Pro Rugby USA

<p>Some signings for their new competition include:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Orene Ai'i</p>
<p>Phil Mackenzie (played pro in UK)</p>
<p>Pedrie Wannenburg</p>
<p>Mirco Bergamasco</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.prorugby.org/'>http://www.prorugby.org/</a></p>

<p>Orene Ai'i? He must be about 45....</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Go Sacramento. Score points.</p>

<p>Former Canterbury (& Munster) player Peter Borlase has been appointed assistant coach for Denver.</p>

<p>Three of the 5 teams named so far are from California.  They'd want some teams from the East Coast (e.g. Philly, NYC, Boston) where there is a rugby presence and population base.</p>

<p>Timana Tahu has signed for the Denver team</p>

<p>Sumo Stevenson just tweeted that Jamie Mackintosh will play for the Ohio team.  :scratch:</p>

<p>Interview with Whoppa about it and how he ended up playing for Montpellier on RS this afternoon, top clip about 2/3 way through and into 2nd clip</p>
<p> </p>
<p>http://120.138.20.16/WeekOnDemand/radiosport/2016.03.23-16.30.00-D.mp3</p>
<p>http://120.138.20.16/WeekOnDemand/radiosport/2016.03.23-16.45.00-D.mp3</p>

<p>Mils Muliaina has signed for the San Francisco team.</p>

<p>Tongan international <span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:'Droid Sans', Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"> Kurt Morath will play for San Diego.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.americasrugbynews.com/2016/03/28/morath-play-pro-san-diego/'>http://www.americasrugbynews.com/2016/03/28/morath-play-pro-san-diego/</a></p>

<p>Out of curiosity I looked to see how old Orene Ai'i is and he's 36, more surprising was that he was called into the blues squad in 2012 <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/7208174/Orene-Ai-i-answers-call-for-injury-stricken-Blues'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/7208174/Orene-Ai-i-answers-call-for-injury-stricken-Blues</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Are there many US players overseas that would come home to play in this?</p>

<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PRO_Rugby#Teams'>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PRO_Rugby#Teams</a></p>

<p>Other Players and coaches with kiwi links include:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Peter Borlase - Assistant coach at Denver, former Canterbury player</p>
<p>Fred Waititi - Assistant coach, Sacramento</p>
<p>Devereaux Ferris - Google says a young guy from Northland</p>

<p>A lot of 'unknown' Aussie players in those squads.</p>

<p>Roster update: <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.americasrugbynews.com/2016/04/11/pro-rugby-roster-update/ '>http://www.americasrugbynews.com/2016/04/11/pro-rugby-roster-update/&nbsp;</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Note the "Jamie Mackintosh could be an emergency option at lock ..."  :rofl:</p>

<p>This weekend, the PRO rugby competition in the USA kicks off with the following games:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Denver v Ohio, Mon 18 April, 8.00am (NZT)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Sacramento v San Francisco, Mon 18 April, 11.00am (NZT)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The second game will be <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.aol.com/article/2016/04/13/watch-live-san-francisco-vs-sacramento-caps-pro-rugby-opening/21340670/'>streamed live on AOL.com</a> . I havenâ€t been able to find a way to watch the Denver v Ohio game, yet.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.thisisamericanrugby.com/2016/04/san-francisco-name-opening-day-starters.html'>San Francisco line-up</a></p>

<p>Denver have a home game this Sun, USA time.  Might actually get along and watch.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Edit:   Nevermind, we are getting 7-14 inches of snow this weekend, think I'll stay home for this one.</p>

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="darreninusa" data-cid="572684" data-time="1460777034">
<div>
<p>Denver have a home game this Sun, USA time.  Might actually get along and watch.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Edit:   Nevermind, we are getting 7-14 inches of snow this weekend, think I'll stay home for this one.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>That weather forecast was spot on. I found these photo's on twitter from the ground in Denver:</p>
<p> </p>
<p><img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CgP8X6fUUAEwfpL.jpg" alt="CgP8X6fUUAEwfpL.jpg">  <img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CgQq6ZZXEAAttgh.jpg" alt="CgQq6ZZXEAAttgh.jpg"></p>
<p> </p>
<p><img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CgRO8-TXEAI6b-a.jpg" alt="CgRO8-TXEAI6b-a.jpg">  <img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CgRRG8kUYAAGAjP.jpg" alt="CgRRG8kUYAAGAjP.jpg"></p>

<p>Denver beat Ohio 16-13.</p>

<p>Livestream for Sacramento v San Francisco game should appear here: <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.aol.com/article/2016/04/14/watch-live-pro-rugby-makes-debut-in-the-united-states/21344397/'>http://www.aol.com/article/2016/04/14/watch-live-pro-rugby-makes-debut-in-the-united-states/21344397/</a></p>