Have more confidence in your local players. A self imposed limit of two import players on the field at anyone time gives them a strong vote of confidence. They will step up and fill the gap sooner than you think. Give them a chance!
This will never happen with 4-6 imports on the field. Like a crutch, each year your dependence on the import players grows because the local boys never get the chance to be really tested.
If not then I encourage the local union to put such a rule in place as soon as possible, under an anonymous coaches vote. I am confident that it will pass. This will immediately level the field for your own teams and protect your boys from these ridiculous, discouraging and unsportsmanlike scores of 50, 60, 70 and 100 to zero.
You do not need the blessing or permission of USA Rugby or the Pacific Coast to make such a change. Take the destiny of Utah rugby into your own hands and away from the stifling control of HR.
Do what others have been unwilling and unable to do. All it takes is KIA KAHA.
14 comments:
I have really enjoyed reading your insight into the Highland Rugby Club and their importing of New Zealand players. I am even more excited to read your new blog that MUST be coming out- unitedrugbythetruth to expose the importing of 2 New Zealand players. After all, your angle has always been (and I quote from this blog site) "The Kiwi import players have and continue to handicap the skills and development of local players who might otherwise develop into exceptional rugby players." So it's only natural that your moral outrage about the Highland's Kiwis being a detriment to the local boys should transfer to what is happening on United's team. I earnestly look forward to the new blog and your attempts to expose ALL teams about this problem.
I also did some digging of my own. I don't know where this "4-6" kiwi's that you keep mentioning is coming from,but Highland they had 5 last year, 2 of which played on their B team, so only 3 were varsity players... and they have 3 this year-one more than United, but 2 less than the Mesa team this year. I think all these teams should have at it as long as they are within the USA rugby guidelines-which as far as I know, all 3 are. If they are all within the governing body's rules, let's leave them alone and let them have great seasons.
Jenny,
Thanks for your comments. 5 is between 4-6 and if it makes you feel better splitting hairs between the A & B team, go ahead. Read the entire blog to get all of the various angles not just one. Finally an honest comment from an HR supporter in the know. Remember you have just contradicted 20 years of spin.Thank you for the validation. Pretend students, well planned annual recruiting, and handicapping the talents of local players. Comparing United to HR is like comparing Kiwi fruit to grapefruit. United has developed an exceptional program without import players. Watch last years finals again and in your minds eye remove the kiwi imports from the field. USA Rugby has changed the U-19 rules. I have been advocating a limit of two import players on the field at any one time.
How the hell do you think highland built their program? WITHOUT IMPORTS!!! They have won more national titles without foreign players than with, so do your homework before you run your mouth. Oh, and while we are taking away foreign players, United does not come anywhere close to the title game without the South African kid.
I guess it's just too bad for those poor United kids that won't see the field because of their imports. I know...I will now become the unofficial advocate for the local United kids who are getting screwed!!!
That's how stupid you sound.
Thank you tightprop. Another uninformed and anonymous HR blind follower.
Tightrope:
Help us do our home work. Give us specifics, numbers something other than just a rant.
Here is a fact for you if you care to listen. The South African kid you refer is a US citizen and attended Lone Peak High School for 3 years. Not a pretend student. I don't believe that any of the HR imports over the years have become citizens. Why? Because most of them (90%)returned home to New Zealand after the season ended.
Ha! I love it that when someone says anything that you can extract as some sort of validation with what you say then they are correct but when someone says something counter to what you think to be true they are obviously uninformed or lying.
Ra Sitake - attended Hillcrest and Highland High Schools after moving with his family from New Zealand and inquiring about the best rugby team around and then joining HR.
There is a specific for you. How about Paul Lasike, who decided to attend BYU?
That won't make a difference to you though. Any egomaniac who thinks that teams ought to listen to HIM and HIS rules as opposed to USA Rugby, their governing body, surely won't consider anyone else's opinions or knowledge if they DARE run counter to his.
BTW, You failed to address the church College boys this year (or for that matter the S. African flanker two years ago)
Let me let you in on a little secret about the US, since you are in fact a foreigner yourself. This country did not get where it was by screaming "no fair" every time they came up short. We got there by outworking and outperforming everyone else (which Highland does), and we did it while welcoming those from other countries with open arms. But by all means when it comes to rugby let's turn away a kid who wants to come here, and let's generalize everyone else when some decide (!) they want to return home. Give me a break.
Then you should by your very own copy of "Forever Strong", and watch it every week.
Is the American way to hide behind your anonymity as well? No one listens to people who hide behind a wall while chucking stuff. But I will leave you comments for others to read. Thanks
Tightprop:
Your information is very helpful and I agree that their are those few who have come from New Zealand, gone to school legally and made a positive contribution. You and I both know that we can count these on one hand. I salute these boys.
But let's not be so naive as to think that all of the imports have followed the rules. The facts show that most have been quietly slipped in and quietly sent home. No recognition, pretend students for 3 months in the public schools and then a different private school every year.
I was responsible for having these boys kicked out of Olympus High School in 2005. I simply pointed out the situation out to the State Board of Education and they made the final decision.
Now USA rugby has changed the rules and U-19 players are not required to be attending high school and each team can have up to 5 import players.
The reason I don't have all of the facts is because all of this has been kept very very secret. I have never claimed to know all of the facts and I appreciate people like you bringing the facts and placing them on the table.
Ra-
I would like to take this opportunity to announce that I am now the "unofficial advocate" of the United players who are getting benched because of the kiwi imports. I'm going to take a note out of your book (speficially the 2005 season) and try and get the United teams kiwi's deported. Also, could you help me with posing as a USA rugby official? I understand that you are a man of disguises. But unlike you, I really don't want to get arrested if I ever walk into Olympus High again. If you can give me some pointers, that would be much appreciated.
So I just wanted to follow up with your "splitting hairs" comment. You alleged that the Highland team was putting 4-6 players on the field at once. I was just trying to clear up that by informing you that they never had that many on the field at one time. 3 were varsity A and 2 were varsity B. My brother played for the varsity B team so I can attest to the fact that they were never on the field at one time as you accuse them of. That's all. I did read the entire blog. I'm just pointing out some errors or generalizations on your part. You say that comparing HR to United is hard. I don't see the difference when you have and are criticizing the Highland team for something your brother is doing this current season.
Also, how do you know that the HR kiwi's never received recognition. Have you gone through the archives to see who got awards and who didn't? You say that you are just trying to find the facts that are so secretly hidden away, yet it seems that you are content to start making up information that conveniently goes along with your stance, without varifying the validity of anything. At least fact check before you write something that you aren't sure of.
Here is another one...I have heard (rumor only, I'm sure you can probably validate it or not) that United has a new South African (not the one from last year who you have said is a citizen so I'm not counting him). So that would make two Kiwi's and one South African...so that's 3 foreign players. If this is correct, are you going to challenge your brother to have only two of them on the field? You said yourself that you have been advocating for a limit of 2 on the field, does that extend beyond Highland?
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