5Lock4ward says...

@Canadairish, I agree fully about Manoa however the other players you mentioned I believe are holding out in an attempt to make the respective national teams of the clubs they play for. There's more money and glory there in Europe. I'm okay with losing those guys b/c at the end of the day I want people on the Eagles who really want to be there; Americans who wouldn't dare to dream of playing for any other country. It won't be until then that the Eagles can compete on the highest levels.

Posted 02:53 26th June 2012

fozza says...

I think it's harsh to blame the Northern clubs for holding up the development of the international team. I get that they can be swines about releasing second tier players and I'd like to see them freeing them up far more often (especially as there are no games going on in England right now... surely game time would be better for their players not gym work!).

However, with all due respect the American club system does not offer the development opportunities or earning potential of the european leagues. As it stands right now, if players want to take it to the next level they need to move abroad and players do benefit from this. Same goes for the pacific islanders who haven't grown up in New Zealand/australia, they're more likely to get the development they need in europe.

I'm a huge fan of the NFL and every year scores and scores of university grid iron players are expected to hang up their pads. Why aren't the rugby board targeting these guys? Now that it's an olympic sport maybe the spotlight will shine a bit brighter, because let me tell you, if Rugby ever comes close to American Football in the hearts and minds of the American Public... the rest of us can call it in!!!

Posted 08:43 25th June 2012

jimmy88 says...

Forza azzurri

Posted 23:24 24th June 2012

canadairish says...

Several European clubs are holding back the development of tier 2 nations such as USA. Callum Black @ Ulster, Tommy Seymour @ Glasgow, Hanno Dirksen @ Ospreys and Samu Manoa @ Saints could and should be playing regularly for the States. Yet for fear of declaring for another country than the one they work in and losing their contract, they dont. In Manoa's case you get the feeling that he's been told no international rugby for you or else you can look elsewhere. Disgraceful.

Posted 18:45 24th June 2012

dillon says...

Refreshing to hear a fan "man up" honestly, like that instead of, like so many, just bad mouthing the referee like far too many of the rest of us are guilty of doing, rather than admit a harsh truth about the team we love. It's a shame the US team has to contend with such powerful competition from the other major sports, Football, Basketball and Baseball and to a lesser extent Hockey, otherwise I am sure they would be progressing a lot faster than they have been able, to date. Good luck for the future.

Posted 16:15 24th June 2012