Play rugby in America

Question
Hi

My son is in his final year at The Sharks Rugby Academy in South Africa. He is 20 and his positions is eightman and blind sided flank. He wants to to get more experience  by playing rugby in the US. I want to know if that is possible and if it is .. how should he go about it. I am planning on applying for the green card lottery for him as well.

Any advice will be appreciated

Kind regards

Karin Smit

Answer
Hi Karin,

To be honest the level of rugby in America is not that high - we still rely a lot on foreign players of your son's age to boost our teams. Having the Green Card lottery is important for the ability to work and even play as a club can only have 5 foreign players on the field and that fills up pretty quick.

I would say that to come to America would be fun and a great experience but I doubt it would specifically help his rugby career, a move to Australia, New Zealand, England etc would probably do better. The USA is all amatuer so he would not get paid to play. Right now the best he might get is assistance with a place to live, help with contact in getting a job and maybe use of a club car. My club is open to foreign players and we are into the season now and have 5 Australians living by the beach with a club car and we organize labouring jobs for them. They still had to get themselves here (airfair) some spending money and still be prepared to work.

If you want to talk more my Clubs manager and good friend is a South African guy named Jaco Vlok, he might give you more information and can be found at our website www.backbayrfc.com as the communications officer.

Getting the Green Card would make for a great place for him to come for work and oppertunity but as far as Rugby goes it is really only a minor sport here. To have a true Rugby career he should go to the other top 10 countries or stay home.