Why The Eagles Can Rule Women’s Rugby

My name is Alex Rees and  I am introducing a new FloRugby column titled “Rees’ Pieces”. I currently play rugby in Austin, Texas for the Austin Huns and the Austin Gilgronis, as well as write and create content for FloSports. 

In Volume 2 of Rees’ Pieces, I am going to look at a side of American rugby that has brought us our only World Cup glory: the women’s national team. The Eagles led the way for American rugby as women’s rugby gained popularity in the 90’s, winning the World Cup title in 1991, and finishing runners up in 1994 and 1998. 

In recent times, more competitors have stepped up and created more parity in the women’s game, but the USA has managed to remain among the world’s best, finishing fourth at the 2017 World Cup. What I would like to explore, however, is my notion that the Eagles can actually reclaim the top spot in the world and stay there.

I think that taking a look at the sustained excellence of the United States women’s national soccer, basketball, and softball teams can give us some insights into how the rugby players in America can emulate that same kind of success. 

Elite Athletes

It’s no secret that the United States is extremely wealthy in talented athletes. Across the board, Americans fare well in sporting competition, especially those that involve speed, power, and grace. Whether it’s soccer, track and field, basketball, softball, gymnastics, or swimming, the women in the U.S. have proven consistently over time to not just excel, but be the absolute best in the world at these sports. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8CechKEFp8

While there is more parity in other sports like volleyball, golf, and tennis, our Americans still find themselves among the world’s best — look no further than the two greatest tennis players of all time, the Williams sisters. Sport is taken seriously here in the states, and with that comes a competitive edge that drives our athletes to reach a standard of excellence.

In rugby, the same can be said about our athletes. Look at some of our players; Alev Kelter, Kristi Kirshe, Hope Rogers, Emily Henrich, Naya Tapper, or Kristin Thomas are just a few who could excel in any league. 

Across the collegiate landscape, there are dozens more highly-gifted athletes that will continue to come up through the ranks. Speed, size, and coordination are all facets of rugby that American players have in abundance, while experience remains the factor that most stands in the way of wins and losses when compared with New Zealand, England, and France in particular. Getting a ball in players’ hands from an earlier age is the most important aspect of generating more experience for our Americans. 

If you look at the most dominant female team sports in America — soccer, basketball, volleyball, softball — there are heaps of youth club teams, as well as middle school and high school programs for players to develop their talents from a young age. Should rugby find its way into youth and school…