children go in for sports on the territory of their own regular high school in the sports complex that belongs to this school. There is no CYSS system in our concept in the USA. But almost any ordinary high school in a decent area, as a rule, has a sports complex, which can be the envy of any sports school of the Olympic reserve in the CIS. Several grass fields, an athletics arena, a swimming pool, basketball, volleyball, wrestling and gyms are the norm. When I see this and compare it with a shabby “sports town” and a small trampled football field in secondary schools, where I studied in the provincial cities of Russia and Ukraine, I almost want to cry.

Schoolchildren and students in the US have a very strong self-identification with their school/college, a sort of patriotism and defending the colors of the school in competition against the neighboring district or another college. College football and basketball teams are even commercially successful, especially at major universities. Some schools have their own stadium for 5-10 thousand spectators, and American football games between major universities easily collect full hundred thousand (!) stadiums. Graduates of schools and universities do not lose touch with their “alma mater” after graduation, and attending sports events at their university is part of American culture and a family tradition for many graduates. Many also actively donate personal money to the development of the academic and sports base of their university, as if in gratitude for the “start in life”.

University rugby teams have existed for a long time, but unfortunately in most universities they receive very little support from the administration and funding is much less than other sports, even the same Euro-football. There are many reasons for this. First of all, it must be said that sports in the university system are divided into so-called varsity sports, i.e. sections on sports officially administered by the sports department of the university and receiving powerful funding, and club sports, i. e. teams that are administered by the students themselves, where the coach is usually on a voluntary basis (free of charge) one of the teachers, and they receive a minimum of funding. So, in most universities, rugby is a club sport and is considered by the administration on a par with billiards, bowling, fencing, frisbee and other “niche” sports.

University administrations are very reluctant to classify rugby as “varsity” [ university sports – approx. “Rugby Online” ]. One of the reasons is the negative image of rugby among the American public. In the 70s, 80s and part of the 90s, rugby gained the reputation of “hooligan sport for NOT gentlemen” – many rugby clubs in universities paid more attention to the third half than the first two, alcohol flowed like water and rugby players were viewed mainly as “crazy dudes” who are always drunk kneading each other in the mud. “Unfortunately, rugby players did not try to change this image, and many specially went to rugby clubs with the main goal of “poking around”. At 9Much has been done in the 0s and over the past decade to clean up the image of rugby and present it as a serious sport. But many university administrators are still hostile to rugby, and parents are reluctant to send their children to clubs because they are imprinted in the memory of the image of loud drunk “crazy rugby players” who violate discipline at the university.

Another and more practical reason is gender politics in the US, or so-called “feminism”. Before I get called a chauvinist by women rugby players and pelted with boots, I will say that I am a big supporter of the development of women’s rugby on an equal footing with men’s. But it just so happens that in the US, the development of men’s rugby is hampered by the policy of gender equality. At the federal level, collegiate sports in the United States are governed by the highly influential NCAA organization, the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Most “varsity” sports at universities are administered under the NCAA. But the NCAA requires universities to provide equal opportunities for female and male students to play sports. Those. Roughly speaking, for every men’s team there should be a women’s team. And since there are some sports that women do not play at universities – for example, the same American football, hockey or wrestling, then there are purely women’s teams at the university – for example, field hockey and softball. Administrators do not want to add another male sport to the list of official sections supported by the university, because. it is already difficult for them to maintain gender balance. They are more willing to add women’s rugby to the list to compensate for the purely masculine types. Men’s rugby isn’t the only sport that suffers in this situation – for example, it turns out that volleyball in America is mostly a women’s sport – universities don’t want to maintain an official volleyball section for men, but support for women – to balance the fact that there are more than 100 people on an American football team.

But despite these obstacles, rugby is developing in the university system even as a “club” sport, not a “varsity” sport. Several thousand fans attend the student championship final every year. Some fans are connected to rugby in some way, but many start going to watch rugby simply to support their university. The Rugby 7s and Rugby 15 finals were even shown on public sports channels. In this regard, student rugby has great potential, because. universities have a ready base of fans from among graduates who are happy to support any team of their university. It’s the same as if we organized a rugby match “Dynamo” – “Spartak” to associate rugby with already well-known sports societies and advertise through names familiar to fans.

The booming development of high school rugby is helping varsity rugby with a constant influx of new players, but the main problem at the moment is the lack of a professional home championship. Because of this, the best athletes choose other sports than rugby, where they have the opportunity to receive a scholarship to the university and a professional contract in the future. So far, it turns out that in order to play rugby professionally, Americans have to go to Europe, and there, as you know, it is also not easy to get a contract and break into the squad. So rugby in the United States has to be content with the “remnants” of those who were not taken to the American football team.

Usually at school age, children play several sports at the same time in different seasons, for example, football in autumn, freestyle wrestling in winter, and rugby in spring. And when closer to graduation it becomes a question of choosing a university, and then a graduate is offered a full scholarship if he plays in a football team, then it is difficult for a graduate to refuse a scholarship worth 120 thousand dollars for 4 years for the love of rugby. And at the university, the amerofootball coach already forbids his players to play rugby even outside the main season, because. afraid that they are injured before the season. So, as always, it all comes down to money. Rugby scholarships are still very few.