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Sevens in pursuit of a new American dream
Toby Robson
February 2, 2011
Olympic inclusion is a powerful force. American network television is arguably a higher power.
In rugby sevens' case the duo are a fairly potent mix, even in a country where the chosen sports are burned into the national psyche.
NBC's decision to screen the collegiate sevens tournament last June put rugby on a stage it had not previously entertained, a potential live audience of 300 million.
It prompted a bloke called Miles Craigwell to throw in his lifelong dream of playing in the American Football's NFL for a shot at the IRB world sevens circuit.
It could also be part of the reason nearly 600 kids aged eight to 14 showed up at the Olympic sevens youth tournament in Chula Vista, San Diego, a few weeks ago.
And it would be fair to assume rugby's American network debut was a success because NBC will screen eight hours of next weekend's IRB tournament in Las Vegas live on prime time TV.
But how much of this sleeping giant phenomenon is hype?
Very little, if you ask US sevens coach Al Caravelli.
"Rugby being included in the Olympics is huge for the United States on several fronts," he said as he prepared his side for the NZI Wellington sevens.
"One is because it gives exposure to the sport to the American public. They don't understand fifteens, don't even care about the World Cup, but once it becomes an Olympic medal it's game-changing.
"When the All Blacks lost to France at the World Cup this country was like a funeral, right? We don't have anything like that in America.
"We have the NFL, the Super Bowl. In baseball we call it the World Series, but we're the only ones who play.
"Soccer is not entrenched in the country, so the closest thing we have to rallying the country behind something is the Olympics.
"It gives rugby legitimacy right away, it attracts a new public, but it also attracts athletes that we haven't had before, like Miles.
"Before if you didn't make the NFL that was it. Now you can say 'I can be a practice player in the NFL, or I can go and become an Olympian'."
But Olympians don't get paid and neither do the US sevens squad, so how is a bit of television coverage going to entice top athletes and fans to rugby union?
"Only time will tell, but I personally think rugby sevens at the Olympics could be the greatest team sport for anybody to ever see. It could be the ice hockey of the Summer Games," Caravelli enthuses. "The atmosphere of sevens, at Rio de Janeiro [in 2016], hopefully the American public on NBC will see all the things our other sports have to offer right there. The Olympics inclusion, I believe, is the most positive thing that's happened to rugby."
Caravelli says he is now talking regularly to agents for athletes from other codes, mostly American football.
He's not expecting top NFL players to suddenly jump ship, but there is a "cross-over" effect he believes will deliver top-end US college athletes back to rugby.
"We had more than 500 kids from eight to 14 at a recent camp and we've never seen that before," he said. "I saw a 12-year-old passing the ball and you would have thought he'd grown up in New Zealand. I asked him what other sports he played and he said, 'football, basketball, and baseball'. To me that's success.
"I don't want him to replace those sports, but to add rugby."
Caravelli's theory is the college scholarship systems in football or basketball will produce athletes of "incredible explosiveness and strength" and if they've played rugby early in life they will return. "If they don't make the big leagues then rugby will gain a great athlete."
Caravelli cites US rugby player Thretton Palamo as a potential case in point.
Palamo was just 18 when he played for the US Eagles at the 2007 Rugby World Cup, but has now gained a scholarship to play American football at the University of Utah.
At just 22, Palamo has plenty of time to return to rugby when he's finished his college career, and if he does he'll be a better athlete, but with a rugby background.
"Those are the type of advancements we want for the future."
As far as funds go, sevens isn't likely to hit the jackpot till after the 2012 London Olympics when it can mount a case as a medal hope for 2016.
But the Olympic benefits have already begun. The US team is now a 'member' of the movement and trains at and has access to the national Olympic training facilities and services.
A sports psychologist, nutritionist and physiologist have already been assigned by the high performance unit, along with recovery suits and access to gps equipment.
The greatest navigator of all though may be the humble television and its power to project sevens to the masses.
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