RUGBY: Super League preview - Eastern Conference

The 2001 Rugby Super League season kicks off this coming weekend and it promises to be bigger, faster and stronger than in previous years. Major developments during the off season are bound to enhance the RSL’s image and standing within the US rugby community.

For openers, USA Rugby gave the League its blessing by sanctioning it and promoting it to the status of America’s premier competition. There’ve been club mergers, coaching and player changes and the Super League’s executive committee has a new look to it.

Keith Engelbrecht (Dallas Harlequins) is the new Chairman with Greg Rocca (San Francisco Golden Gate) and Tom Lyons (PAC) being appointed the new Managers.

They take over from the former executive headed by Bob Watkins (OMBAC) who worked tirelessly during his four year tenure to grow the RSL into America’s elite competition. Watkins is staying on in an advisory capacity.

As part of our preview of the new season here’s a look at the Eastern Conference.

Life College of Atlanta, under the stewardship of Mel Smith, are the defending champions and will be looking to do what no team has done before by winning back-to-back championships. Life was also the first team from the East to be crowned champion and should be hard to beat again this year. However, they won’t have things all their own way.

Australian Mark Law replaces the ageless Chuck Donigian as head coach with New York Old Blue and will be under pressure to maintain the club’s proud competitive record. He’ll be aided in his cause by a strong forward pack including Craig Levine (C) and Mark Griffin (VC), along with the experienced Rob Perle (prop) and Glen Gawronski (lock).

The Kansas City Blues look to be serious contenders. KC was second in the East last year. Coach Frank Kennedy has stepped down and is replaced by New Zealander Bob Telford who coached Southland in the NPC. KC players to watch include Villi Taelada (#8), Steve Robke and Siva Tali (flankers), Tim Kluempers (Eagle) and Doug Brown (Eagle 7s).

The Potomac Athletic Club is coming off a successful local season and plans to use its running back row led by Keni Helu, a Tongan national team trialist and former Wellington flanker. Also in the back row are co-captains Marty Smithmyer and Craig Burns, while sparking the attack will be England U-19 scrumhalf David Etches. PAC stalwarts and former Eagles Pat Malloy (2nd row) and Mike Fabling (center, flyhalf) will help anchor the side.

The Chicago Lions will also field a strong back row with Lee Carlsen (Wales), Brian Downes (USA), John Duggan (England) and Heath Sylvester (Australia) strengthening their pack. Chicago’s experienced halves John Chevalier (C) and Paul Mycroft will set the platform for the backs. Other players to watch are current Eagle pool players Phillip Eloff (center), Kiwi flanker Paul Harpur, Eric Reed (lock) and Andy McGarry (prop).

Elsewhere, Boston 4-2-1 in 2000 will be looking to go one better after narrowly missing the playoffs last year. Philadelphia-Whitemarsh will be aiming to erase the nightmare of 2000 in which it won only one game, while the Washington RFC fared even worse by claiming the wooden spoon in a winless season.