USA Rugby's Recruitment Video

More and more countries, particularly those from non-traditional Rugby backgrounds - have begun mobilising for the debut of Rugby Sevens at the Olympic Games in Rio in 2016. One of the most active has been the USA which has launched a fantastic Video to inspire the next generation of Olympians for USA Rugby. As the video shows, despite popular belief, the USA has a very rich Rugby Heritage. This promotion comes hot on the heels of their highly successful Rookie Rugby Program which in 2011 won the IRB Development award and has seen Rugby become the 3rd fastest growing sport in the USA. Take a look at USA Rugby's excellent video here:

What makes this strategy even more unique - and effective - is the benchmarking exercise that USA Rugby have added. For anyone inspired enough by the video to 'become an eagle' there is a simple test they can do that compares their basic level fitness test results with those of the National team. Check it out here by clicking on the 'Skip Ahead' tab underneath the video.

Talemo Waqa joins the IRB team in Oceania

Earlier this month the IRB announced that Talemo Waqa has been appointed the Regional Training Coordinator for Oceania.Read details of Talemo's appointment here.

The appointment of Talemo, (previously an employee of the Fiji Rugby Union - first as a referee Development Manager and most recently as the High Performance Manager) comes just after Wayne Schuster was appointed Program Manager, Event Operations at the Australian Rugby Union. Wayne was previously the Tours and Events Manager at the Samoa Rugby Union.

It is very pleasing to see both of these Pacific Island men creating a career pathway through rugby in the Pacific Islands. Rugby has long been a career path for countless Pacific Islands players plying their trade in all over the world - and now we're seeing that extend to Rugby's administrators.

Since the commencement of the Strategic Investment Initiative in 2006, the number of staff within the Pacific Island Unions has increased considerably. The IRB invests considerable time and money into the professional development of players, coaches, administrators and match officials through our Training and Education Support Program and initiatives such as the Talent Optimisation Program at Stellenbosch and the Talent Development program run as part of the Pacific in Union partnership with the Australian Rugby Union and the Australian Sports Commission. What it this investment shows, and what Wayne and Talemo have proven, is that with properly constructed professional development plans, it's not just Pacific Island players that can excel on the world stage - our administrators can be amongst the best as well.

One of my favourite Rugby Ads

I stumbled over this great advertisement for the Hong Sevens - on the of the World's great sporting events. Very clever and captures the essence of Sevens Rugby. What do you think?

..and then there is the next day....