Rugby gap year
 

Hi this is my first post so here goes,

I know you are probably sick and tired of people asking "where should I relocate to?" But basically when I am 18 I am planning a gap year to play rugby and I would like to move to a city with good public transport so I can get around and have good weather. Price of accomodation or rent should not be a problem as I could get assisstance from the club. I would like to move to a city where there is plenty to do.

Thank you for your time :)

Re: Rugby gap year
 

What I'm sick and tired of, is people asking nebulous questions that can't possibly be answered given the scant information provided.


I don't think there are any cities in the US that offer rugby, good weather, public transportation, and plenty to do. What does "good weather" mean? If you like snow, Denver CO has good weather. If you like humidity, Lexington KY has good weather. If you like museums, then New York City NY has plenty.

Do you get it yet? You need to be more specific. If you can't be more specific, there's really nothing more to say.

Ian

Re: Rugby gap year
 

The first thing you need is an appropriate visa to do this in the USA, especially if you plan to get assistance (money or room and board) from the club. Do you have a club in mind? Have you spoken to them about it? Have they hired or sponsored foreign rugby players before?

You can come to the USA as a visitor on the VWP for up to 90 days and just play rugby for fun, wherever you are visiting. But if you want to stay a full year, for the purpose of playing for a team, and receiving assistance from the team, you will need to get a team or club to sponsor some kind of visa for you.

Rene

Re: Rugby gap year
 

My sister can play rugby better than the USA national team, so I reckon that visas for this must be ten-a-penny...

Re: Rugby gap year
 

Barnsley.

Re: Rugby gap year
 

Sounds like you first need an employer who will sponsor you for a H-2 visa.

Re: Rugby gap year
 

If you like sweating your balls off in the summer and snow in the winter, Boston.

There's a fair bit of rugby here, especially in the ladies game.

To the OP, unless you're a American citizen, it's not going to happen, not unless you're world class already.

Re: Rugby gap year
 

Would a college scholarship work?
My BiL works for a college as a soccer coach and he brings in people from the UK and Australia and S America, on various levels of scholarship. If the OP is half decent they might get a college to fund something. I have even heard rumors of creative ways to legitimize illegals if they are found to have a sporting talent. The college I am talking about is a comparatively tiny place in the sticks too.

The OP does not talk about a job as such.

Re: Rugby gap year
 

I must admit I didn't know they played rugby here.

Re: Rugby gap year
 

I have been surprised at the amount of Rugby played here. All a bit niche of course. Even among the players, if you ask them, if they play Union or League, they just stare at you blank. (it all seems to be Union)

Re: Rugby gap year
 

A quick Google suggests it's all union.

I wonder if OP has made contact with any clubs already?

Re: Rugby gap year
 

That's being generous.

It's shit and looks more on par with a bad school game generally. But it is getting quite popular with a few colleges and it's played a fair bit in Boston and in parts of Maine and NH.

Then again, if you know where to look, folks even play cricket here.

Though it's probably less embarrassing to admit to having a fancy to being whipped by hookers in a dungeon :lol:

Re: Rugby gap year
 

My other BiL went on tour of Australia when he was at college, he said they got murdered every game. What a country to pick to tour, they must have had a sadist coach.

Re: Rugby gap year
 

Can you get a visa for that? :lol:

Re: Rugby gap year
 

The only thing that makes sense is that he has posted in the wrong country forum.

There is an old farts competition in Aspen in September.