OT: Sam McGuffie playing professional rugby now
Saw this news on Twitter the other day. Apparently Sam McGuffie has been training with Tiger Rugby in Ohio in an attempt to convert to rugby (potentially for the Olympics, though he's likely much too late to make the squad for this year). He is currently listed as a reserve for the PRO Rugby Ohio team that is playing the San Francisco team right now (started at 6pm Eastern, will likely go until about 7:30 or so). The San Francisco team features Mils Muliaina, who played in 100 international matches for the legendary New Zealand All Blacks, so it should be an interesting match to watch.
PRO Rugby is the first professional rugby competition here in North America and is in the middle of their inaugural season. There are only 5 teams in this first season, with hopes to expand to ~10 for next year. Currently there are teams in San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Denver, and Ohio. Roughly half of the players are contracted full time while the others join the teams on a match by match basis.
It seems as though Sam will be joining the Ohio team (based in Obetz, just outside of Columbus) for tonight's match in hopes of getting some high quality match experience. The match is streaming live at the link below if you'd like to watch! Hopefully Sam will get some playing time towards the end of the match.
http://www.prorugby.org/match/2016-05-29-ohio-v-sf/
UPDATE: McGuffie only played the final 4 minutes (Ohio lost a relatively close match). He didn't get involved much in his limited time - only one opportunity for a tackle and didn't get an opportunity to carry the ball. You could tell he is very new to the game - looked like he wasn't sure where to be when the ball was away from him. He has mostly been training/playing 7s rugby - the Olympic version of the sport, which is a bit easier to learn/transition to - whereas this was 15s rugby. Hoping he'll get a few more opportunities to show what he's got moving forward.
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There was a lot to lose one's mind over in those videos really - I don't think there is a team that wouldn't want someone who could hurdle everyone in front of them on their offense. I am only a casual follower of recruiting, but I remember being particularly interested in McGuffie just for the athleticism alone.
behind the 2007 OL and Sam was a true running back.
Rugby, like any game, takes a while to learn and to become among the best isn't going to happen over night. However, the above holds true and to be among the best, even in TX, is quite an accomplishment. Thinking his athletic ability coupled with - if it exists- a sincere wish to learn and play the game at a very high level would make him an ideal candidate.
Does anyone know if Sam graduated from Rice? Not overly concerned with his stats there as a player. As the rest of the board learned, the young man was dealing with a lot of issues when he left TX to come play ball at UM. I' m hoping he rec'd his degree and is moving in a positive direction. I think trying to stay attached to professional sports is a good idea. Young man should max that ability.
That team finished 6th in the B1G in rushing offense and 9th out of 11 teams in the league at 4.0 ypc. Pining for that kind of performance makes no sense at all.
Seems like someone blacked out during the OSU game that year as well.
Yep, recall reading the same thing a few months back.
and I'd guess rugby would be summer. So conceivably he could do both.
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Yup--the USA curling program is headquartered there. Every year, Columbus hosts the World Series of Bocce Ball, which I understand is huge with the locals. Also, they've got the country's largest indoor badminton facility and training center which attracts the best badmintoners in the world. Their youth roller derby program is also solid.
american ninja warrior tryout. im sure there was a vid circulating of it
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I don't think the white half of Drake Johnson scored those TD's. The white half got hit by a forklift.
whereas stereotyping in this manner is perfectly alright? Jusy sayin............
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even though Drake is mixed. I think, prior to that, one would have to go back to Aaron Shea when he was used at the H-Back. Although the Tater had some nice runs, the topping, of course, being vs. ND, they all came from the QB position. I often wondered what, if he had kept his poop in a groop, might become of a backfield featuring Tater, at his best, at QB and Shoelaces at RB.
even though Drake is mixed. I think, prior to that, one would have to go back to Aaron Shea when he was used at the H-Back. Although the Tater had some nice runs, the topping, of course, being vs. ND, they all came from the QB position. I often wondered what, if he had kept his poop in a groop, might become of a backfield featuring Tater, at his best, at QB and Shoelaces at RB.
even though Drake is mixed. I think, prior to that, one would have to go back to Aaron Shea when he was used at the H-Back. Although the Tater had some nice runs, the topping, of course, being vs. ND, they all came from the QB position. I often wondered what, if he had kept his poop in a groop, might become of a backfield featuring Tater, at his best, at QB and Shoelaces at RB.
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Professional rugby is a big deal overseas. Of course, it's also much harder to make a roster there than here.
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