Why is Canada So Much Stronger in Rugby Union than USA?

Your right -- you can't pin it down to competition with other sports. Gridiron football, soccer, basketball and (of course) ice hockey are all much bigger in Canada than is rugby. You can't look to the college programs either. Canadian schools don't (for the most part) offer athletic scholarships and in any event the university teams are not as strong as the better amateur clubs. (UBC might be an exception).

To be honest Mark - -and this is a totally unscientific guess -- I think it boils down to the fact that Canada (as part of the Commonwealth) maintains closer cultural ties to the traditional rugby powers than does the US. The bulk of our immigrants still tend to come form areas which were formerly part of the British Empire, and this is reflected in our rugby development programs. Much of our coaching as the grassroots level is done by emigrants from other Commonwealth country. And yes -- the contacts do go to a fairly high level -- for example Canada has an agreement with Wales to send ten of our players each year to train with their development program. You saw a number of players who have participated in that program on the pitch for us yesterday.

At my own club (in south-western Ontario) we have members born in England, Wales, New Zealand and South Africa, all of whom make huge contributions to our development program. (The number of accents you hear at practise is varied, to say the least). And of course the families which these people have started since they came to Canada also provide an instant pool of potential players. You see that in the numbers when you allow for the population difference -- there are about three times as many rugby players in Canada per capita than in the United States.

On the other hand, it's not all bad news for you guys. Part of me has been thinking that this would be a good time for the Eagles to reverse the historical trend. Looking at the draws for the next World Cup, it seems to me that the Americas 2 spot is in a lot better position to advance past the pool round than is the Ameicas 1. The chances of a Tier 2 nation advancing past Samoa and Scotland (in Pool B) are are heck of a lot better than against Ireland and Italy in Pool D.

Edit: Did a little more research today. By my count, of the 22 players Canada dressed on Saturday, 9 are playing the game professionally with overseas clubs. The Americans had 8. Not (I think) a significant difference. And Rainmaker -- yeah, but we Canadians obsessed with ice hockey. That more than cancels out the American fixation on gridiron football. We'd probably rank #2 -- albeit at distant #2 -- in the world at gridiron anyway.

I think Canada is just a little better coached than the US in 15's. To me they seem to have about the same resources. I am interested to see watch happens next week when the USA plays Canada in League.

Because Americans are better in Football.

Rugby's a good competitive....sport...if you have the chops you have the chops for it..