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<span>17/Sep/01 By Brian Lowe An 18-year-old kid from Kansas City is in Wales trying out for Celtic League side Ebbw Vale.
Mike Cummings, who has yet to play senior level rugby in the United States, is hoping to secure a contract with the Welsh club to kick start his career.
Cummings's story is an interesting one. He was spotted by Welshman Ian Jones at last year's Ruggerfest tournament. Jones's plan was to recruit Cummings for the University of New Mexico where he coaches, but those plans went slightly awry when Cummings didn't get the grades he needed to get into the college. So plan B was enacted, that being to seek a contract in Wales.
Jones has quite a pedigree and knows talent when he sees it. He spends part of the year coaching at UNM and part of the year in Wales with Ebbw Vale. He's also coaching the North Wales U-21 side and earlier this year steered the Gentlemen of Aspen to victory in the US Super League championship.
Jones firmly believes that under the US collegiate scholarship system kids like Cummings, with no rugby background, can be turned into top line players within a short period of time. "It is my theory that given the right athlete at 18 years of age, even if he has not played rugby prior to college, it is possible to produce a rugby player of potential international class within four years.
"Of course following graduation, these players need to be placed with teams in other rugby playing countries."
Cummings apparently fits the bill in almost every way. At 6' 7" and 260lbs the guy is fast and is a natural runner with the ball, but it won't be easy for him adjusting to life on the other side of the pond and Jones is well aware of that.
"He has both the physical dimensions and the athletic ability. I think it'll be down to how he, as a young man of 18, adapts to this environment."
Cummings has big dreams, but realises there's a long road ahead. "It's up to Ebbw Vale to take me in first. To be one of the top players in the world and to play for the Eagles are two of my goals."
As for the rugby programme at UNM, Jones maintains that it's going ahead in leaps and bounds. "Our recruitment policy is twofold. First, we have in-state athletes, typically they have just missed out on either football or baseball scholarships. These guys haven't played rugby before. Second, and as of last year, we are tapping in to the rugby playing High Schools e.g. Highland in Salt Lake City.
"Last of all, there's the US rep side at U-18 and that's where I picked up Mike. He'd just come off the U-18 tour of NZ as top try scorer." -------------------------------------------- RUGBY : Kansas Kid offered Welsh contract
By Brian Lowe
Thursday, November 29. 2001
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18 year old Mike Cummings from Kansas City has been invited to play for Ebbw Vale's U-21 side in 2002 after doing enough to impress the coaching and administrative staff during his brief trip to Wales this past September.
North Wales U-21 coach and Ebbw Vale stalwart Ian Jones was instrumental in Cummings deciding to try his luck with the Welsh club after spotting the youngster in action at the 2000 Ruggerfest tournament in the United States.
So Cummings packed his kit bag and headed over the pond in the hopes of stitching up a deal.
Jones, who also oversees the rugby program at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque says the big teenager had a busy month, "Training on a daily basis with the full senior squad under Mike Ruddock and also three days a week with the U-21s.
"Mike played in only two matches, both at Under 21 level, namely a friendly against English club Cheltenham (Ebbw Vale won by 50 points) and in his last week a much tougher encounter in the Welsh Under 21 League against Bridgend. Ebbw Vale lost by 23-8, but Mike did enough in that match to be invited back for a full season, commencing July 2002."
Jones believes that this is a first for an American, "He will combine rugby with furthering his education and my hope is that following the initial season at Under 21, he will go on to senior pro rugby."
As Cummings will also be in Wales as a student, the question of finances arises. As a result, Kansas City philanthropist Charles Usher has joined the fray and is working with Cummings' family to try to raise enough money to cover some of the costs.
Usher says they need to raise a substantial amount, "Mike's opportunity is a major one for him. From a kid who had a difficult time as an early teen, he is on his way to success. We think about $1000 per month will be needed. The plan is to upgrade his education while in Wales."
Cummings knows that he has a lot to do now that he has been accepted by Ebbw Vale. And the kid has lofty aspirations to match his 6' 4" frame, "To be one of the top players in the world and to play for the Eagles are two of my goals." </span>
