USA set date for qualifier

RugbyNews.com - Friday, July 31, 2009 2:31 PM

A WEEK after that, the USA will play Fiji, probably on the West Coast.

THE USA men’s national team will play their World Cup Qualifiers against Uruguay in November.

After much discussion between USA Rugby, the Uruguay RFU, and the IRB, November 14 and 21 were settled on for the dates.

USA coach Eddie O’Sullivan acknowledged that even though World Cup Qualifiers mean players must be released by their professional clubs, playing in September or October just makes it too hard.
Domestic players, too, will have an easier time getting released from work with some lead-in time.

USA Rugby CEO Nigel Melville confirmed the dates.

The Eagles will play Uruguay in Montevideo November 14, and then the return leg of the two-game series in the USA, probably in Florida.

A week after that, the USA will play Fiji, probably on the West Coast.

All these dates fall within the official November test window, during which time major Southern Hemisphere teams tour the Northern Hemisphere.

Clubs in England take time off during that period.

“The main thing is we’re getting games for these players and we’re moving forward,” said Melville.

“We’ve got a good young squad and they produced two good test wins during this spring and summer.

They had a difficult time in Canada but that happens in rugby. I think they can come back, and having ranking test matches, and winning them, is important for us.”