Usa lacrosse roster. USA Lacrosse Announces 2023 World Championship Roster: Virginia Stars Bertrand and Conrad Selected

Who made the 2023 USA Men’s Lacrosse World Championship roster. How many world championships has the United States won. Which former Virginia players were selected for the team. What is the format and location of the 2023 World Lacrosse Championship.

USA Lacrosse Unveils 23-Man Roster for 2023 World Championship

USA Lacrosse has officially announced its final 23-man roster for the 2023 World Lacrosse Men’s Championship. The highly anticipated event is scheduled to take place from June 21 to July 1 in San Diego, California. As the reigning world champions, the United States will enter the tournament as the top-seeded team among the 30 participating nations.

The roster selection process was rigorous, culminating in a 50-player training camp held in Florida earlier this month. This camp, conducted in conjunction with the IMLCA Winter Summit, marked the fourth training opportunity for USA Lacrosse coaches since June.

Notable Selections from the University of Virginia

Two former University of Virginia men’s lacrosse standouts have earned spots on the prestigious roster:

• Charlie Bertrand: A versatile attacker/midfielder who transferred to UVA from Merrimack College for his final collegiate season in 2021.
• Ryan Conrad: A midfielder who played a crucial role in Virginia’s 2019 NCAA championship victory.

Charlie Bertrand: From Division II Champion to World Stage

Charlie Bertrand’s journey to the USA national team is a testament to his exceptional skills and adaptability. How did Bertrand’s collegiate career prepare him for this moment? Let’s examine his impressive background:

• Won back-to-back NCAA Division II titles with Merrimack College in 2018 and 2019
• Transferred to UVA for his final collegiate season in 2021
• Appeared in all 18 games of UVA’s championship run, contributing 26 goals and 7 assists
• Selected 24th overall in the 2021 PLL Draft by the Redwoods Lacrosse Club
• Completed his second season with the Redwoods in 2022

Bertrand’s ability to excel at both the Division II and Division I levels, coupled with his professional experience, makes him a valuable asset to the USA team.

Ryan Conrad: From NCAA Champion to International Competitor

Ryan Conrad’s selection to the national team comes as no surprise given his impressive collegiate and professional achievements. What makes Conrad a standout player for Team USA?

• Guided UVA to its sixth NCAA championship in 2019
• Finished the 2019 season with 31 goals, 18 assists, and 95 ground balls
• Earned USILA First Team All-American honors
• Named MVP of the 2019 ACC Tournament
• Recipient of the Senior CLASS Award, a first for UVA men’s lacrosse
• Led the U.S. to a runner-up finish in the 6-on-6 format at The World Games 2022
• Scored three goals in the 2022 PLL Championship game, helping the Waterdogs secure their first title

Conrad’s experience in high-pressure situations and his ability to perform on both the collegiate and professional stages make him a formidable addition to the USA roster.

Team USA’s Quest for Continued Dominance

The United States enters the 2023 World Lacrosse Championship with an impressive legacy. How has Team USA performed in previous world championships?

• Record 10 world championships since the first international competition in 1967
• Won six consecutive world championships from 1992 to 2002
• Alternated championships with Canada since 2002
• Most recent victory in 2018

The USA team faces a significant challenge in 2023 as they aim to become the first nation to repeat as champions in over two decades. Their primary competition is expected to come from Canada, a three-time world champion.

The 2023 World Lacrosse Championship: A Global Showcase

The upcoming championship promises to be an exciting display of lacrosse talent from around the world. What can spectators expect from this international event?

• 30 teams participating
• Held in San Diego, California
• Runs from June 21 to July 1, 2023
• United States enters as the No. 1 seed

This tournament will not only showcase the world’s best lacrosse players but also serve as a platform for growing the sport’s global appeal.

Breaking Down the USA Roster: A Blend of Experience and Talent

The 23-man roster selected by USA Lacrosse represents a diverse mix of players from various collegiate and professional backgrounds. How is the team composed in terms of positions and experience?

• Attack: 5 players
• Midfield: 9 players (including short-stick defensive midfielders)
• Defense: 5 players
• Goalie: 2 players
• Faceoff Specialists: 2 players

The roster includes players from top collegiate programs such as Maryland, Virginia, Duke, and Yale, as well as established professionals from various Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) teams.

Key Players to Watch

While every player on the roster has earned their spot through exceptional skill and dedication, several standouts are worth noting:

• Trevor Baptiste (FO, Atlas/Philadelphia): Known for his dominance at the faceoff X
• Michael Ehrhardt (LSM, Whipsnakes): A versatile long-stick midfielder with exceptional defensive skills
• Rob Pannell (A, Redwoods): An experienced attacker with a proven track record in international competition
• Tom Schreiber (M, Archers/Toronto): Often referred to as the “best midfielder in the world”
• Blaze Riorden (G, Chaos/Philadelphia): A talented goalkeeper who has also showcased his skills as a field player

The Impact of International Competition on Lacrosse’s Growth

International tournaments like the World Lacrosse Championship play a crucial role in the sport’s global development. How does this event contribute to the growth of lacrosse worldwide?

• Provides exposure for the sport in non-traditional lacrosse markets
• Offers a platform for emerging lacrosse nations to compete against established powers
• Inspires young players around the world to pursue the sport at higher levels
• Fosters international cooperation and exchange of lacrosse knowledge
• Generates media coverage and public interest in lacrosse

The 2023 World Lacrosse Championship represents an opportunity not only for the United States to defend its title but also for the sport to showcase its excitement and appeal to a global audience.

Preparation and Training: USA’s Road to San Diego

The journey to the World Championship involves extensive preparation and training. How has USA Lacrosse been preparing its team for the upcoming tournament?

• Four training camps held since June 2022
• 50-player training camp in Florida in December 2022
• Collaboration with the IMLCA Winter Summit for additional training opportunities
• Ongoing fitness and skill development programs for selected players
• Analysis of international competition and strategic planning

This comprehensive approach to team preparation demonstrates USA Lacrosse’s commitment to maintaining its position at the top of the international lacrosse hierarchy.

The Role of Professional Experience

Many players on the USA roster compete in professional leagues, particularly the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL). How does this professional experience benefit the national team?

• Players are accustomed to high-level competition
• Experience in pressure situations and championship games
• Familiarity with diverse playing styles and strategies
• Established chemistry among teammates who play together professionally
• Year-round conditioning and skill development

The combination of top-tier collegiate backgrounds and professional experience creates a formidable roster capable of competing at the highest international level.

The Challenge of Repeating as World Champions

While the United States enters the tournament as the defending champion and top seed, securing back-to-back titles presents a unique challenge. Why is repeating as world champions such a difficult feat in international lacrosse?

• Increased parity among top lacrosse nations
• Rapid development of the sport in emerging lacrosse countries
• Pressure and expectations placed on the defending champions
• Potential complacency after previous success
• Opponents’ familiarity with USA’s playing style and strategies

The last time a nation successfully defended its world championship title was when the United States won its sixth consecutive championship in 2002. Since then, the USA and Canada have alternated as champions, highlighting the competitive nature of international lacrosse at the highest level.

Key Rivals: Canada and Other Contenders

While the United States is favored to win, several other nations pose significant threats to their title defense. Which teams are likely to challenge USA’s quest for back-to-back championships?

• Canada: Three-time world champions and USA’s primary rival
• Iroquois Nationals: Consistently competitive, finished third in 2018
• Australia: Four-time silver medalists with a strong lacrosse tradition
• England: Finished fourth in 2018 and continues to improve
• Japan: Rapidly developing program with increasing international success

The presence of these strong competitors ensures that the path to another world championship will be challenging and exciting for Team USA.

As the lacrosse world eagerly anticipates the 2023 World Championship in San Diego, all eyes will be on the United States team, led by standouts like Charlie Bertrand and Ryan Conrad. Their quest to defend their title and secure an unprecedented 11th world championship promises to be a thrilling storyline in what is shaping up to be an unforgettable tournament.

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 RBI is very interested in the development of rugby in the United States, because 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.