> How would an American get to play on a pro rugby team overseas?

How would an American get to play on a pro rugby team overseas?

Posted at: 2014-07-08 
I play for an amateur team here in the united states, the team is apart of USA rugby. How would I reach out to pro level teams in Australia or New Zealand? Is there a way to get noticed or scouted?I play for an amateur team here in the united states, the team is apart of USA rugby. How would I reach out to pro level teams in Australia or New Zealand? Is there a way to get noticed or scouted?

Presumably you're with a club which runs a Division I side. If not you'll have to work yourself up to that level. Excel at Division I and you'll catch the eye of one of the semi-pro SuperLeague clubs and eventually USA Rugby. That will get you to into the USA Eagles development program, which is watched by the top international clubs. That's how American players like Todd Clever (who used to be with the Lions in South African SuperRugby) and Takudzwa Ngwenya (who despite the name grew up in Texas and who remains a fixture with Biarritz in the French Top 14) found themselves playing professionally. The other option is to attend a college with a strong men's rugby program (U. Cal Berkeley and Brigham Young are probably the top two.) and excel with one of those teams. The top US college programs are also scouted by the international clubs.

You would not believe the difference in standard between amateur teams and the pros. If you're good enough you'll get scouted. Word gets round. If you've heard nothing you're not good enough.

Is there an all stars team? The best of the best? Are you on the national team? That's probably the only way someone from the US can hope to be noticed....although to my knowledge the has never been any US player hired by any Australian team....we have too much talent here,