Walker Sports: 15-a-side rugby duties affect USA 7s team

Friday, October 30, 2009

15-a-side rugby duties affect USA 7s team

After a brief break, we are happy to to welcome back into the fold our good friends from UR7's.com. This week we are talking about responsibility and players splitting time between clubs and obligations.

For many rugby playing countries their focus is on the 2011 Rugby 15-a-side World Cup. Some 14 countries have already qualified for this prestigious event: Argentina, Australia, England, Fiji, France, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, Tonga, Wales, Canada and Samoa.

This means that several other countries will still be challenging for the remaining six places. Namibia and Tunisia are competing to represent the final African side, while Asia and Europe still have some playoff qualifiers. In North America, Canada beat the USA in July of this year to ensure their place at the RWC, which leaves the United States facing Uruguay in November.

I spoke with USA 7s head coach Al Caravelli last week – and it is clear that the most important immediate goal for USA Rugby is to qualify for this upcoming RWC. This will also ensure that vital financial contribution is received from the IRB, used for USA Rugby’s high performance academy.

The qualifier will take the form of a home and away series, with the USA Eagles travelling to Montevideo to play Uruguay on November 14th. The return match will take place in Lauderhill Florida on November 21st with coach Eddie O’Sullivan set to name his squad by the end of this month.

The USA 7s side will therefore have to assemble without some of their star players – most likely captain Kevin Swiryn and playmaker Nese Malifa. I would expect a couple others to make O’Sullivan’s squad which means that they will not have the luxury of training with their 7s teammates for an extended period of time.

Pre-season tour?

In the past the USA 7s side has travelled to Asia on a pre-season tour and played in the famous Singapore 7s tournament. I missed the 2007 tour, but in 2006 we played in the Bangkok 7s beating Samurai (players mainly from England) in a great final, and then a week later played in the highly competitive Singapore 7s. The Springbok 7s side fielded a strong team, and has won the event a few times.

It is noted that the 12 core IRB 7s teams cannot attend non-IRB tournaments as their national team hence the reason South Africa goes to Singapore as the Vipers.

This restriction is between the dates of November 1st to June 30th. If a core 7s country wants to play in a warm-up tournament they have to change their team name and playing gear.

In 2006 we played as the USA Eagles in Asia ahead of the IRB Dubai Sevens tournament but that was because we weren’t part of the 12 core teams. This ruling makes sense from an advertising perspective, knowing that as a sponsor of an IRB 7s team, you are guaranteed to get eight tournaments around the globe with measured audience and marketing exposure

The 12 'core' teams competing in all eight events on the World Series are: Argentina, Australia, England, Fiji, France, Kenya, New Zealand, Samoa, Scotland, South Africa, USA, and Wales. Portugal had a very successful season last year and has been invited to both Dubai and George Sevens.

Caravelli would have liked to go to a tournament before Dubai but due to the USA’s priorities that wasn’t possible this year. There is a tournament in Sri Lanka but it was to close to the timing of the Dubai event and there is not enough preparation time to select the team to Dubai Sevens.

Instead the USA will arrive a few days earlier in the United Arab Emirates.

This is exactly what successful South African 7s coach Paul Treu has done in previous years. In today’s era any competitive advantage is important, with Treu’s team getting a few extra days to acclimatise and rest before the tournament begins. Having played on the circuit I am well aware of the short space of time between landing at the airport and playing in the tournament, especially the second leg of any tour.

Acclimatising with the best

Caravelli and Treu have remained in close contact and share the same passion for the Sevens Series. In fact Caravelli has organised with Treu that the USA 7s team will be staying at the same hotel as the Springboks, training for two days together, before all the teams move into the tournament hotel. This is a fantastic opportunity for the American players to test themselves against the world’s best, as well as learn value on and off field lessons.

From experience the USA has not faired well in Dubai over the past 3 seasons. The main reason is that as players we felt very tired on our feet, due to the travel time and not enough days to acclimate to the 10 hour time difference, in addition to an intense week of training before at camp. Caravelli knows this and will ensure the training week allows for plenty of recovery, as well as reducing the two a day sessions in Dubai.

Exciting times

The selection training camp should see some 20 players invited to the Dubai/George assembly, bearing in mind that some of them may be at the 15s World Cup qualifier. It is a difficult task getting the new players on the same page as the veterans, and then playing in the best 7s tournament in the world a week later. While there are many challenges facing the players, this is an unbelievable experience and a moment that defines oneself.

The question on everyone’s lips about whether or not there will be professional contracts this season. Plans are in place and it is still to be decided on. That is all I can reveal…

The goal of the 08/09 season was to finish in the Top 10, as well as reach as many quarterfinals as possible. The USA almost managed this, but slipped to 11th place during the final two tournaments of the year. They did reach the quarter-finals in George South Africa and Wellington New Zealand, with a scintillating semi-final spot in San Diego USA.

The 2009/2010 IRB World Sevens Series Calendar: Dubai - 4-5 Dec, South Africa - 11-12 Dec, New Zealand - 5-6 Feb, USA - 13-14 Feb, Australia - 19-21 Mar, Hong Kong - 26-28 Mar, England - 22-23 May , Scotland - 29-30 May