The State Of Play Podcast (Episode 2) - Jeff Hull

Jeff at work at Twickenham Stadium, UK

For my latest podcast, I speak with CNN's Bleacher Report columnist Jeff Hull about the current developments in North American rugby.

Jeff has been covering rugby since 2006 and has also served as Press Officer for the Canadian men's and women's fifteens and sevens teams.  You can learn more about Jeff on his website jeffhull.ca and follow him on twitter @rugbyscribe

You can listen to podcast via the player below as well as via iTunes,  Stitcher, and Feedburner. 

As mentioned in then show, I welcome your feedback! Please post your comments and questions on the podcast below or on twitter, Google+, or Facebook.

Coverage of the RWC warmup match between USA and Canada tomorrow

With the Tri-Nations and International Test matches played out tomorrow morning, cap your day off with a little bit more rugby as the USA Eagles take on Canada at 2pm.

Playing their first of several Rugby World Cup warm up games, the Eagles will be away in Toronto against the Canadians.  They face off again next weekend but this time at home in Glendale, CO before heading overseas to play Japan in Toyko on August 21st.

You can catch all the action you're telly via NBC's Universal Sports channel (find your local channel number here) or online at the Universal Sports website.

Toronto Saracens Rugby Club looking to recruit women players

Courtesy of  Lee Bennet Recruitment Officer Toronto Senior Womens team

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2011 Toronto Saracen's Senior Womens Upcoming Season

The Toronto Saracen's are preparing for their 2011 Season in the OWL(Ontario Womens League) the highest Level of Rugby in the Province of Ontario. Six teams will compete for the Cup this summer. Each team in the OWL is required to field a first , second and U18 team. Our fiirst XV is very young our average age last summer was 21 , the majority of our players also play rugby at various canadin universities and colleges. 

All games are played except for Brampton home games just north off the City at Fletchers field a six field complex one of those fields hosts international rugby games. All league games are played on Saturday the seconds normally kick off at 12 pm the first follow at 1:30 pm. 

The schedule usually changes when the first games are televised on Rogers cable TV, one game is selected each week to be televised. The Saracen's train Monday and Wednesday at SunnyBrook Park from 6:30 pm to 8:30pm. Located at the intersection of Eglinton Avenue and Leslie in mid town Toronto. 

We have a few spots available for those players interested in spending the summer in Toronto.  Interested players should contact Lee Bennet, Recruitment Officer Toronto Senior Womens team at lbconsulting@yahoo.com , skype at lbconsulting1 or cell 647-801-0447.

2010 Rugby League Atlantic Cup - Jacksonville, Florida - Nov 16th, 18th, & 20th

For anyone who hasn't had the chance to watch rugby league live, the 2010 Rugby League Atlantic Cup  in Jacksonville, Florida, will be a real treat!

The Atlantic Cup is a full International Rugby League Tournament designed to find the best Rugby League Nation in the Atlantic Region - the 2010 event will be contested by Canada, Jamaica and the USA.

Games are scheduled to take part in November with USA v Jamaica on the 16th , Canada v Jamaica on the 18th , and USA v Canada on the 20th.  

All the details including ticket information can be found on the Axemen's website here. 

In related news, Redhook ESB was recently announced as the Official Beer of the Rugby League Atlantic Cup and University of North Florida Campus Paper highlighted two of the Jacksonville Axemen players who came out of the UNF Rugby program and have been named for the USA side.

Churchill Cup Finale hits the East Coast

The Churchill Cup rolls into Harrison, New Jersey this Saturday June 19th for the finals of the plate, bowl, and cup.  Taking place at the recently opened and stunning Red Bull Arena, the competition promises fans a gloriously full day of international rugby.

Kicking off at noon, Russia will take on Uruguay for the Bowl.  The main event at 2:45pm will see the England Saxons  attempting their fifth Cup victory, while Canada makes its debut.  Last but not least, the Plate final has USA taking on France at 5:30pm.

Tickets are still available, so if you're in the New York metro area and fancy working on your tan while catching some top level rugby, head on over to the Red Bull website to pick them up! 

If you can't make it out, don't fret: NBC/Universal Sports has got you covered!  They'll be broadcasting all three games live. Get full details at their website or check your local listings for details.

I'll be at the event so come over and say hello or feel free to tweet me @arugbylife with you thoughts on the games.

Churchill Cup returns to America in 2010

The Red Bull Arena in New Jersey will host the 2010 Churchill Cup finals Hot off the press...USA Rugby have announced the return of the Churchill Cup to the US.  Excited to see the games are making it to the East and my home turf. Big thank you to Sara Johns at USA Rugby for passing it on. USA RUGBY BOULDER, Colo. - The Churchill Cup makes its return to U.S. soil this summer, once again stopping in the City of Glendale, Colo. before making its East Coast debut at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J. The 2010 lineup showcases the USA Eagles, Canada, England Saxons and tournament newcomers France A, Russia and Uruguay in three rounds of doubleheader pool matches at Infinity Park, Glendale on June 5, 9 and 13. The pool stages lead into a tripleheader finals day at Red Bull Arena, the new home of the New York Red Bulls Major League Soccer side, on June 19.

USA Womens vs Canada game 2 live today @ 3pm

The US Women take on Canada again today at 3pm EST in game 2 of the Atlantic Cup. After a close defeat on Tuesday (they lost by 10 points...18-8), the Eagles will look for a solid win. The game will be proceeded by the USA and Canada Womens U20 at 1pm.

You can then watch the game live at www.ustream.tv/usarugby and listen out to the lovely ladies of Your Scrum Half Connection as they are commentators today. They will be also be Tweeting and Facebooking live from both matches, so tune in and show your support.

Live - USA Women's vs. Canada on Tuesday, January 12th @ 3pm

The Women Eagles are taking on fellow North American rivals Canada this Tuesday and you can catch all the action online at www.ustream.tv/channel/usa-rugby

Good Luck ladies!

USA Rugby - Coaching Clinic Jan 16th in Florida

USA Rugby have just announced that they are holding a Ruck and Continuity Clinic in conjunction with the Women's Atlantic Cup in Lakeland, Florida on Saturday January 16th.

The clinic will feature US Eagle veteran forward Luke Gross and will cover evasion running, going to ground on your terms as a ball carrier, ball placement and rucking techniques.

It will be followed by the US Womens U20 match against Canada and the final test match of the Atlantic Cup between the US Womens National Team and Canada Womens.

For more information, head on over to www.usarugby.org

Americas Rugby Championship

USA Rugby just announce that this year, the Americas Rugby Championship will replace the IRB North America 4. The new Championship will feature six teams: four Canadian provincial sides, the Argentina Jaguars and the USA Select XV side, and aims to unite rugby in North and South America in a high performance sub-international structure for the first time.

The four Canadian teams will play in a round robin format with the top two meeting in the semifinals. The other semifinal on October 10, will pit the Jaguars against the USA Select XV side at Glendale’s Infinity Park in Colorado.

Tickets are on sale with price being $20 for adults, $15 for students (13-18). $5 Children (5-14, 4 under is free) and cane be purchased here.

For more information on the Americas Rugby Championship, head on over to www.americasrugbychampionship.com or www.usarugby.org/goto/ARC

BBC - North American ruggers being imported to Wales

Fledgling north Wales rugby team Gogledd Cymru reveal they and the WRU want to import Canadian internationals to improve playing standards.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/sport1/hi/rugby_union/welsh/8225712.stm

Nations Cup - Final Roundup

Today was the final day of the Women's Nations Cup. Congratulations to England, who won the cup undefeated by beating Canada 22 - 0. For the full story, click here.


The US Eagles took second place after a hard-fought game in heavy rain against France. Final score ended in a draw (15 -15). Click here for the full story.

Nations Cup Update #4

Here's a quick round up of yesterdays matches:

England 25 - 0 South Africa
South Africa's final match ends in defeat to the English. Click here for the full story

Canada 10 - 15 USA
Last minute try by the Eagles denies the home side a draw. Click here for the full story

The final matches will now take place on Saturday with the US taking on France at 2pm and Canada versus England at 4:30 pm

Nations Cup Update #3

Here's a quick round up of yesterdays matches:

Canada 7 - 12 France
The French kick their way to a win over Canada. Click here for the full story

USA 39 - 0 South Africa
The Eagles dominate South Africa with a pounding win. Click here for the full story

Nations Cup update #2

Here's a quick round up of yesterdays matches:

Canada 35 - 17 South Africa
Solid win for the home side in their first game of the tournament. Click here for the full story

England 43 - 8 France
England continue their winning streak with a win over the French. Click here for the full story

Womens Nations Cup kicks off next week

The US Womens National team head off North next week to take on Canada, England, France and South Africa in the Nations Cup. This is the 2nd Nations Cup tournament and will be played in Oakville, Canada from August 10th through 22nd. For more details, head on over to Rugby Canada and if you can make it in person to see the games, you catch them live online at ustream.tv

The schedule of the games are as follows (all kick off times are GMT -4 hours EDT i.e same as EST)

August 10th

France vs South Africa 4:30 PM

England vs USA 6:30 PM

August 13th

France vs England 4:30 PM

Canada vs South Africa 6:30 PM

August 16th

South Africa vs USA 2:00 PM

Canada vs France 4:00 PM

August 19th

England vs South Africa 4:30 PM

Canada vs USA 6:30 PM

August 22nd

USA vs France 2:00 PM

Canada vs England 4:00 PM

Live rugby on ESPN July 4th - RWC Qualifier USA vs Canada

ESPN has been recently pushing the boat out by providing rugby coverage on their channels in the US. So its great to see that they are broadcasting the USA vs Canada World Cup Qualifier at 4pm on July 4th. Head on over to ESPN's scrum website for more details.