Independence Cup
US rugby officials defend Tigers-Rough Riders decision
ESPN Staff
June 10, 2015
Gloucester coach Nigel Melville looks on from the sidelines during the Powergen Cup Final clash with Northampton Saints at Twickenham in London, England on April 5, 2003.
Nigel Melville: "Club, player and coach registration is an important player welfare issue here in the USA" © Getty Images
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United States rugby officials have defended their decision not to sanction the Independence Cup match between Leicester Tigers and Rough Riders in Philadelphia, on the grounds of player welfare.

USA Rugby stated their position in a press release saying "a sanctioned game between an overseas team and a domestic USA team requires the sanction of both USA Rugby and the overseas team's national governing body" and "the teams need to be in good standing with their domestic union and comply with the rules and regulations of World Rugby".

"Leicester Tigers are in good standing with their governing body, the Rugby Football Union … Rough Riders, however, are not a registered USA Rugby club and, as far as we are aware, their players and coaches are not registered members of USA Rugby. Thus, the match cannot be sanctioned at this time."

USA Rugby also noted that the National Rugby Football League, which had organised by the Tigers-Rough Riders fixture and the Hemisphere Cup game between Saracens and the Crusaders in New Orleans, had "previously stated its intention to exist outside of USA Rugby and World Rugby". The NRFL is a commercial enterprise hoping to set up America's first professional rugby union league for commencement in 2016.

USA Rugby's refusal to sanction the Philadelphia game, after tickets had been on sale for several weeks, had caused controversy, with the union having sanctioned their own fixture against Harlequins - also in Philadelphia - weeks after the Tigers were due to play Rough Riders.

Tigers chief executive Simon Cohen expressed disappointment "that a fixture which would help to launch professional club rugby in the United States should be blocked by a national governing body charged with the development and growth of the game in their own country".

Cohen, who told the Leicester Mercury that "USA Rugby should hang their heads in shame" said "our experience in this case could lead you to question whether USA Rugby is more keen to protect its own commercial interests than to serve and promote the game of rugby as a whole in their country. That is extremely disappointing in a sport keen to expand its appeal throughout the world."

USA Rugby chief executive Nigel Melville said in reposonse, however, that the union "provides insurance for all of our member clubs, players and coaches … it is not our role to sanction games for teams who are not members of our organisation".

"Club, player and coach registration is an important player welfare issue here in the USA," Melville said, with USA Rugby noting in its statement that "all coaches and officials, who are registered members of USA Rugby, are required to pass specific courses concerning player safety and welfare".

"The requirement to have a registered, Level 200 certified coach on a club roster in order to be in registration compliance is to ensure that the participating athletes can play without fear of unnecessary injury. It is under these guidelines that USA Rugby can confidently sanction matches."

USA Rugby said the Hemisphere Cup match between Saracens and the Crusaders at Mercedes-Benz Super Dome in New Orleans was not in doubt because "both teams are in good standing with their respective unions and the game has therefore been sanctioned by USA Rugby, provided that the playing surface complies with World Rugby Regulation 22".

"It is USA Rugby's understanding that these tests are being undertaken and the match should be played without issue."

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