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		<title>Almost All to Play for in Pacific</title>
		<description>Discuss Almost All to Play for in Pacific</description>
		<link>http://www.rugbymag.com/college-premier-league-/4053-almost-all-to-play-for-in-pacific.html</link>
		<lastBuildDate>Tue, 18 Jun 2013 02:12:35 --500</lastBuildDate>
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			<title>RugbyFan22 says:</title>
			<link>http://www.rugbymag.com/college-premier-league-/4053-almost-all-to-play-for-in-pacific.html#comment-11748</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Yes, both USAR and our college programs (coaches) must commit to a level of professionalism and be held accountable. The premier division has only been in existence for a couple of years. As it is with the introduction of most things new, it's going to take a little while to work out the kinks. Let's hope that both USAR and our college programs can work together to create well conditioned teams and match-ups that provide exciting, competitive rugby in the near future. While the current divisional infrastructures have room for improvement, it's difficult not to find optimism in the rapid increase of interest in US rugby these days.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>RugbyFan22</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Sat, 07 Apr 2012 16:31:12 --500</pubDate>
			<guid>http://www.rugbymag.com/college-premier-league-/4053-almost-all-to-play-for-in-pacific.html#comment-11748</guid>
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			<title>mcfaddeninsurance says:</title>
			<link>http://www.rugbymag.com/college-premier-league-/4053-almost-all-to-play-for-in-pacific.html#comment-11746</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Agree and understand about the Cal thing. I just think USAR has got to wake up and lead us forward in college rugby. The concept of the CPD or D1A is excellent and my hat is off to all the teams who stepped up to it. Now USA Rugby needs to refine and control it so it improves. The majority of resources and energy should go to the top level. That's the carrot that will drive college rugby to improve. The growth in high school rugby is awesome but the best players will want to play serious rugby. All the best D1A and D1AA teams should be striving to conduct themselves similar to D1 college football teams. Even if the Shool doesn't, the team can consider themselves a varsity program and put all the work in. That will stop the blowouts and draw fans and sponsors to college rugby.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>mcfaddeninsurance</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Sat, 07 Apr 2012 15:04:50 --500</pubDate>
			<guid>http://www.rugbymag.com/college-premier-league-/4053-almost-all-to-play-for-in-pacific.html#comment-11746</guid>
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			<title>RugbyFan22 says:</title>
			<link>http://www.rugbymag.com/college-premier-league-/4053-almost-all-to-play-for-in-pacific.html#comment-11745</link>
			<description><![CDATA[While standards for D1-A rugby should be implemented, forcing them on teams after schedules and commitments have been made is no way to fix anything. Without Cal in the picture, it's likely that we'll see a "home and away" eight game schedule in the Pacific next year similar to that of the Mid-Souths. Furthermore, the level of competition in America will rise as exposure to rugby at an earlier age continues. The largest population of rugby players in the US right now is involved in the Under 19s programs. This is a great sign for American rugby.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>RugbyFan22</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Sat, 07 Apr 2012 13:48:30 --500</pubDate>
			<guid>http://www.rugbymag.com/college-premier-league-/4053-almost-all-to-play-for-in-pacific.html#comment-11745</guid>
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			<title>rugbyvet says:</title>
			<link>http://www.rugbymag.com/college-premier-league-/4053-almost-all-to-play-for-in-pacific.html#comment-11743</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Don't misread me. I'm no apologist for USAR. The organization's commitment to the college game and its marketing prowess leave a lot to be desired. Still, it was dealt a hand when Cal pulled out of the D1-A competition after fixtures were made. Without a promotion/relegation scheme, risk of further atrophy in the Pacific Conference and, in fact, the entire Division increases. The impetus now appears to be behind conference and sevens play. I'm not making book on the long side for D1-A. Yes, the Pacific Conference is D1-A's least competitive.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>rugbyvet</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Sat, 07 Apr 2012 12:53:52 --500</pubDate>
			<guid>http://www.rugbymag.com/college-premier-league-/4053-almost-all-to-play-for-in-pacific.html#comment-11743</guid>
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			<title>mcfaddeninsurance says:</title>
			<link>http://www.rugbymag.com/college-premier-league-/4053-almost-all-to-play-for-in-pacific.html#comment-11739</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Yeah, we should go easy on everyone and just pass out the participation medals because we're all winners, right? The largest reason for the blowout losses is a great disparity in strength and conditioning between teams. All teams should be required to qualify for the two Division 1 competitive levels by proving that their players are receiving proper strength and conditioning. USARUGBY can establish minimum requirements. The Division 1-A season , including the playoffs, is only about 2.5 months long. If a team wants to tour, there are 9.5 months that a tour can be arranged. Don't even cry to me about Pacific teams having to travel. Compared to the two conferences in the central US these teams have all home games! The point is: Division 1-A is intended for college teams that at least take a varsity approach to rugby. They are supposed to be serious minded rugby programs. USARUGBY should establish and enforce the rules to compete at this level. It's an honor!]]></description>
			<dc:creator>mcfaddeninsurance</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Sat, 07 Apr 2012 10:57:51 --500</pubDate>
			<guid>http://www.rugbymag.com/college-premier-league-/4053-almost-all-to-play-for-in-pacific.html#comment-11739</guid>
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			<title>RugbyFan22 says:</title>
			<link>http://www.rugbymag.com/college-premier-league-/4053-almost-all-to-play-for-in-pacific.html#comment-11732</link>
			<description><![CDATA[@mcfaddeninsura nce: "A critic is someone who never actually goes to battle, yet who afterwards comes out shooting the wounded." The St. Mary's spring tour is a tradition dating back to the 70s. You mention America as a second tier rugby program. How better test our teams against other rugby nations than to play them in their own countries on their own fields? No team should be penalized for wanting to test their skills and play abroad. By no means has St. Mary's had a light schedule this season. They've been competing since October of 2011. Their 15s side has suited up 14 times, including matches against SF Golden Gate, Utah, UBC, BYU and Central Washington. Upon returning from overseas, they meet Cal. The D1-A (pka CPD) pacific division was home to a larger roster in 2009, but teams were tired of getting blown out by 100+ points. Your criticisms are disparaging and void of logic - the exact opposite of what American Rugby needs right now.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>RugbyFan22</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Fri, 06 Apr 2012 23:53:49 --500</pubDate>
			<guid>http://www.rugbymag.com/college-premier-league-/4053-almost-all-to-play-for-in-pacific.html#comment-11732</guid>
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			<title>rugbyvet says:</title>
			<link>http://www.rugbymag.com/college-premier-league-/4053-almost-all-to-play-for-in-pacific.html#comment-11726</link>
			<description><![CDATA[No ... but imposing additional travel costs on innocent teams (as SMC, Cal-Poly, UCLA, UC Davis and CWU are in light of Cal's withdrawal) would be an undue burden.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>rugbyvet</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Fri, 06 Apr 2012 21:13:16 --500</pubDate>
			<guid>http://www.rugbymag.com/college-premier-league-/4053-almost-all-to-play-for-in-pacific.html#comment-11726</guid>
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			<title>mcfaddeninsurance says:</title>
			<link>http://www.rugbymag.com/college-premier-league-/4053-almost-all-to-play-for-in-pacific.html#comment-11724</link>
			<description><![CDATA[So USAR should just let each team do whatever they want to do and allow future seasons to be as insignificant as this current 4 game season? No way! Is USAR the governing body of American rugby or the suggesting and hope for the best figurehead of American rugby? They need to lay down the law and hold all teams accountable or America will remain a second tier rugby nation. Any team that aspires to compete in Division 1-A better meet standards. Among the standards must be a requirement to play a full season of games that is consistent throughout all regions. No more excuses.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>mcfaddeninsurance</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Fri, 06 Apr 2012 20:25:01 --500</pubDate>
			<guid>http://www.rugbymag.com/college-premier-league-/4053-almost-all-to-play-for-in-pacific.html#comment-11724</guid>
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			<title>rugbyvet says:</title>
			<link>http://www.rugbymag.com/college-premier-league-/4053-almost-all-to-play-for-in-pacific.html#comment-11718</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Booting SMC from the Conference would SOLVE the problem? Then there'd be only four sides.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>rugbyvet</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Fri, 06 Apr 2012 17:04:27 --500</pubDate>
			<guid>http://www.rugbymag.com/college-premier-league-/4053-almost-all-to-play-for-in-pacific.html#comment-11718</guid>
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			<title>mcfaddeninsurance says:</title>
			<link>http://www.rugbymag.com/college-premier-league-/4053-almost-all-to-play-for-in-pacific.html#comment-11716</link>
			<description><![CDATA[Who's fault is it then? How could it be a problem to play a home and away 8 game seasonduring rugby season? I know that St. Mary's is on tour but they should have been booted from all competitions if they'd rather tour than compete. This is what I'm talking about, USA Rugby should establish the competition levels, qualification minimums, and schedule and the hold the teams accountable to meet their requirements.. Currently, it seems as if USARUGBY comes to each school and asks what level the want to compete in and when they'd like to play the bends over backward to try and accommodate them. USARUGBY also screwed up allowing Cal to pull that nonsense in the first place. They should have denied the requsest and levied sanctions if they refused to play at that late date. USARUGBY needs to grow a pair.]]></description>
			<dc:creator>mcfaddeninsurance</dc:creator>
			<pubDate>Fri, 06 Apr 2012 16:16:08 --500</pubDate>
			<guid>http://www.rugbymag.com/college-premier-league-/4053-almost-all-to-play-for-in-pacific.html#comment-11716</guid>
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