r/USArugby • u/Blackflamesolutions • 3h ago
Have MLR and European and club eligibility rule changes destroyed the Eagles?
The Eagles squads that were successful in recent decades always had a spine of elite players based at top clubs in Europe or the SH.
We had players like Blaine Scully, Chris Wyles, Taku Ngwenya, Todd Clever, Scott Lavalla, Samu Manoa, Chris Bauman, Cam Dolan, Greg Peterson, Tito Lamositele, Luke Hume, Joe Taufeete'e, Thretton Palamo, Paul Lasike.
We also had a few guys playing second or third tier in Europe, like Eric Fry, Andrew Suniula, Nick Civetta.
The new restrictions on non EU / PI / SA players at European clubs has now made it so much more difficult for US players to get signed by European clubs. The few Americans that are there either have European nationality or else are pressured to reject USA selection (Roman Salanoa) or defect to a nation of ancestral heritage (David Ainu'u, Tito Lamositele).
We now have the vast majority of the USA squad essentially playing semi-pro in the MLR, a league in which playing standards are well below a level that prepares players for Tier one or Tier two international rugby.
Some of them aren't even playing regularly for their MLR teams, or play in a different position than the position they play for at national team level.
Some of our players play for the worst team in the MLR, yet are somehow expected to perform at international level, after losing every game in their domestic season.
And now MLR is tanking, further restricting opportunities for American players.
I mean, the 3 time champions of recent years have one American in their starting 23.
I wonder if World Rugby / USA Rugby are actually surpised at us being so ineffective at international level?
If World Rugby really wanted to help, they could:
get a USA franchise with US international players into an international club competition. (either the SLAR, the URC or the Rugby Europe competition)
Make it easier for USA players to get contracts with European clubs and even encourage this.
Then future Eagles have a clear pathway. MLR -> USA international club franchise -> Eagles
The MLR isn't delivering. The level isn't high enough, there are too many ageing foreign journeymen keeping US players out of selection. Anthem are struggling.
Having the USA players concentrated at Anthem is going to see us sliding definitively into Tier 3, never to return.
If anyone is unconvinced of the value of having national team players at top clubs in Europe, I suggest they look at Tyler Ardron's contribution on Friday night.
