In older news, but still probably not very well circulated, the US Eagles (national Rugby team) qualified for the 2007 Rugby World Cup by defeating the mighty Uruguay in a home and away series. Rugby is still so far off the radar in the US, that billiards, fitness competitions, bowling, and soccer are broadcast regularly on ESPN… but no rugby… not even the US collegiate championships.

Part of that has to be that America is the Kansas City Royals of International Rugby. Another part is that most Americans, and by most I mean 99%, do not understand the sport. But when you compare the US team against other nations like England, Australia and Ireland, we are talking D 1-A versus DII or DIII: otherwise a blowout waiting to happen. And that first blowout will take place in the first game of the World Cup for the Eagles when they play England. A CFL team has a better chance of beating an NFL team than we do for beating either England or South Africa, both in the same pool as the US in the World Cup.

So if you think that watching Mike Tyson fight Screetch from Saved By The Bell, then this will be a can’t miss event of 2007.