Players benefit from Americas Combine experience

Following the huge success of the original Pacific Islands Combine early this year, World Rugby held its second Combine in Glendale, Colorado, involving representatives from six countries in the Americas recently.

The Pacific and Americas events are part of World Rugby’s high-performance initiatives which aim to provide players with a opportunity that exposes them to a high-performance environment, enabling them to showcase skills their skills and develop further as an elite player with a possibility of obtaining a professional contract.

The Combine consists of medical screenings, physical testing and rugby skills assessment that also included educational sessions throughout the week, which concluded with a game against local Major League Rugby (MLR) team, the Glendale Raptors, which the Combine XV won 59-31.

It is World Rugby’s intent to expand this project to other regions going forward.

The vastly-experienced coaching staff led by Scott Wisemantel worked for a whole week in Glendale, also known as RugbyTown USA, with players from Brazil, Canada, Chile, USA, Uruguay and Venezuela.

“With athletes from six countries and three different languages, the spirit and ethos of what rugby embodies was as strong as at any event I have been able to participate in,” said Dan Payne, Rugby Americas CEO and former USA Eagle.

“The aim for World Rugby and Rugby Americas is to drive the development of all aspects of the game through cross-regional competition and events and the 2018 Americas Combine exemplified this with the 25 players who took part all benefitting from the experience.”

Huge learnings for all

Coaches and developmental personnel were also invited, including former Canada women’s captain Kelly Russell, Uruguay national team assistant coach Oscar Duran, Brazil’s S&C coach Aristide Guerriero and former Brazil hooker Daniel Danielewicz.

Danielewicz, for one, was ecstatic about the outcome.

“I thought initially I was there to accompany the players, but ended up being a staff member, which only shows how Scott, his assistant Chris Hickey, and the rest of the staff opened themselves to all of us, making us feel comfortable,” he said.

As well as taking part in every training session, ‘Nativo’, as he is known in Brazilian rugby, was able to bring his best in a positive environment created by Wisemantel and Hickey.

“We finished the week as friends and not team-mates, which is a great outcome. But we also learnt a lot about high performance and the business side of things.”

In a week of huge learnings, the biggest eye-opener for Danielewicz was the warm-up for the game.

“In South America we love long warm-ups, with coaches heavily involved, talking players up, even shouting. On Saturday, the coaches wanted the players to take control, giving them the role of warming up how they saw fit as they are the ones that play the game.”

Positive experience

Back at home in Florianópolis, Danielewicz concluded: “The Combine gave me another view on what I thought about the game.”

For the players, the experience was equally productive. Despite a first couple of days of intense fitness tests and work-outs, the team bonding ensured the limits were constantly pushed.

Josh Reeves, the Brazil’s New Zealand-born fly-half, enjoyed what he saw.

“It was an awesome experience, which challenged us a lot, putting us under as much pressure as they could, to see what we could achieve.

“I considered myself a serious player, but the Combine showed me how much more I can do.”

Overall, the report cards for every player were positive.

“The ultimate goal was to be tested and graded by World Rugby and by coaching staffs from clubs at MLR, yet the process was intense, exciting and positive,” added Reeves.

An unforgettable experience

“I got pretty good feedback from the coaches. I could have pushed myself a bit more at times, but went hard and showed my skills. I also played solid in the game.”

The full-time player in Brazil has already made contact with one of the MLR clubs and is hoping to make a move to the USA for six months in 2019.

“Contracts allow us to return to our country to play in the Americas Rugby Championship, which is where we’ll catch-up with those friends we made during the week.”

Another player hoping to hear back from a couple of clubs is uncapped scrum-half Marcelo Torrealba. Heavily involved with Chile Sevens he could play for his country in 15s as early as this month.

At 22, and having spent three seasons in New Zealand, the Business Administration student didn’t mince his words when labelling the Combine as an “unforgettable experience!”

He chose to miss the Chilean club final, watching his side Old Boys lose some three hours before he himself took the field for the Combine.

Rivals become friends

“It was a hard decision, but it was a unique opportunity that might not present itself again. I’ve always wanted to be a professional player and this was a window.

“It was very tough but educational, with coaches that really knew what they were doing and what they were aiming for, which meant it was a superb opportunity not to missed. We were all like sponges trying to take everything in.”

His positive review included the need to work on his speed. “Not that I am not quick enough, but I can be quicker. Being able to have coaches of the standard we had, and them being so positive and open, available to talk with us, was great.”

Another big bonus was the friendship developed with former opponents now friends.

“We became very tight. We were put under pressure in a manner that it brought the best out of each other, working together, pushing for each other. That made us instant friends.”

World Rugby TV was in Colorado following the group of players on their journey within a dedicated documentary to be aired later this year.

Payne concluded: “The Combine was a total success and we have to express sincere appreciation and gratitude to the city of Glendale and the Glendale Raptors for their partnership throughout the week.”

Photos: Seth McConnell