Browsing Posts tagged Rugby

We welcomed a very special group of visitors to town last month. Forty students from Los Angeles toured New Zealand for three weeks as part of an American rugby exchange program sponsored by the Inner City Education Foundation (ICEF), on an itinerary that included stops in Auckland, Raglan, Rotorua, Turangi, Wellington, Kaikoura, and Christchurch.

ICEF group on tour in New Zealand.

ICEF students on tour in New Zealand.

ICEF operates a network of 15 charter schools in the Crenshaw Corridor area of South Los Angeles. Established to prepare under-served students to attend and succeed at top American universities, the ICEF schools provide high-quality, tuition-free primary, intermediate, and secondary education in economically disadvantaged areas of the city. (This year marks the 20th anniversary of the passage of the California Charter Schools Act, and there are currently more than 980 charter schools educating more than 412,000 students in the State.)

ICEF has offered rugby as part of its athletic program for 10 years, and founder and head coach Stuart Krohn has introduced the sport to thousands of Angeleno students during that time. Discipline, leadership, teamwork, and other character-building elements inherent in team play are at the heart of ICEF’s efforts to produce university-ready secondary school graduates. A key component of the program is international travel, fully financed by student and faculty fundraising.  Past trips have included Hong Kong, South Africa, and the UK.

The point, of course, is to broaden horizons, teach life skills, and create a culture of achievement. And the program has worked brilliantly. ICEF rugby alumni are currently studying at universities across the U.S., including Ivy League bastions such as Dartmouth College and the University of Pennsylvania as well as other elite schools such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

ICEF girls rugby teams in action.

ICEF rugger breaks through.

The first stop on this year’s trip was Tahiti. The boys and girls enjoyed local food and culture, did a bit of sightseeing, and played matches with local Tahitian teams. From what I hear – and from the smiles evident during the telling – that was quite an exciting way to start the overseas adventure.

And things just kept getting better. Upon deplaning at Auckland Airport the group bumped into English rugby star James Haskell, who currently plays Super 15 Rugby for the Highlanders. Being sport scholars, the Angelenos recognized Jim immediately. A true gentleman, he graciously took time to chat with ICEF boys team captain Asa Garrett on tape (in the middle of a duty free shop):

The group drove from Auckland to the Kokiri Center in Raglan where they were welcomed with a traditional powhiri and interviewed by the Waikato Times. Our good friend John Mataira, Consul General of New Zealand in Los Angeles, arranged for the students to be hosted by his family on local marae (both in Raglan and in Turangi later in the trip).

The next day the group spent time with local students from Raglan Area School and learned a haka . The boys then played their first rugby game against the Melville High School U-16 team, with the Melvillites winning 27-25 on a missed conversion after a late try by the Angelenos. Coach Krohn remarked that his students were deeply impressed with the warm welcome they received in Raglan. It was his players’ first experience being on a marae and learning about Maori culture.

ICEF boys rugby team in competition.

ICEF ruggers in action.

After a day of rest and sightseeing the group traveled to Rotorua and visited the New Zealand Sports Academy. There they participated in an excellent rugby training session with the Academy’s director, Jim Love, and spoke with a reporter from the Rotorua Daily Post.

There was a vigorous welcome haka, and the Angelenos reciprocated with traditional American step dancing, a complex performance art that fuses African American folk traditions with popular culture. The ICEF boys are considering incorporating the haka into their pre-game rituals when they get back to the U.S., and I hope that the Academy students make use of their newly developed stepping skills.

The ICEF group then proceeded on to Turangi, where they were received by students from the Maori Performing Arts Academy (MPA) of Tongariro High School. The Angelenos stayed for three days at the school marae, and both the boys and girls played matches against combined rugby squads from the high school. The visitors scored their first victories of the tour.

On the last night in Turangi the ICEF and MPA students enjoyed an evening of cultural exchange, together performing step, poi, haka, and waiata. They also enjoyed a traditional puia hangi, cooked in a steam pit at the Tokaanu-Waihi geothermal field.

A brief stop in Wellington included watching the Hurricanes play the Cheetahs at Westpac Stadium, followed by transit to Christchurch, where the boys and girls stayed with host families throughout the city.  They visited the Orana Wildlife Sanctuary, and then got down to business. The boys’ team played a match against St. Bedes College, besting their hosts 29-24.  The girls’ team played Burnside High School, winning 15-10.

ICEF boys rugby team.

ICEF boys rugby team.

While in Canterbury the Angelenos participated in the annual Christchurch Boys’ High School Rugby Club Rugby Festival. The ICEF girls distinguished themselves during the Festival with hard-fought games against Canterbury and Burnside that reportedly impressed their hosts.

In a promising display of what the future holds for American rugby, the ICEF boys went undefeated in the Festival, scoring dramatic victories against Waimea U16 (20-5), Linwood U16 (47-5), Christchurch Boys High School (33-15), and St. Bedes in a tough rematch (17-16). Cameron Griffin – one of the stand-out players on the ICEF boys’ team – won the U16 most valuable player award in the tournament.

John Mataira, NZ Consul General in LA with the ICEF boys and girls rugby teams at Westpac stadium.

At Westpac Stadium for an afternoon of rugby.

The trip was a life-changing experience for these outstanding boys and girls from the United States. I’m delighted that their parents, teachers, and coaches made such a smart, strategic commitment to their growth and development.

I was also impressed with how well the ICEF students represented their home city and country. More than rising rugby players, the visiting Angelenos were outstanding Ambassadors for America. I look forward to seeing them when I’m next back home, so that I can continue to make the case for careers in diplomacy and other team sports.

I just got back to the Embassy from a great afternoon at Anderson Park with the USA Eagles and a few dozen fans. The Eagles are in town for the 12th annual Wellington Sevens rugby tournament, and we thought we’d take advantage of the sunny weather to have a picnic for fans and families to meet the players.

Eagles player, Shalom Suniula, talking with the children at teh picnic.

Eagles players Shalom Suniula and Andrew Durutalo meet a few fans.

We hung flags and streamers, set up a table with give-a-way souvenir items, piled the grill with sausages, unpacked our private stock of Heinz ketchup and mustard, put out buckets of soft drinks and water, cranked up American classic rock on our boom box, and welcomed all comers.

A member of the coaching staff playing touch rugby with the children.

Eagles conditioning coach Dave Williams breaks lose.

The players and coaches, including my good friend, Head Coach Al Caravelli, chatted with the public, tossed balls, and ran plays with the kids. They also spent quite a bit of time signing autographs on balls, flags, t-shirts, and other items. Many of the young fans made sure to get the full set of team signatures.

Eagles player, Zack Test, signing autographs at the picnic.

Mike Palefau signs autographs.

Of course, I pressed Coach Caravelli for a prediction. The Eagles have won four Shields in Wellington, including in 2010 and 2011. That’s a strong showing, but I’d like to see a Cup or a Bowl come our way while I’m still Ambassador. Although he avoided making specific promises, the Coach assured me he’d do his best.

Some of the Eagles signing autographs and answering questions from the children.

Peter Tiberio and Mark Brockhoven answer rugby questions.

A few special fans drove all the way down from Wanganui for the picnic. The Eaglelites
are seven friends who submitted a video in the Wellington Sevens cheerleading competition and were selected to cheer for the Eagles at this weekend’s tournament. They will be on the field rallying fans and competiting against the other cheerleading squads for a nice big cash prize. Be sure to vote.

The Eagles cheerleading squad, The Eaglelites, with embassy staff member Shauna Mendez.

Most of the Eaglelites, with my colleague Shauna.

Sponsored this year by Hertz, the Wellington Sevens is one of nine HSBC Sevens World Series tournaments held annually. The current cycle started in Australia in November and proceeded to Dubai, South Africa, and now here. After Wellington, the teams move on to Las Vegas for the February 10-12 tournament there. If you’re a rugby fanatic, or just like 24/7 over-stimulation, or both, consider following the tour to Vegas.

Eagles player, Mark Bokhoven, having a running race with the children at the picnic.

Mark Bokhoven moves down the field with his new posse.

The 16 teams competing in Wellington this week are Argentina, Australia, Canada, Cook Islands, England, Fiji, France, Japan, Kenya, New Zealand, Samoa, Scotland, South Africa, Tonga, USA, and Wales. The Eagles are in a tough pool with England, South Africa, and the Cook Islands. We play our first game this Friday against South Africa.

The children having a fun rugby drill at the picnic.

Energized fans run drills with Eagle Garret Bender.

Thank you to everyone who came out for the picnic today. I thoroughly enjoyed talking with old friends and meeting new ones, and it was clear that the team had a great time. The players and coaches very much appreciated the warm, enthusiastic welcome-back-to-Wellington that they received.

For more information about the Eagles and additional photographs from the picnic, take a look at the Embassy’s Sports Diplomacy blog. And if you see me at the parade this Thursday, don’t be shy. Come on over to say hello.

One of the highlights of the Embassy’s Rugby World Cup program last year was launching a rugby blog to discuss America’s long rugby tradition and the interesting rugby links between New Zealand and the United States. My colleagues and a few stringers updated the blog regularly with news, features, photos, flashbacks, interviews, videos, and play-by-play posts from games. It attracted a robust following of rugby fanatics from both (and other) countries.

I was a fan myself because I strongly believe that diplomacy should not be just about folks in suits sitting around with other folks in suits. Don’t get me wrong, that’s still important. But I also think it’s necessary to break past the self-appointed gatekeepers (who come in a variety of different forms, some quite toxic), and get people talking with other people as people. That’s how mutual understanding develops, and how progress gets made.

So, with the Rugby World Cup behind us, we’ve decided to keep the rugby blog but morph it into a more general Sport Diplomacy blog that focuses on the connections, collaborations, and activities shared by athletes from the United States, New Zealand, and Samoa. There is certainly a lot to talk about.

For example, this week Major League Baseball scouts came to New Zealand and ended up signing Kiwi teen-ager Pita Rona to a seven-year deal with the Baltimore Orioles. Rona is just 17 years old, and there is certainly a lot of work ahead on the way to his first World Series. What’s important, though, is enjoying the ride while doing one’s best. I’m sure Pita’s journey will be great fun for him, his whanau, and the rest of us watching and wishing him well.

Please click into Sports Diplomacy and take a look. Tell us what you think. Going forward, we’ll be covering pro, semi-pro, regional, amateur, school, and special sports of all sorts. As always, please consider sending us story ideas, news, and images that you think should be shared. We hope you enjoy the new blog.

The USA Eagles have a big game ahead of them with the Wallabies this Friday, so we thought we’d pump our guys up with a good old-fashioned American pep rally. For those readers unfamiliar with this bit of Americana … pep rallies combine music, cheering, motivational speeches, trash talk, and bonfires (sometimes) to support and energize a team before a major contest.

Last night we rallied with more than 550 friends on the Scots College basketball court, which was decked out in Stars and Stripes, large poster pictures of each Eagle, and hundreds of red, white, and blue ballons. As the team entered the gymnasium the Scots College First Fifteen launched the rally with a particularly exuberant haka:

The Scots College Studio Winds Orchestra, led by our good friend Andrew Stopps, warmed up the crowd with American marches and pop music. We sang the Star-Spangled Banner. I offered impertinent remarks and led the assemblage in pro-Eagles chants and several rounds of The Wave.

USA Rugby CEO Nigel Melville spoke eloquently about the wonderful welcome that the Eagles have received in New Zealand, as well as about the large number of Americans who regularly play rugby back home, noting that rugby is the fastest growing sport in America. After Nigel, Eagles Captain Todd Clever wowed the audience with his warmth and charm.

Some younger Eagles fans.

Young fans modeling USA Eagles couture.

The crowd was dominated by families with kids who clearly relished the pep rally pandemonium. Many folks arrived decked out in red, white, and blue couture. There were lots of flags, pompom waving, cheering, plenty of laughter, a bit of horseplay, some ball tossing, and nothing but smiles.

Following the short speeches the Eagles mingled with the crowd and posed for pictures. The guys signed hundreds of drink bottles, rugby balls, flags, jerseys, and hats. They seemed to enjoy every minute of their interaction with the fans. Even I got to sign a few things, including the t-shirt of one of my mates from the Wellington Special Olympics.

Todd Clever signing the US flag for fans.

Eagles Captain Todd Clever signing a flag for fans.

Of course, there were also piles of food … hamburgers, hotdogs, potato salad, cole slaw, quarts of ketchup and mustard, brownies, and a giant American flag cake. It was a like a big village picnic, and the miracle workers in the kitchen continuously refilled trays and banquet tables as quickly as the crowd emptied them.

I very much enjoyed meeting new friends and catching up with existing ones, including my mates from the New Zealand American Association, who co-sponsored the event. The NZAA runs programs throughout the year and is great fun. Please take a look at the Association’s website and consider joining. They’d love to hear from you.

Digging into the hotdogs.

Digging into the hotdogs.

Among the special VIPs in the gymnasium were Joey Shannon and his partner Trudy Munn. Joey, a native of Arizona who now lives in Wellington, was the winner of our rugby photo caption competition. I was pleased to present Joey with a Rugby World Cup ball signed by all the Eagles, and to invite Joey and Trudy to dinner at the Residence.

All in, it was a marvelous night. I was delighted by warmth and good cheer in the hall. Wellington has certainly embraced the Eagles and made them feel at home. I could see the guys drawing energy and enthusiasm from the crowd throughout the evening, and they stayed well beyond the time I had promised the coach I’d have them back on their bus.

Fingers crossed that the buzz from the rally carries full-force into Friday evening’s match.

Photo Caption winners Joey Shannon and his partner Trudy Munn with Dr McWaine and myself.

With photo caption winner Joey Shannon, his partner Trudy Munn, and Dr McWaine.

The buzz certainly carried over today into Te Papa’s USA Day. I dropped by to introduce world percussionist Tom Teasley at his concert in Te Marae, and I was pleasantly startled to see the museum filled with folks wearing cowboy hats and USA visors, clutching American flags and pompoms, and tossing Eagles-branded mini rugby balls. I knew what was on the program, but I didn’t expect to see a large group of cowboys, cheerleaders, and Marines line-dancing to country-western music on the mezzanine.

I’m signing off now to drive up to Victoria University’s Boyd Wilson Field, where the San Francisco Olympic Club ruggers from my home state of California will be playing the local Old Boys’ Pink Ginners this evening. I met the Flying O’s in the stands in New Plymouth during the USA/Russia game, and I want to see if the guys play as enthusiastically as they cheer. I’m sure they do.

I look forward to seeing everyone at Westpac Stadium on Friday. I don’t know if I’ll be able to roam the bleachers as freely as I did in New Plymouth, but I’m going to try. Say hi if you see me. And say hi to my young San Francisco friends if you bump into Captain America, a big panda in a red, white, and blue top hat, and a bunch of Uncles Sam in rugby shorts. That’s them.