USA Eagles vs. Australia Wallabies played Rugby International at Soldier Field in World Cup warm up Match

The USA Eagles the #16th ranked rugby nation welcomed the Australian Wallabies the #2 team in the world to a match played on the shores of Lake Michigan in a lead up to the World Cup in 10 days.

The teams fought a hard first half in front of 25,000 fans, the second largest crowd to witness a rugby match on U.S. soil, with a score card of 14-10 to the visitors after 40 minutes. The roaring crowd was excited to see if we could for the first time, defeat a Tier 1 nation and do it in historic Soldier Field. Even though the second half was not in our favor either, having 33 unanswered points scored, I feel the future is bright for the sport of Rugby in the USA. Australia 47 - 10 USA.

Last November, Chicago was host to the #1 New Zealand All Blacks and reigning World Cup Champions, to a sold out Soldier Field. This match leading up to the World Cup gives us a great fan and match experience for the Eagles.

Last year I had one of the greatest fans experience, but this time around I wanted to share it with someone special. My nephew Nick, 10 from Lemont, Il. has been to many rugby games at the Chicago Blaze Rugby Complex. Nick, though has never been to an international match or set foot in Soldier Field for a Bears game, I’m happy that he was chosen to be one of 46 kids 6-12 to accompany the players out onto the field for their respective National Anthems. Nick was led out onto the pitch by a USA rugby legend and great role model for the kids, scrum half Michael Petri. Mike just has a great story to tell as a husband, father, athlete, coach, teacher and writer. Mike, just published his first book, R is for Rugby an alphabet book for children. He inspires the whole team by his dedication on and off the pitch, and it was an honor for me to have him accompany Nick onto the hallowed grounds, where my hero Walter Payton played.

If you follow my blog or have read any of my other entries, you know the passion I have for the sport and the local community. My goal is teach the game, which is the fastest growing sport in America, to our youth on the grass and on the sand. I will taking this great game to the Beach next summer with Beach Rugby America and hope to make my events a family day at the Beach. In the process of setting up a tour around America for 2016, that will include, beach rugby, a family fun run and music festival.

This past week as well as last year’s USA match at Soldier Field will be cherished by Nick and I for years to come, now just have to get him a pair of cleats and his parents permission to get him playing this great sport of Rugby.