imported_Roopy4246
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Rugbyecho@aol.com This is the email address of a guy named Dan Shupard who isthe ground commentator at Glen Mills bulls games and is styled 'the Voice of American Rugby League'. He is a former winger with the Glen Mills Bulls and the American Tomahawks I think. I have had two replies to emails I have sent him and he has been very informative in those replies, in fact, i'll post the replies for you all to read. It is very hard to get information on the North American scene, so here is someone who knows the answers and replies to emails. Colin,
Thankyou for responding to the AMNRL web site twice. The first time, I
opened up the e mail, and it somehow got lost before I had the opportunity to
reply.
Rugby league in America has been a tough sport to sell. Ethnocentric
Americans feel that Rugby is a foriegn game, and American Football, Baseball,
anmd Basketball are better. I beg to differ, because I absolutely love Rugby
League and fell it is one of the best sports on Earth.
The problem with developing a program is resources and connections. It
becomes a "Which comes first, the chicken or the egg" Fans verse sponsers
with advertising. W e have been playing Rugby League is the states for 4
years now and do have a following. We are having a hard time getting Fields
to commit to allow us to play, thus scheduling becomes a mess, and if
scheduling is not correct, then we cannot advertise or even tell our
following.
When were able to find a sponser in Libeerty Finacial in Florida, but all
that fell through when the head guy was using Our Rugby League money to
sponser Games in Florida from over seas, but no American teams are in
Florida, thus it becomes a one time shot. Basically, our sponser and the man
who does it all for Rugby League in the US, Dave Nui, had a fall out, and
thus the Americal National Rugby League was formed.
It has been an up and down road, but I still feel that Rugby League can
succeed and will, with a lot of work,a dn a little luck, American attitudes
will change
Long Live Rugby League
Dan Shupard
Voice of Rugby League Colin,
Rugby League on television in the US would be quite the boost. A few years
ago, Rubert Murdoch, R, showed interest in the upcoming rugby league
expansions. He then switched his ideals towards rugby union, which is a lot
more popular in America. This is a shame because many have seen this style,
and thinks this is what we play. Not many people understand there is a huge
difference. I know while I played american football in college, I felt that
Rugby was for all the fools who could not earn a football scholarship. Maybe
even sub par athletes. This all changed when I played in my first rugby
league game. I showed up to party at the game, and boots and a jersey were
thrown my way. 15 minutes later, I'm on the wing catching a pass, and not
having a clue what to do. Since that moment I fell in love with the game. I
have attended rugby union games since then and still fail to find them fully
entertaining. I have watched professional matches on television and enjoyed
them due to the great level of play, but Americans as a whole have not even
begun to tap into their talents. My hope is that when I turn on the
television on a lazy Saturday afternoon, rugby league will be there to bring
me great happiness.
With L Murdock supporting rugby league, things are looking up. Not too many
households have Fox Sports World on their cable programming, I know I do not
but some fellow Rugby League buddies who do, and this could be another road
block. I realize that this will take a while, but I guess patience is a
virtue.
Dream, Dream Rugby League in USA,
Dan Shupard.
Thankyou for responding to the AMNRL web site twice. The first time, I
opened up the e mail, and it somehow got lost before I had the opportunity to
reply.
Rugby league in America has been a tough sport to sell. Ethnocentric
Americans feel that Rugby is a foriegn game, and American Football, Baseball,
anmd Basketball are better. I beg to differ, because I absolutely love Rugby
League and fell it is one of the best sports on Earth.
The problem with developing a program is resources and connections. It
becomes a "Which comes first, the chicken or the egg" Fans verse sponsers
with advertising. W e have been playing Rugby League is the states for 4
years now and do have a following. We are having a hard time getting Fields
to commit to allow us to play, thus scheduling becomes a mess, and if
scheduling is not correct, then we cannot advertise or even tell our
following.
When were able to find a sponser in Libeerty Finacial in Florida, but all
that fell through when the head guy was using Our Rugby League money to
sponser Games in Florida from over seas, but no American teams are in
Florida, thus it becomes a one time shot. Basically, our sponser and the man
who does it all for Rugby League in the US, Dave Nui, had a fall out, and
thus the Americal National Rugby League was formed.
It has been an up and down road, but I still feel that Rugby League can
succeed and will, with a lot of work,a dn a little luck, American attitudes
will change
Long Live Rugby League
Dan Shupard
Voice of Rugby League Colin,
Rugby League on television in the US would be quite the boost. A few years
ago, Rubert Murdoch, R, showed interest in the upcoming rugby league
expansions. He then switched his ideals towards rugby union, which is a lot
more popular in America. This is a shame because many have seen this style,
and thinks this is what we play. Not many people understand there is a huge
difference. I know while I played american football in college, I felt that
Rugby was for all the fools who could not earn a football scholarship. Maybe
even sub par athletes. This all changed when I played in my first rugby
league game. I showed up to party at the game, and boots and a jersey were
thrown my way. 15 minutes later, I'm on the wing catching a pass, and not
having a clue what to do. Since that moment I fell in love with the game. I
have attended rugby union games since then and still fail to find them fully
entertaining. I have watched professional matches on television and enjoyed
them due to the great level of play, but Americans as a whole have not even
begun to tap into their talents. My hope is that when I turn on the
television on a lazy Saturday afternoon, rugby league will be there to bring
me great happiness.
With L Murdock supporting rugby league, things are looking up. Not too many
households have Fox Sports World on their cable programming, I know I do not
but some fellow Rugby League buddies who do, and this could be another road
block. I realize that this will take a while, but I guess patience is a
virtue.
Dream, Dream Rugby League in USA,
Dan Shupard.
