· For those outside of Utah and outside the Mormon faith it is difficult to understand the draw, appeal, and importance of Utah to Mormons around the world. It is not uncommon for Mormons to immigrate here to be close to their faith. Every six months the LDS Church sponsors a two-day world conference that attracts literally hundreds of thousands of people. Who can explain such a thing? Nor is it uncommon that young men and women while in high school or prior to their two-year missionary service to come to Utah as part of what they perceive a religious experience combined with a lot of fun too. I suppose it may be similar to Muslims going to Mecca or Jews to the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Consequently, we experience an unusual number of foreign visitors. Few have a rugby background, most do not. Is it fair that Salt Lake City gets such an influx? Fair, yes. Equal, no. The very thought that people, who by and large are from humble circumstances, would pay thousands of dollars in airfare and school tuition simply to pay rugby in America is laughable.
To clear the air on several issues alleged to have been raised by you, let me answer them directly. 1) Does Larry Gelwix and/or Highland Rugby "recruit" players from overseas to come here and play rugby? No. 2) When was the last time Gelwix was in New Zealand? 1996 when Highland was on a 4-week tour of Australia and New Zealand. Trivia question, since Highland won the national championship in 1997 and Gelwix was in NZ in 1996 did Highland have any non-U.S. citizens (including NZ, or otherwise) players in the championship in 1997? No, not a single one. Our 1995 championship win has been called one of the biggest wins ever? Did we have any NZ players that year? No, not a single one. 3) Does Highland always have non-U.S. citizens on its team? No, but we do welcome them if they are here. Your email suggested how wonderful it would be if we won without foreign students. Come and see me, I keep meticulous notes and statistical data and you will see most of our wins have been without non-U.S. citizen students. But I make no apology or secret that when such students are living here and are eligible, we welcome them.
Does Highland pay for players airfares or expenses to come here? No. Not even a penny? No, not even a penny. 8) Is it true that all non-U.S. citizen students must pay tuition, which I understand is about $7,000 a year, to attend Salt Lake schools? Yes, that is my understanding and I know of no exceptions to that.
If you would like the read the entire communication just email me and I will be happy to send it to you
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