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On the Western hemisphere at the Global Rugby Forum

2013-05-30T21:18:06-07:00

Kicking off this weekend's Collegiate Rugby Championship 7s tournament is the Global Rugby Forum, which aims for perspective on the business of our sport.

I've been asked to moderate a panel on the 'State and Future of Rugby'. Given the broad subject, a plethora of experts, and just one hour, we'll focus on the game in the Western hemisphere.

Including Brazil, Canada, the US, and Argentina (unfortunately not directly represented today), the Western hemisphere is home to 4 of the world’s 8 largest countries with nearly 600 million people. The foursome boast a combined GDP of more than $20 trillion, and 3 of world’s top 11 economies.

Rugby kicked off in the late 19th century in Argentina, Canada, and the US, and slightly later in Brazil. Today, they have some 3,400 teams and 250,000 active players. Some 75 percent of the clubs and 50 percent of the athletes are in the US.

The collective annual turnover of the four countries' governing bodies – 'unions' in rugby’s argot – is just less than $39 million; Argentina’s (reported) $20 million is the lion’s share. Canada, at $9.1 million, is next, then the US at $7.5 million. (Canadian and US figures are from audited 2011 financial reports, the latest available.)

Today's roster comprises Graham Brown, chief executive of Rugby Canada; Steve Griffiths, the IRB's director of technical services; Nigel Melville, chief executive of USARFU; and Fernando Mirandez Del Nero Gomes, past director of the Brazil Rugby Confederation.

What would you ask these gentlemen?

Canada 16 United States 9 (halftime: Canada 10-6)

2013-05-28T14:03:00-07:00

The USA's 16-9 defeat to Canada this weekend extended its May losing streak to four, its longest ever.

America hasn't won a May international since adopting the International Rugby Board's template for 'high performance' rugby in 2006, totaling just 31 points while conceding 107.

Beforehand, the US put up a 14-16 May record, with 696 points for and 750 against. During the first Pacific Rim era (1996-2005), the busiest period, America's May log was 10-9, scoring 490 and giving up 483.

Relying on an approach shared by every recipient of Dublin's grants looks to be exacerbating the USA's traditional hurdle of the short spring season.

In theory, international rugby doesn't commence until June, after the European professional season has ended and players are free to join national teams. May's record shouldn't matter much.

But the calendar has rarely held to the model. For every 3 June games, there have been 2 May contests. Stormy Pacific Ocean weather works against later games, as does the concern to give top athletes due rest from Europe's season, which starts again as soon as July.

The skid is the more troubling because USARFU has routinely scheduled matches that coincide with its domestic playoffs, as it did this year. From the perspective of senior clubs, losing top players only to see the test team lose adds insult to injury.

To be fair, Saturday's match was established as a test over the objections of both Canada and the United States, which knew its top players wouldn't have arrived home.

In Edmonton, the US fell behind 10-0 before debutant Adam Siddall hit the first of three penalty goals (from four attempts) at the half-hour mark. The visitors climbed back to within a point at the start of the fourth quarter, before Canada tacked on a pair of three pointers, somewhat against the run of play.

The tryless game was the USA's first without a five pointer since June 2009. Describing the start as 'lethargic', wherein loose and high balls weren't sufficiently contested, second-year coach Mike Tolkin observed his team's overall showing was marred by 'some first-game rust'.

In Glendale, Colorado, past US flanker Dan LaPrevotte scored with 7 minutes to go to lift San Francisco Golden Gate to a 31-26 Elite Cup victory over Life, 5 tries to 4.

Tied at half, SFGG scored twice through Bruce Thomas and Tevita Okusi to establish a 24-12 edge. But Life's Benji Goff replied with his second of the day, and Tui Osborne then staked Life its first lead of the day.

The win earns the San Franciscans their third title in the past five seasons.

Siddall debuts at fullback in surprise test

2013-05-24T11:39:30-07:00

Adam Siddall is a surprise choice at fullback in Saturday's match against Canada, a contest hurriedly promoted to international status.

Filling in for Chris Wyles, one of several players still in Europe, Siddall steps in front of Blaine Scully. The latter started 6 matches in 2011, including 2 in the World Cup, but didn't get on the field in 2012 due to injury and also missed much of the 2012-13 Sevens World Series.

Siddall, a 24-year-old from Old Blue, is Mike Tolkin's preferred goalkicker in a squad lacking an established scorer. But Siddall plays flyhalf for his New York club.

Center Troy Hall and hooker Zach Fenoglio gain their first test starts in a USA team obviously missing frontline players for reasons other than injury. Reservists Tom Coolican, *Liam Murphy,* Chris Saint, and Seamus Kelly could make their international debuts.

The planned absence of Biarritz wing Takudzwa Ngwenya, Northampton backrower Manu Samoa, who impressed many as the finest player in the past season's English Premiership, and Saracen's Wyles, the American backline's most consistent performer, clearly diminishes the American lineup. Canada is similarly missing overseas standouts.

Earlier this spring, the two countries had agreed at a Pacific Nations Cup organizational meeting that the Edmonton, Alberta, match would not be accorded test status, according to union officials. The May 25 contest falls before the International Rugby Board's so-called player release window opens in June, when professional clubs theoretically must do without contracted athletes wanted by national teams.

But this past week the IRB belatedly overruled the accommodation, wanting the match to count in its rankings system. Thus the IRB itself looks to be devaluing international rugby, which it is supposed to be protecting.

The US opens the tournament in 16th place, its highest level since 2007 but the lowest of the 5 competitors. Japan is 15th, Canada 14th, Fiji 13th, and Tonga 11th. The US meets the Sea Eagles on June 14 in Los Angeles, following a non-league match against Ireland 2 weeks from now in Houston.

Despite the Canada game's quasi-preseason nature, the US lineup is not youthful. The team's average is age is 27, according to This is American Rugby.

United States of America
Adam Siddal (Old Blue); Luke Hume (Old Blue), Troy Hall (New York AC), Andrew Suniula (Chicago Griffins), James Paterson (Glendale); Toby L'Estrange (New York AC), Robbie Shaw (Richmond); Shawn Pittman (undeclared), Zach Fenoglio (Glendale), Eric Fry (London Scottish), Brian Doyle (New York AC), Lou Stanfill (Vicenza), John Quill (Dolphin), Peter Dahl (Belmont Shore), Todd Clever (captain, NTT Communications)
Reserves: Tom Coolican (New York AC), Phil Thiel (Life), Nick Wallace (St. Mary's), Graham Harriman (Chicago Griffins), Liam Murphy (Boston); Chris Saint (Houston Athletic), Seamus Kelly (Univ. of California), Blaine Scully (undeclared)

'Crounch, bind, set' scrums due in US in August

2013-05-22T07:00:00-07:00

A revised scrum sequence, 'crouch, bind, set', is expected to debut in America this summer, at the beginning of the 2013-14 season.

Earlier this month, the International Rugby Board announced worldwide rollout for competitions commencing 'on or after' August 1, citing a successful trial during the spring's Pacific Rugby Cup, a league of regional sides from the Pacific islands. A USARFU committee is meeting today to discuss implementation, according to a union official.

The sequence is intended to cut down on collapsed scrums, increasingly blighting test rugby, and to promote safety by reducing the impact on front rows. The force of collision will be reduced by some 25 percent, the IRB estimates.

Under the new regime, the 'crouch' position has been redefined to include 'bending the knees sufficiently to move into the engagement without a charge'. The sanction for 'charging' will be a penalty kick.

At the next phase, 'bind', props connect using their outside arm, and maintain the link through engagement. A binding infringement brings a free kick.

Recalling the decades when front rows managed the engagement themselves, the referee's final call, 'set', is not a command, but a signal 'the front rows may come together when ready'.

Dublin also hopes the new sequence will encourage halfbacks feeding the ball straight into the scrum, to promote a even contest for possession. The IRB's efforts to police the crooked feed have repeatedly failed, as referees have been otherwise engaged.

Chris Biller's foot injury will prevent the San Francisco Golden Gate hooker from playing in Saturday's Pacific Nations Cup match against Canada.

Life, Jesuit, United grab crowns

2013-05-20T08:30:00-07:00

Life erased an 11-point halftime deficit to upend St. Mary's 16-14, adding USARFU's 2013 collegiate 15s title to its 2011 7s championship.

Separately, Jesuit and United nabbed high school and under-19 crowns with 21-16 and 24-10 wins over Gonzaga and Cathedral, respectively.

In Greensboro, North Carolina, the Gaels moved to a 14-3 edge behind converted tries from fullback Tim Maupin and center Mike Haley, but were shut down in the second stanza.

Running Eagle fullback Joe Cowley booted a penalty goal and then scored in the corner to narrow the gap to 14-11. Prop Drew Ohmann's 56th-minute try then gave Life its first lead while closing out the scoring in a match marred by second-half rainstorm.

In Elkhart, Indiana, a pair of tries from Devin Kelly helped Jesuit of Sacramento, California, capture a back-and-forth contest with Washington's Gonzaga. The win earned the Marauders their seventh US title.

Throttled by Indianapolis' Cathedral in the 2012 championship, Alpine, Utah's United this year turned the tables with a convincing four-try showing. The 2010 champs moved out to a 17-5 halftime edge en route to its second national crown.

Despite 2013's being the first year of independent organization, the single-school field was notably deep. In recent years Gonzaga, Charlotte, California's Dixon, and Utah's Herriman -- which dropped an 18-17 opening match to Jesuit -- have all made notable gains.

In the senior division 1 playoffs, unheralded New Orleans bested PAC and Minnesota's Metropolis, 57-8 and 15-10 respectively, to reach the final four.

Former Super League teams produced the remaining three qualifiers for the June 1-2 semifinals: Denver Barbarians, Life, and Old Puget Sound Beach. San Francisco Golden Gate, which withdrew its entrant from the division 1 playoffs, meets Life this weekend for the Elite Cup championship.

Some 30 national team hopefuls mustered in Glendale, Colorado, this past weekend in preparation for May 25's Pacific Nations Cup opener against Canada. The squad includes for recalls for prop Mike MacDonald, hooker Phil Thiel, flanker Peter Dahl, and utility back Troy Hall as well as the balance of America's overseas professionals. Twenty-four will travel to Edmonton for the first-round contest.

United States of America training squad
Forwards: Chris Biller (San Francisco Golden Gate), Todd Clever (NTT), Tom Coolican (New York AC), John Cullen (Univ. of Utah), Peter Dahl (Belmont Shore), Cam Dolan (Life), Brian Doyle (New York AC), Zach Fenoglio (Glendale), Eric Fry (London Scottish), Graham Harriman (Chicago Griffins), Mike MacDonald (Olympic Club), Liam Murphy (Boston), Shawn Pittman (Trinity College), John Quill (Dolphin), Louis Stanfill (Vicenza), Phil Thiel (Life), Nick Wallace (St. Mary's)
Backs: Shaun Davies (Glendale), Troy Hall (New York AC), Luke Hume (Old Blue), Seamus Kelly (Univ. of California), Toby L'Estrange (New York AC), Chad London (Glendale), Zach Pangelinan (OMBAC), James Paterson (Glendale), Chris Saint (Houston Athletic), Blaine Scully (undeclared), Robbie Shaw (Richmond), Adam Siddal (Old Blue), Andrew Suniula (Chicago Griffins)

Schools forge ahead with national championship

2013-05-17T10:16:00-07:00

2012 champs Cathedral and Dixon are among 24 teams contending this weekend for American single-school and age-grade titles, underlining the continuing attraction of nationwide competition among youth teams.

Like the Varsity Cup, the two-track National Invitational Championship is independent of USARFU. In contrast to the collegiate knockout, which demonstrates unhappiness with Boulder's management, the school-age tournament occupies a space USARFU has abandoned.

USARFU holds state championships should be the pinnacle of schools competition, citing the National Federation of State High School Associations, which shuns national championships. But having declined to designate high schools as the organic unit of youth play, in the belief that the goal of maximizing participation trumps settling on a scholastic (or club) model, Boulder has left the door open.

Indeed, in 2007 under-19 teams were given impetus by Boulder's splitting what was once known as the high school championship into 'single school' and 'multi-school club' brackets. The latter have since allied with parochial schools, which are sometimes not part of state athletic bodies, and ambitious public school teams to keep the national tournament going.

The NIC brings a return to three games in three days. Organizers expect longer matches to reduce ties, settled by widely despised kicks at goal. As a safety precaution, youth competition limits the number of minutes an athlete may play in a single day. The Pacific Coast territory, among others, once employed the 3-in-3 format as a means of encompassing more contenders.

In yesterday's opening round, past champ Xavier of New York knocked off California's Dixon 40-29, while California's Jesuit edged Utah's Herriman 18-17. Indiana's Penn edged Charlotte 40-37, and Washington DC's Gonzaga handled South Carolina's Chapin 55-14.

In the under-19 bracket, the closest game was Danville's 17-15 win over San Diego, an intra-Californian affair. Indiana's Cathedral handled California's Marin 33-19, Utah's United best the Kansas City Blues 56-7, and Colorado Springs topped Ohio's Westerville 54-22.

Life-St. Mary's, the clash of styles featured in USARFU's college final, could be played in stormy conditions.

The Greensboro, North Carolina, forecast anticipates game-time temperature of 73 with 66 percent humidity and 50 percent chance of thunderstorms. Even if down from today's predicted high of 85, weather for the 7pm kickoff will likely test the fitness and adaptability of both teams.

Atlanta's Life favors ball control, field position, and bend-don't-break defense; while the San Francisco Bay area's St. Mary's is more daring in attack and looks to exploit turnovers. In heavy weather, both approaches have their liabilities. Though ballhandling can be perilous, equally a few individualistic breaks can pierce a defensive stalemate.

The winner will succeed Brigham Young, last year's division 1 champ and this year's Varsity Cup winner.

The existence of two competitions has fostered debate over who's actually the best. USARFU's title chase is more comprehensive. But BYU and VC runnerup Cal are the game's gold standard, a view underlined by the Bears' besting of St. Mary's this season in a non-league match.

Graham Downes (1957-2013)

2013-05-15T06:46:23-07:00

In the character of an athletic champion lies the makings of civic distinction.

So thought the ancient Greeks, inventors of democratic society, and so we are reminded by last month's senseless slaying of Graham Downes, the OMBAC test prop and noted San Diego architect.

The second of four boys, Downes earned a degree in architecture at the University of Natal and captained the South African province before coming to southern California in 1986. He intended to stay only one season, but instead became a core member of American rugby's team of the '90s, and went on play a key role in reshaping the USA's eighth-largest city.

With standouts Mike Saunders and Brian Vizard already on scene, OMBAC had captured the inaugural club 7s championship in 1985. Soon Bing Dawson's men would supplant San Francisco's Old Blues as the team to beat, ringing up six national titles from 1988 to 1996. Four of the club's front rowers, including Downes, would become Eagles, and a different quartet of San Diegans would have a spell at the national team's helm.

Downes, widely known as 'Basher', did not need to be team captain to be persuasive. Contemporaries credit him with boosting OMBAC's training standard, and also reorienting an antagonistic, football-style attitude toward opponents into a respectfulness that fueled an urgent need to outprepare rivals. Friend and foe recall him as a ferocious competitor and model sportsman.

Though a career loosehead, at OMBAC Downes took the number three jersey because it was best for the team. There is little question of his skill on either side. Thanks to some administrative sleight of hand, Downes was whisked into the Pacific Coast's 1986 tour to Argentina and joined its 1988 trip to South Africa. Such was his stature that he was asked to lead the Grizzlies against his former team at King's Park, logging a 19-17 victory.

Downes initially lacked a green card, and as international eligibility regulations were then not so simple as the current three-year residency qualification, he was not immediately regarded a national team contender. Eventually he was brought into the 1991 World Cup squad as an injury replacement, without taking the field, and finally gained his one and only cap against Hong Kong in 1992.

A year later, well into his 30s, he hung up his boots. Downes then helped coach OMBAC for three seasons, two of them national title campaigns, before turning to full-time pursuit of business interests.

Known often to return to work after practice, Downes started an architecture firm with the proverbial credit card. By the time of his passing, he had succeeded in retail, hotel, and so-called mixed use projects throughout southern California, Nevada, Arizona, and Hawaii. Inevitably, he had branched into real estate development, with as many as 40 staff at offices in San Diego, Phoenix, and Las Vegas.

In his adopted home, Downes' best-known work included the Hard Rock Hotel and Tower 23. More broadly, his vision was considered a 'catalyst for neighborhood renaissance' in downtown San Diego as well as the Barrio Logan and Banker’s Hill districts.

OMBAC and San Diego bear Downes' legacy. For the rest of us, not all rugby players will become champions and internationals, but everyone who competes may broaden his horizons of the world beyond the game.

Late-season rally lifts 7s Eagles to 11th

2013-05-13T16:07:21-07:00

Zack Test earned England 7s MVP honors as the US reached a third consecutive plate final, moving past Canada to claim 11th place on the final weekend of the 2012-13 World Series.

The late-season rally, featuring a pair of plate championships before Sunday's 14-5 loss to Fiji, has been good for 38 series points, better than half the USA's total over the 9-tournament season. Mid April, the US was tied for 13th, facing the prospect of having to re-qualify as a 'core' member of next year's world circuit and questions about the effectiveness of USARFU's Olympic Training Center program.

'If you look overall at the season, our goal was to build up as we went through the various tournaments', coach Alex Magleby said in a prepared statement prior to London. 'In the first four events we were ranked around 12th. [sic] The next four we were around 6th, and the last two we were in the top 3 behind New Zealand and South Africa in terms of points'.

England and Australia, which downed the US on the final play of their winner's bracket quarterfinal, surpassed the US in London, dropping the US to fifth over the final three tournaments -- still one of the USA's finer streaks on the 15-year-old world circuit.

The momentum could lift the Eagles to new highs at next month's 7s World Cup in Russia. The US, having drawn New Zealand, Canada, and Georgia in pool play of the 24-team tournament, has on 5 occasions finished no higher than tied for 13th.

More important, nosing ahead of the Maple Leafs is an encouraging sign for America's prospects of qualifying for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Only 11 teams (plus host Brazil) will reach the finals. Though the contentious process isn't to be declared until after the World Cup, it's likely the path to Rio de Janeiro will require the US to defeat Canada or perhaps Argentina, which finished 10th this year.

The Eagles finished 10th, 12th, and 11th, consecutively, in the 3 seasons prior to this one, meaning the just-concluded campaign is in line with recent performance. After the slow start, however, this year brought breakthrough wins against heavyweights Fiji and South Africa.

In London, the US bested France and the Blitzbokke, twice, the first time in series history the Eagles have topped this year's runnersup. But the Matt Hawkins-led side dropped a pair of winnable games to Australia, the latter shutting the US out of any semifinal berths for another season.

Nick Edwards scored 3 tries to finish the season tied for 18th on the world circuit, following a tournament-leading 8 tries a week earlier in Glasgow. Test, the team's runnerup, wound up 25th. Overall, the US finished 9th in team tries.

United States to England 7s
Andrew Durutalo, Nick Edwards, Matt Hawkins (captain), Colin Hawley, Luke Hume, Carlin Isles, Folau Niua, Blaine Scully, Shalom Suniula, Sione Pila Taufa, Zach Test, Brett Thompson
Staff: Alex Magleby (coach), Andy Katoa (manager), Brian Green (physiotherapist), Hamish Kerr (doctor)

USARFU the source of competing titles

2013-05-08T16:32:10-07:00

The irony of controversy over BYU's 2013's national championship claim is the door was opened by the Varsity Cup's rival, USARFU.

In 2009, Boulder began steering top rugby-playing colleges toward self-governing conferences, out of America's traditional territorial unions, promoting the view that schools should manage themselves. But USARFU has not restructured its congress, intended to stand for dues-paying members, thereby creating a textbook instance of taxation without representation.

Though it has generated the most public debate, the Varsity Cup is only one of several fissures in American rugby since 2006.

For 30-odd years, national competitions have been USARFU's primary benefit for American teams and players, particularly after the 1992 introduction of mandatory CIPP (Club and Invidividual Participation Program) dues. The chance to play for a title is what you got for your money.

Regional and national officials saw to it that competitions were fair and transparent, if not money makers. Many US titles, such as the collegiate women's or division 2 championships, started out as unofficial events and were subsequently coopted by the union.

These days startup events no longer automatically aim to become part of USARFU, aware their objectives may run up against the union's international ambitions.

2007 saw the launch of the small college national championship, run by the National Small College Rugby Organization. USARFU showed little interest in the de facto division 3 title, but formally recognized the organization earlier this spring because NSCRO represents nearly 300 men's and women's teams, thought to comprise the majority of American schools, and its tournament has doubled in size over the past four seasons.

In 2010, the Collegiate Rugby Championship, a 7s tournament, debuted shortly after the abbreviated code was admitted to the 2016 Summer Games. American International Media, which also owns and operates the USA 7s, offered USARFU the opportunity to sanction and otherwise participate in the event; but Boulder declined in order to try its own hand at a 7s competition, which came online nearly 18 months later.

Though USARFU's fall tournament makes sense from a calendar perspective, with a national television contract and a Major League Soccer venue, the CRC is seen as more prestigious. Earlier this year, NSCRO validated the consensus view by tieing up with the CRC to launch a small college 7s championship.

Just this week, an organization devoted to women's division 1 and 2 schools called the American College Rugby Association surfaced, pledging to 'work with' -- not as part of -- USARFU 'in providing an alternative competition structure that aligns with the fall and spring college semesters'.

In rearranging high school and senior administration, USARFU hasn't provoked the same degree of independent activity. But it is clear enough championships are sacrosanct.

Last year, Boulder sought to dismantle the national high school championships, the thinking being that devolving administration to state rugby organizations (e.g., Rugby Virginia or Utah Youth Rugby) obviated the American title competition. The backlash, led by schools including New York's Xavier, home of current Eagle coach Mike Tolkin, forced Boulder to retreat. But the schools could easily have gone out on their own.

Club competition is in disarray because the slow-moving transition from territory to 'geographic' union has created many anomalies, and some senior teams are talking of creating their own leagues. But following the steady withdrawal of franchises from the now-defunct Super League, there is thought to be little appetite for an independent commerical venture.

Then again, most observers believe that the prime opportunities lie with the school segments, because the brands are better known and the demographics are superior. Put another way, the splintering of college rugby looks to be most indicative of the trend.

Brigham Young 27 California 24 (halftime: BYU 16-10)

2013-05-06T09:00:00-07:00

(Provo, Utah) Jon Linehan dropped an injury-time goal to lift Brigham Young to a sensational 27-24 Varsity Cup championship win over California and the Cougars' third title in five years.

The savvy play foiled a determined Bear rally, capped in the 75th minute by Seamus Kelly's short-handed try.

Buoyed by a near-capacity, raucous South Field crowd of 3,000, the Cougars bolted to a 16-3 lead after 25 minutes, but never quite took control. Play ranged from end to end, and both teams were at or over the line twice or more without scoring.

'I knew this game was going to come down to the wire,' BYU head coach David Smyth said afterward. 'You don’t win as many championships as they [Cal] have and not have the ability to battle like they did.'

The consensus national championship, though far from flawless, surpassed its billing and will probably go down as the American game of the year.

Freshman Linehan claimed MVP honors with the gamewinner, the opening try, and 4 of 5 goalkicking for 22 total points.

BYU counter-rucking and defensive scrummaging, especially in the 2d half, were equally important, tempering Cal's comeback. Beyond slow and unsettled possession, at least some of the visitors' backline errors were attributable to forward pressure.

The Bears might have snatched the lead before half, for example, when wing Josh Tucker inserted to split the midfield defense and carried down to BYU's try line. But in rushing second-phase possession wide, Cal moved it to a tight forward who was isolated and turned over.

'At the end of the day we weren't as accurate as we needed to be,' Cal headcoach Jack Clark said. 'I thought BYU was very good today and very deserving of the victory.'

After Linehan and junior fullback Jake Anderson traded long-range penalty misses, giving their legs an early test in high-altitude Provo, Linehan opened the scoring at 11 minutes, winning a 50-50 contest with Anderson to recollect a grub kick and race in.

Anderson replied with a three-pointer, set up by a knifing Tucker run, before Linehan hit a trio of mid-range penalty shots to provide BYU its 13-point edge. Tackle-breaking runs, notably by center Paul Lasike, and efficient recycling led by flanker Kyle Sumison, maybe the best player on the field before the All-American took a fourth-quarter yellow card, fueled the hosts' surge.

What little possession Cal had wasn't particularly useful. The visitors were rekindled by solo efforts from seniors Kelly and then Dan Barrett, the lock charging to within a few yards of the line, where BYU killed play. Flyhalf Russell Webb tapped quickly and baffled several defenders for a 33d-minute converted try, making the count 16-10.

Not long after Tucker's foray, Anderson might have narrowed the margin with a 26-yard, left-center penalty attempt. The kick appeared to sail almost directly over the left post, the assistant referees' flags stayed down, and the teams went to the break.

Another close call went the other way in the 53d minute, when the Bears sought to cash in on Kelly's blocking a clearance kick. After scrumhalf Niklas Boyer was stopped a few yards short, Cal moved the ball left; fumbled it; and then played it from an offside position, prompting referee Brian Zapp to stop play and award BYU a penalty -- too soon.

The offending Bear had fumbled forward, into the arms of busy wing Jordan Lowry, who raced some 85 yards unaware of the stoppage, before Tucker caught him at Cal's one yardline. Lasike came next, seizing the ball from the breakdown and plunging over the line, for nought.

Unfazed, the Cougars calmly proceeded directly from the restart to Linehan's fourth penalty goal, a 27-yarder at 56 minutes.

Then came a lung-busting fourth quarter that set these teams apart from the rest of collegiate, and indeed maybe all of American, rugby.

At 61 minutes Sumison was sent off for a late, no-wrap tackle. Cal kicked the ball into the corner and drove the ensuing lineout for flanker Jack O'Beirne to claim the honors. Anderson nailed a difficult sideline conversion to make the count 19-17.

Next, Lasike ignored a seemingly uncovered Lowry and was grassed, but BYU carried on to within sight of Cal's line, where Tucker's breaking up a pass was ruled a deliberate knock on. The senior was dismissed for 10 minutes, reducing the contest to 14 on 14 at 67 minutes.

Just as Sumison returned, with 8 minutes to go, BYU looked to settle matters, claiming a Cal lineout to send lock TJ Allred on a storming scoring run. But Linehan missed the conversion, which would have put the hosts ahead by two scores, and so the door remained open.

Replacement center Jesse Milne made Kelly's try, surging down to the 1 before offloading from the ground. Anderson's conversion, capping a 9-point afternoon on 4-of-6 goal kicking, set the stage for Linehan's heroics.

The denouement began with a pair of scrum pickups by eightman Ryan Roundy, who was initially held up over the line. When the senior All-American was stopped short a second time, the Cougars whisked the ball to their deeply positioned pivot, who lofted the ball over for a famous win.

'I wouldn't want to have to do it again,' Linehan observed of his gamewinner.

In addition to extending BYU's unbeaten record against collegiate teams at South Field, the win fairly confirms the Utah school as Cal's equal.

Since separating itself in the late 1980s from Pacific Coast rivals San Diego State and Long Beach State, only Army, Navy, and perhaps Penn State or Air Force have challenged Berkeley's hegemony. And only for a season or two, suggesting the particular importance of a generation of players.

Having won two of their past four meetings, with virtually the same player turnover as Cal, BYU looks to have reached a new level.

The US downed Argentina 22-7 to win the Scotland 7s plate bracket, thereby confirming its place as a 'core' member of the 2013-14 Sevens World Series.

'Having core team status is a big weight off of our shoulders', coach Alex Magleby said in a prepared statement.

The Matt Hawkins-led squad posted a 4-2 record, none more important than Saturday's 21-14 pool victory over France, which propelled the US into Sunday's championship brackets, even as Scotland dropped a 28-0 contest with New Zealand to fall into the consolation rounds. The two teams had entered the final tied for the 12th and final core slot, which assures invitation to every tournament on the 9-month, 9-stage world circuit.

The Eagles also defeated powerhouse Fiji, in the plate semifinal, for a second successive tournament. Nick Edwards topped all try scorers with eight, while Zach Test added four.

Brigham Young 27 California 24 (halftime: BYU 16-10)

Brigham Young
Tries: Jon Linehan, TJ Allred
Conversion: Jon Linehan
Penalties: Jon Linehan (4)
Drop goal: Jon Linehan

Will Taylor; Chris Wernli (Andrew Carver), Paul Lasike, Seki Kofe, Jordan Lowry; Jon Linehan, Luke Mocke; David Collins, Scott Gowdy, Ray Forrester, TJ Allred, Braden Bair (Dan Hubert), Kody Thompson, Kyle Sumsion, Ryan Roundy (captain)

California
Tries: Russell Webb, Jack O'Beirne, Seamus Kelly
Conversions: Jake Anderson (3)
Penalty: Jake Anderson

Jake Anderson; Josh Tucker, Seamus Kelly (captain), Jared Braun (Jesse Milne), Andrew Battaglia (Harry Adolphus); Russell Webb, Niklas Boyer; Tanner Mohr, Grant Hyjer, JP Hurrell, Dan Barrett, Brendan Daly, Jack O’Beirne (Carl Hendrickson), Alec Gletzer, Tiaan De Nysschen (Michael Bush)

Referee: Brian Zapp (West)
Attendance: 3,000 (estimate)