At a time when people are talking about talking and no one is offering a real concept, coaches from 14 of the country’s top colleges are bucking the trend.
The coaches from right across the USA have opted in to a College Premier League.
They have all said yes to the format and are ready to pull the trigger within a definite time frame. The projected kickoff date is spring 2011.
All the teams that have signed on are ranked, including California, BYU, Utah, Arkansas State, San Diego State, Kutztown, Navy, Penn State, LSU, Texas A&M, Central Washington, Arizona, Dartmouth and Tennessee.
ARN has had confirmation from every coach that has signed on so far that he and his program are rock solid behind the new league.
The goal is to get the best teams on a regional basis to elect to participate in a Premier League that eventually would have 32 teams divided equally into four regions of eight teams.
There would be promotion/relegation on a regional basis, creating a mechanism for a team to annually qualify up and take the place of the lowest placed team in each region.
The season is tentatively slated to run from late February/March through May. The season would comprise seven regional matches with an eight-team (two per region) postseason. The last two teams standing would have played a 10-game schedule.
“The potential to grow the game through exceptional collegiate competition exists right now,” says Navy’s Mike Flanagan. “The timing is right; spring is wide open for us to grab an audience.”
The College Premier League could run concurrently with USA Rugby’s existing college competition, or be stand alone.
As teams are owned by their universities, they would have the choice as to which competition they play in, or they could compete in both.
Having stated a desire to establish an elite Division I college competition, USAR could choose to use the CPL as that competition.
(Darrell Garner photo)
The coaches who’ve signed on believe there are real benefits to having a College Premier League.
“A premier competition is needed because it’s the natural progression of our sport as we continue down the road towards mainstream acceptance in the US sporting environment,” remarks Tennessee’s Marty Bradley.
“It provides top competition for teams involved, plus produces a marketable entity for our sport.”
In terms of costs, as teams are already spending their own money to schedule extra matches, particularly during the spring in the lead up to the national playoffs, they would use those same expenses to fund their participation in the CPL.
And there’s a general belief among the coaches that the league would prove to be attractive to potential sponsors.
“Through greater exposure on college campuses, because of a well-run high performing league, it could increase our opportunities for such things as sponsorship and access to television,” says BYU’s David Smyth.
“These things in turn provide an avenue to the money that would help in legitimizing the sport of rugby on many college campuses.”
“A new national collegiate competition is the best way to further expose, grow and market the sport,” comments Arizona’s Dave Sitton.
“After decades of marginal success in the way of attracting sponsors and the very best athletes, a new structure that includes only college programs capable of championship caliber play, meaningful sponsorship, capable administration and dynamic promotion would advance our agenda.”
“A new College Premier League is needed to showcase the best that college rugby can offer,” adds Texas A&M’s Craig Coates.” High quality games need to be played on a weekly basis to have any chance of creating a marketable product.”
The consensus among the coaches is that a Premier League makes the most sense to genuinely grow and market the game.
“Just a routine example of the business of collegiate sport,” says Cal’s Jack Clark. “Universities under full-ownership of their intellectual property and understanding what’s best for their students are opting into a competition with fellow institutions.
“Routine, because universities enter conference agreements, tournaments and competition alliances in every sport they sponsor. The intention here is a well-informed approach aimed at the growth of the top tier of US college rugby.”
It’s expected that coaches of the teams keen to get the new league underway will likely meet during the summer to nail down final participating teams, regions and a schedule.
Dave
Guest
We (USA) ARE the defending Olympic Rugby Champions you know. Now I wouldn't count on that lasting very long once rugby is reinstated as an OLY sport :-)
Dave
Guest
Note: My son wasn't a "reject athlete" from another sport - I brought him up as a baseball player. He could play every position on the field and always made the all-star team in GA (a Baseball hotbed)...he went to one Rugby practice and fell in love with the game. It's catching on in the South bigtime.
Dave
Guest
My son enrolled at LSU this last week after 3 years at Walton (HS-GA) Rugby (was man-of-the match in the last two winning state champ games) - he is totally pumped about this - i hope it works out.
Derm
Roar Guru
Ireland and Australia to play against USA and Russia in the World Cup Pool C. Kind of looks odd that the two 'superpowers' are the seeming minnows. USA could surprise a few people yet.
rugbyfuture
Roar Guru
thanks, i also found it on their facebook page, obviously a copy
Ian Noble
Guest
Sign of the future, USA beat England @ Adelaide 7s. Great result and in 7s USA can compete, and perhaps publicity from the win will no harm.
Matt Manley
Guest
College football was the bee-knees before professional football (gridiron) took off. It took several decades before the NFL was even rivaling the crowds at college games. Rugby will be the same way. By establishing the sport at the college level where the teams are already branded you tap a ready-made market for the sport. Interest in individual players will follow and help work towards professionalism. If the sport can gains NCAA status and kids could get college scholarships to play, then the world needs to look out. I started playing rugby at Oregon State University and it was a fantastic experience. Hooked me for life!
Working Class Rugger
Guest
The Rugby Super League is at best semi-professional. At best. The move toward the sports education model that is occuring is the right thing to do. This the level where Rugby in the USA really has to attack in order to grow its footprint in mainstream American sports.
kovana
Guest
Well i hope there professional league gets good compettition.. Maybe slightly off topic but one samoa national rugby 7s player Apelu faaiuga was contracted to play for one year for one of the USA teams.. so yea he was being paid to play.. So i already thought they had a fully professional rugby comp in USA..
Dave
Guest
New Atlantic Coast League By ACRL Mar 17, 2010 - 6:35:43 AM A new league is being formed on the East Coast and is set to commence in the spring of 2011. The Atlantic Coast Rugby League will feature nine of the 12 men’s teams from universities in the Atlantic Coast Conference. For most teams, this change will mean fewer miles traveled during the season, but all teams will benefit from more competitive match-ups with traditional rivals. The idea for this league is not new. Andy Richards and colleague Pat Kane co-founded the Atlantic Coast Invitational Tournament in 2008 for the same teams. “We’ve been working on this new structure for some time. Each team had to decide what was best for them. Having nine of the 12 teams committed is a very exciting prospect,” Richards said. The teams that will join the Atlantic Coast Rugby League will represent the following universities: Clemson Duke Georgia Tech NC State Maryland North Carolina Virginia Virginia Tech Wake Forest “While it would be tough for Miami and Boston College to be involved at this point, the door remains open to them as well as Florida State,” added Richards. “If we can find a sponsor to help fund travel expenses for the teams, then perhaps at some point we can secure participation by all 12 teams.” The major driving force behind the formation of this league is the prospect of a new collegiate Premier League for top teams looming large on the horizon. “I think the College Premier League is a great thing, not just for the teams who are in it, but it also represents a chance for collegiate teams from schools within traditionally high-profile conferences like ours to capitalize on that recognized affiliation and build our programs both on and off the field by combining into new competitive leagues,” said Wake Forest head coach Pat Kane. “This is not a breakaway league. Teams will remain with their Local and Territorial Unions and USA Rugby, continuing to be full members. We are merely changing the competitive league in which we play. “The Ivy League took this big step last year and we are following in their footsteps.” A major difference for participating teams is moving to a spring league schedule with all games held in March and April. This season change will not allow teams the opportunity to advance to the Territorial Union and USA Rugby playoffs as they are currently structured, but Kane explains that such a situation is not unique in college athletics. For example, the Ivy League does not send its football champion to the NCAA FCS playoffs. The tradeoff of not being able to compete for a national championship is that student-athletes in this league get to play their traditional rivals, compete for an ACRL championship, and do all of it in March and April. While most teams understand that there is no pathway to a national championship in the short term, it is hoped that in the future, as the competitiveness of the league gets better, there may come the time that there is a pathway for the ACRL champion to re-enter the national rugby scene with promotion and relegation being a possible feature of the new premier league. Virginia Tech has already announced that it will withdraw from the Mid-Atlantic Premier League this fall. “The team feels its best interests lie with the Atlantic Coast Rugby League,” club president Cory McGillivray said. “Now a spring league allows us to pick and choose our fall schedule. Football is king in the fall in Blacksburg; trying to manage a competitive league around it has always been a problem for us. This way, we can now work with it instead of against it.” The Atlantic Coast Invitational Tournament will move to the fall, scheduled for September 11-12, 2010 in North Carolina, and will also move to a Sevens format. Richards cited the selection of Sevens as a new Olympic sport as a major reason for the change in addition to the new league spring schedule. http://www.americanrugbynews.com/artman/publish/college/New_Atlantic_Coast_League.shtml
Dave
Guest
Here's a link RF http://www.americanrugbynews.com/artman/publish/editorial/index.shtml
Alders
Guest
The problem is that those participation numbers are not concentrated like they are here. Therefore, the standard of competition and development are inferior.
rugbyfuture
Roar Guru
is there a link to this argument or an article or picture somewhere? love to see it as a designer
Working Class Rugger
Guest
I have seen it. Quite similar to the All American logo. I don't think its as major an issue as has been made out. It appears to be more of a who's is bigger stand off.
Dave
Guest
Does anybody know or seeing the College logo that USA rugby and the new fom organisation are arguing over ?
Working Class Rugger
Guest
A follow up article regarding the CPL - http://www.americanrugbynews.com/artman/publish/college/Premier_League_Gathers_Momentum.shtml . A 15th team has been confirmed in the form of Colorado.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Cracker From my understanding current College competitions are based around regionak Leagues. This wouldn't change all that much. The difference would be that the top 32 ranked College's would form the Premier League. As stated there will also be four geographical conference's with promotion/relegation. I'd imagine that the Top team from each existing Regional League would then playoff to be promoted into the Premier League on a annual basis. At least intially. If and again its a 'if' the CPL got up and running I'd expect in quick time to see a 2nd and even 3rd Divisions to be established not long after similar to most College sports.
Gary Russell-Sharam
Guest
I've played a bit of Oldies rugby with the Achiebald Association from Augusta Georgia and they sure knew their Rugby. The reference to the sleeping giant awakens is probably right on the money. If the trend continues as indicated by this article and the views of the Achiebald Association I believe America will be a force in world rugby in the not too distant future. The more rugby is played around the world the better it is for the game.
Big Al
Guest
Hajlelulah the greatest game of all, rugby union, about to awaken for proper in the land of milk and honey. Show me the rugger yeah!
rugbyfuture
Roar Guru
technically, rugby in the US is just as big as in Australia if you read it by the numbers.