Rugby Super League Operations

For Immediate Release
March 12, 2010

USA Rugby Enhances its Operations of the Rugby Super League in 2010

BOULDER, Colo. – USA Rugby is enhancing its standards of operations for the Rugby Super League and its associated clubs for the 2010 competitive season.

“We have been working closely with the Rugby Super League for several years now,” USA Rugby CEO Nigel Melville explained. “But, in an effort to further develop the competition, USA Rugby is continually working to provide the RSL and its teams with improved tools and services.”

From a high performance perspective, USA Rugby is sending its National Coaching staff to as many games as possible over the season, as well as implementing a league-wide video platform, in which each home team captures the game on video and uploads it to Sportstec. The website allows member teams to see all six games each weekend as well as games all season long.

“Teams are encouraged to scout the opposition as well as measure their performance against their competitors in the league,” Men’s National Team Assistant Coach Dave Hodges said. “The U.S. National Team will also use the video to analyze player performance and make more informed selections. Sportstec has been an invaluable partner in this process, setting up the site and creating individual workflows for each of Super League’s 14 member teams.”

All of the Super League referees and evaluators will also be able to look at their performance each week. USA Rugby is providing the RSL with full teams of three registered match officials, and will equip them all with radio communications and performance reviewers.

In 2010, The GAME System is being implemented for referee evaluation which will provide statistical performance evaluation through an online reporting and database platform. Additionally, USA Rugby has developed, in conjunction with the RSL coaches, the Game Management Guidelines with the objective of developing a consistent approach to implementation of the Laws, and a referee high performance presentation with video to outline the referee’s approach. This will be supplemented throughout the competition with video clips produced by the National Panel management, illustrating both positive and negative aspects of play and refereeing.

On the media and promotional angle, USA Rugby continues to send out weekly updates and post-match reports to its media contacts and membership lists. USA Rugby is also assisting with promotions on its website and social media platforms, as well as encourages teams and fans to utilize real-time score reporting through its MobileScore application. MobileScore is available through the BlackBerry App World and will soon be on the iPhone App Store. Teams using MobileScore will have their live results available on the USA Rugby Scoreboard ticker as well as on the USA Rugby iPhone application, which is currently available in the iPhone App Store.

USA Rugby has been developing its new Competition Management System and will provide its increased benefits to the Rugby Super League. RSL teams will be able to submit roster, scoring, disciplinary, and substitution information, all linked to USA Rugby’s membership database. This will allow for easily trackable results and statistics for member teams as well as the public.

To receive weekly updates regarding the Rugby Super League competition, please email sjohn@usarugby.org and request to be added to the RSL Media list. For more information on the Rugby Super League, please visit www.usarugbysuperleague.com and for more information on USA Rugby, please visit www.usarugby.org.

Teams are encouraged to contact support.score@mobilescore.net support and assistance in getting your team set up with MobileScore.