Is USARFU really trying to destroy Major League Rugby?

I have read Buzz McClain's recent (and not so recent, going back a couple of years) columns about the "struggle" between Major League Rugby and USA Rugby with some interest. It makes for great reading, if you like to read one side of a story and not try to dissect it too hard.

At first glance, McClain makes it appear that USA Rugby is the great fiend, deciding with an iron fist who gets officials, and who doesn't, which matches will be played, and which won't. It's not that simple. While I don't pretend to know the inner workings of USA Rugby (I'm just a lowly journalist), I do realize that some of the points he mentions don't hold up to scrutiny.

First, and to McClain's, Anthony Hunter's and Major League Rugby's collective dismay, Major League Rugby is a "professional" league, privately owned and operated, not answerable to USA Rugby (they are looking to change that, but I'll address why that would be a disaster later in the column).

McClain pointed out that USA Rugby has denied use of USARFU referees for the Major League Rugby matches. He has said how this is a travesty, and USA Rugby is trying to rule rugby in the United States and destroy innovation.

He says that USA Rugby is trying to put MLR out of business.

I disagree. Let's step back from the hype and look at the situation.

What is USA Rugby's Primary Responsibility?

USA Rugby first and foremost has a responsibility to the CIPP dues paying members, and its member clubs. This includes league play and divisional play. It does not have a responsibility to provide referees to an unsanctioned league or tournament just because.

Like it or not, USA Rugby is the sanctioning body of rugby for the United States. It is well within its right and responsibilities to not provide officials for an unsanctioned league. Again, the referees are for the players and member teams first, for use in local, territorial, friendly and tournament play.

Before everyone gets up in arms and shouts that this means referees would not be allowed to go to tournaments like the High Desert in Albuquerque or Ruggerfest in Aspen, remember I said USA Rugby has a responsibility to its CLUBS also. This means that tournaments that are hosted by clubs in good standing have a right to use these resources.

If USA Rugby allowed its referees to work for an unsanctioned "professional" league, then there are several questions that must be answered:

1. What happens if a player gets hurt during a MLR game or tournament?

2. If a player is injured, who will provide the insurance for them?

3. Does MLR even provide insurance for its players? What does all of this money go to?

4. If a player is injured in an unsanctioned league with USA Rugby referees, is USA Rugby to be held accountable for the injuries?

5. What local teams and players will be hurt or inconvenienced by the missing officials?

These are questions that really need to be considered before Major League Rugby can start demanding the use of USA Rugby's referees.

According to McClain, "(w)hat's worse is that, to prove a misguided point, USA Rugby jeopardized the safety of its members by not sending referees." (McClain, Rugby Magazine, October 2002)

This is wrong, Major League Rugby is the one putting the safety of these players at risk by not providing adequate officiating, either by flying in more (and more qualified) foreign referees, or by working out a deal, possibly including cash compensation, for use of USA Rugby officials.

This leaves MLR in a weakened state, and in the case of serious injury to a player at its tournament could (to use Mr. McClain's words) leave it open to action in a court of law for negligence.

Major League Rugby is responsible for providing ample referees and officials at its games and tournaments, that's the bottom line.

USA Rugby and its members invest time, money and energy into its officiating certification schools. This is not a free ride for USA Rugby, so why should it be a free ride for Major League Rugby? If Major League Rugby wants to use USARFU sanctioned officials, then let the two sides work out a deal to allow for the use of them. Don't just expect to be able to use officials as you see fit, demand to get them, and then cry about "rugby oppression" when you don't get them.

Major League Rugby may need to advance as an organization, and provide their own referees with their own certification. Again, maybe a deal can be worked out with USA Rugby, or maybe too much poisonous water has gone under that bridge and Major League Rugby will have to tough it out on its own.

Does MLR REALLY Want Into USA Rugby?

Now Major League Rugby wants to slide in and be recognized as a rugby entity (McClain, Rugby Magazine, October 2002) and possibly become an affiliate or associate member of USA Rugby (Lowe, Scrum.com, Nov. 22, 2002). This would be the worst thing that Major League Rugby could do, it would be MLR's Swan Song.

Before Major League Rugby considers this, Mr. Hunter needs to ask himself and his staff some very serious questions. Is he willing to surrender control of MLR to USA Rugby? Because I'm willing to bet that if MLR becomes a sanctioned competition Hunter will have to hand over control of the organization and answer to the National Office. He won't be calling the shots anymore.

What would happen the first time Hunter and USA Rugby have a clash over Major League Rugby as a sanctioned event? Would he pack up his toy and leave?

Then he needs to take a serious look at what Major League Rugby's standing would be in the hierarchy of USA Rugby. With the Premier League, and the new Divisions I-III, it's already very crowded and Major League Rugby would not be at the top of the order.

If USA Rugby really wanted to crush Major League Rugby, I don't think they would do it with the referees, contrary to what McClain believes. USA Rugby would just need to come up with a "Rugby Clearinghouse."

Interested teams could send in their fall and spring schedules when they come up with them. A team with an open date on a certain weekend could call or email in a request for a list of teams not in their regular schedule, but possibly in their region so they could keep travel costs down, that also have an open weekend then. Next, the team could contact the other teams and line up a game or two for their open weekend. This, with the creation of the new Divisional structure, would be the most effective way to counter Major League Rugby.

Then USA Rugby would hold all of the cards.

Note: This editorial was originally sent to Rugby Magazine, and was converted into a letter to the editor. This is the column as it was originally submitted.