A rugby craze sweeps the U.S.

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-- I'm joined in the studio now by Nigel Melville CEO and president of rugby operations.

The USA rugby and as I was saying to the hit list guys early one of my sporting heroes Nigel real.

Pleasure and honor to have you here pleasant for me to comment I should explain first of all Robby Robby just -- -- -- I don't know a lot about but he is growing.

Very quickly here in the United States and it is of course one of the newest.

Olympic sports it's going to be in Rio in 2016.

Not the fifteen man aside -- fifteen woman aside version but sevens rugby sevens which as you can imagine by its name is where seven.

On each side play which makes speed.

An extra issue and we gonna get into that because one of the faucets and I think neither of us is probably the scene on -- rugby field is not playing for the USA sentencing.

When we talk about an -- of a personal Nigel how big a challenge him where -- -- -- -- soccer as a coming sport in the USA and that seems to be a big enough challenge.

How -- a challenge is it getting to grow rugby yeah Willie.

It was a challenge -- 56 years ago but we seem to -- some momentum through kids.

And the kids to get -- global you know six to ten year old and running with it and -- this is -- in -- you'll do this so.

We've got -- two million kids out -- playing with a -- millions across the country in school programs after school programs and really.

Growing to love the game which is great the future.

Added that the one I think the wonderful thing about it as a sport as well in terms of kids.

Is that you don't need.

Anything really although of them the bowl you know you don't need -- You don't need any stadium you don't need any equipment and other Noble Energy say just pick it up to run and that -- -- -- -- a thrill came from you know I got picked up the ball during a soccer game around with -- and that's essentially what we do today and the good thing about it is everybody gets to -- the ball.

You know he does stunned and aligned you don't -- stunned outlawed went for the through the play right you involve and engage your defense your defense you.

-- always out there with the bulls and you can run you can school whenever he touched the ball -- -- yes to those of you who who think that this is just stayed -- British version.

All of a full bowl no new new new -- No go and look at it this is fifteen guys -- -- team they play offense and -- defense they're on the on the field for the full lady minutes were up some substitutions but.

Really it's -- it's -- -- it's an extraordinary level of fitness required to play at the highest level.

And I guess that is an important -- of development here as well when you when you get to the elite level the Eagles that it's it's getting.

Matching those top two teams is an easy Justin back now on this great -- It's a top ten in the world is really because obviously these these guys who play in the the big teams like musical but of the implant since I was six -- seven -- of a camera guys the starting out 161718.

Muscle changing -- which is good.

Because younger national team coming through and I youngest son's team boys and girls who really complete -- Olympics it was pretty special time for.

And dad did -- couple big games coming up -- in terms of fifteen.

Aside game you've got Ireland this summer which is a big draw -- -- -- with pleasant Houston in June which is fantastic and that will be great -- -- one of the best teams in the world obviously they.

But don't complain a moment when the six nations over in -- -- -- work which is a big tournament and the having them over in Houston -- to -- -- game you know what it's all about people come -- -- -- -- supports is that the below the guys -- I guess we have anybody that's a great thing about rugby as well it's always had great potty and then a very well behaved party in general are on the sidelines abruptly as it doesn't have -- Boris behavior that they.

Perhaps -- is known for in Britain so -- it's -- -- always a good time -- -- festival whole thing is the festival is about going have a good time not just about.

The game will go what sudden getting -- -- the left to a zombie -- community joined the company of other replace.

And if you were at the brass monkey down in the Meatpacking District right here in New York you would have seen a very good party.

When England beat France and the six nations.

Last weekend I was there I'll be there when they play Italy in we can hostile and I guess I would -- the six -- its -- it's a great tournament.

One of US he had and they don't know that idol might my -- team here is the Redskins.

Isn't and he writes in saying that he could get -- to play for the Redskins they -- help they can get.

Thank you very much about the seventh -- -- a -- that there's a huge seven -- -- coming of one of the biggest set double sevens torments the Hong Kong sevens coming up fairly soon.

And that rugby is perhaps -- -- the publicity here but has got some recently in the pages of New York Times for instance I think maybe USA today as well and -- -- on the back.

To some extent of the performances of -- -- She was picked -- -- his name is Colleen files he is I in the top forty in the world as they sprint to -- them.

So that is not Colin I'll.

But anyway Colin Giles is an extraordinary.

Young man 23 years old -- yes was was training for the Olympics and then decides -- -- rugby decided he wanted to do and was.

In the -- team within weeks as I understand it.

Yes hughes' Olympic trials Eugene he was looking online -- -- -- luckily isn't it against the Olympics at ten point one so he.

It takes me and -- said I want to play ruby how good do it so I said well -- -- fast he said.

I'm not watch the kinda.

Thought that this -- have a personal best over a hundred -- -- ten point one and three which although he didn't really didn't think it was gonna make the Olympic squad.

Would it actually.

Lost here in London would have got him into the semifinals.

Of the 100 -- as I understand he's very fast and and that when you playing sevens of course you've got you've got seven on each team as I was saying.

So it's speed becomes a -- quality because -- Some actual space subsidy could you -- a full -- -- about the size the soccer fields of seven guys against seven guys.

All the soccer field you can about a mile space so if you go -- place and you -- -- -- for a hundred -- -- thrown into would be hard to catch.

Yeah I think he is extraordinary there's that Justin just -- YouTube search for him Colleen I'll see any ally and -- I -- LES -- to the show of course I'm just watch it is it is extraordinary thought you know what I what I like about him as well we we have to we've had.

Pure speed merchants in rugby -- full.

But he looks as though he's not just one of those he's committed to get I sort of a pretty decent handle he gave one -- Some -- some roots in tracing back to tackle in the in the YouTube video he looks like he's got all the skills.

Any us mr.

-- -- we must feel we get off track athlete across the hustled we can do is runner on the track record this guy likes to step -- -- -- laughable high school.

He's come through the ranks -- the -- she's got us media -- the -- the contact area and she quite liked the content there is getting into is -- more about tackling.

Is really all about how to you know recyclable which is -- a great benefit how how big.

A bonus rugby is it going to be.

To be in the Olympics in the end in the -- -- -- -- these huge credibility for the sport you know you don't district and he's -- -- into the Olympics is a very special -- olympians of his very.

Important does the way we have the spirit of the game the way we approach our sports and the I think that really -- -- Olympic spirit something that review will be a great benefit to -- imports.

-- tell us a little bit -- have a little back a bit about yourself and you don't like to do that too much but you -- and still are I think the youngest man ever to captain the England rugby team.

Shall and they they -- you captain on your day be which is I think still probably on the -- anyway.

And the -- I remember watching you -- I'm not that much younger than you but I remember watching and you would.

Sort of as somebody who could be a savior of the England team it ain't it a time when it wasn't having won it in one of its most successful periods.

And then injuries.

The elements through those kept my office -- -- the -- to find.

Multiples in the -- had great team at the time so you know to come from that from another guy.

Young team came through and they went to a cup final in 91 which is -- so and fortunately for me.

By the injury and that slow -- down a bit.

-- and that they wanted to coaching -- you avert a very successful coach without loss disposal which is.

Loss of one of the -- it or I have always been I would then certainly one of the strongest teams.

Club teams in Britain they've they form by the wayside coming back -- now that's the season quite decently.

-- and you were -- you were very successful wherever you coached but -- and then you took this Odom seemed to me eases slightly right turn it into running -- operations.

-- why so well -- if you challenge simply tell so until also that seven years through successful it was great but I come to sit there and do up the rest my life so went to Gloucester which is another.

-- -- Big club in terms of a town club works in that for three years of the -- -- -- -- trophies.

That is a few in the chemical over here and it's it was it'd be great challenge it's a fantastic -- to grow again.

You know in the -- if America it's a fantastic place to sport.

It's a great place and they will advice from -- when the C rivers that flavor of the there will love it to become a huge sport is so that's much Jones now what's so.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- A NASA a long term strategy in the meantime we're looking fumble Colin Els looking for multiple guys guys who don't make it to NFL doesn't mean countless sport anymore it's all over is to stop to complain repeat you know come across -- -- -- -- ago.

And I think that enjoy think it suits a lot of athletes who come out of college don't know what to do.

Rugby sevens from -- fifteens boys and goes is that's -- got the money is obviously it was a key in in growing any sport are you finding you'll getting.

You're attracting more sponsors now is that side of it moving forward as well as you would like yeah we've got more interest from sponsors more support from sponsors -- -- you know sponsors pretty hot come by these guys -- -- investment and -- -- through.

NBC through coverage of a -- repeat programs I'll be on TV and in the media are giving who responses a little bit small.

You know return on their investment -- -- and and Joyce he says.

It's nice to have good news on the show my -- is -- like this so much we get to -- also the things we wouldn't do otherwise.

And so another of -- -- disaster rugby players make as much money as -- -- plans.

Well I kind of different well no actually doesn't depend which -- tournament whether it's at football in the English sense soulful split -- Americans it.

There's a lot less money in it right now but that's part of the farm as well -- -- NATO would always used to be in Britain and amateur game they would.

You know people with just played a few expenses to go.

To the game I guess in even even in and you're really playing it was a much in my guys to look at the same time we're told them -- over the weekend zero accidents national -- -- -- to his professional game fully professional from the top players in the U -- I think -- a little money in Europe you know they do and good -- is now not quite so -- the football soccer.

But he's got enough quarterback here if you -- our member of the Eagles.

They they also having a look at it keep -- -- -- at this stage the majority of them also murdering your phone contracts and they come -- to put the Eagles and then some means some guys who hit.

To the guys in New -- you know there will commemorate the Clinton -- -- they do gets podiums and Olympic guys they get.

A full time residency program into this announcement and beat the organization.

Has grown here if you've got some numbers here I think the number of active members now.

Winning USA rugby a 1151000.

Thirteen.

Organized Clinton championed shape events each year and all American teams competing this year and the -- so.

And it's very much a men's and women's game here in the United States which isn't pushed as mulch and some other countries but -- that you are you very keen on doing that so -- one of the top.

The nations in the world to the -- -- -- -- in the top five so we really build those programs 25% some members of the women.

We're very proud about -- and and -- Eagles and what they do in the sevens on the fifteen and so I think it's great opportunity for -- got Barack Obama and we -- still had a six nations which is -- -- is the.

It's the premier tournament in Britain -- swear.

England.

Scotland Wales Ireland France and Italy play against each other every yeah.

England looking pretty good right now and we care a great deal about that of course.

I -- -- if you beat everybody in the six nations it's known as a Grand Slam it's a pretty rare event to win every -- -- -- games.

England are on course do that with play Italy one would imagine they -- that.

And then the big one they play whales to the Welsh love to my mother by the way as well.

And she loves to beat the English still some what do you think.

Well I was told that the -- can be in the big game but who began his next game which is Italy and Italy -- a -- -- -- -- recently so.

They've you know been on the spins around to be slipped on things -- -- difficult road to -- to Condit was to get.

-- -- -- you know against the Welsh if you're gonna get a Grand Slam you and it.

That -- you certainly do and that's why you would such a successful coach -- successful of CEO and president of Iran -- -- the USA rugby because he's always just about.

The next game the next travel.

I'm Nigel -- a real joy to talk -- thank you for being here.

That live web -- of course is USA rugby dot all dot all of USA rugby don't -- there it is on this great.

I go check out that YouTube video of -- Niles if you wanna speak.

How exciting -- -- is as a game you only need to watch that video but also come join me in the brass monkey.

One Saturday when -- England to playing you won't regret it.

Nigel -- great to see thank you so much since the.

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A rugby craze sweeps the U.S.

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