l basis to really explode into the public consciousness.And then theres the stardust of having the All Blacks and Ireland on your home patch. The U.S. Eagles match with the Maori All Blacks wa

CHICAGO -- In 2014 Soldier Field hosted the U.S. Eagles match against the All Blacks. It was billed as the moment that signalled the arrival of rugby stateside. The giant was said to have been awoken.Yet two years on, looking back at 2014, the Eagles playing at the home of the Bears seemed to stir the sport rather than spring it into life. On Saturday, 62,300 folk packed into Chicagos fantastic stadium to witness one of the finest rugby matches this decade; the sport seemed to take another step forward in this part of the world as Ireland ended their 111-year drought to beat New Zealand.On Wednesday night, Chicago was rocking to the hundreds of thousands of car horns exploding with joy at the Cubs World Series win. Suddenly 108 years of waiting had been worth it. By Saturday evening, the sound of Irish ballads floated on the calm Chicago air.Irish pubs on North Wells St. were eight-deep at the entrance, the well-known brand of stout was flowing as freely as the river which had been dyed blue on Friday for the Cubs victory parade. Those in green sang, hugged; those wearing the silver fern of New Zealand joined in, congratulating, enjoying, forging friendships and creating memories.The Rock Bottom Brewery on West Grand Avenue was rammed. Some bars on Michigan Avenue had run out of beer so rugby folk moved north of the river searching for more liquid refreshment.A man standing at the bar, wearing a Bulls jersey, was asking celebrating Ireland fans if they were something to do with the All Blacks who were in town. Curiosity had got the better of him so he looked into just who these black-shirt adorned people were and found something had happened with Ireland ending a 111-year wait.In a place where sporting droughts had been put to bed, interest was peaking. As those wearing green crossed the road, waving flags at the waiting cars the carnival atmosphere of Wednesday night had returned, albeit on a considerably smaller scale.But there was intrigue among the locals. People started talking about rugby, imparting their own experiences, encouraging others to look into it. This word-of-mouth spreading of the rugby gospel is one of the most powerful tools to develop the sport stateside.A Chicago local from Irish ancestry called John was standing in the Brewery, talking about how much he had enjoyed the match. He tells his three-year old that rugby, in his view, gives you a better long-term outlook both in health and enjoyment than American football.He was joined by Rick, a flanker of 23-years from St. Louis. Both spoke of how much they had enjoyed the match, fielded questions from curious locals. But they arent new rugby converts; theyre already dyed-in-the-wool fans of the sport.Their view was that to really grow the game here, considerable investment has to be made in youth rugby -- a view shared by USA Rugbys impressive new CEO Dan Payne. Their views on rugbys review process were also worth noting.They felt the primary way rugby can grow in this part of the world is to offer a point of difference to NFL. Ditch the review system was their recommendation -- if people want a stop-and-start game then theyll stick to NFL.They feel rugby needs to have relentless, free-flowing, eye-catching action without the pauses for the Television Match Official. Its an intriguing proposition and one World Rugby should note. Its something Sevens usually offers, yet in a place which finds the attritional nature of NFL so appealing, rugbys welcoming arm for shapes of all sizes slots in as the nice alternative.It is something which Rugby Illinois are advocating -- they encourage their youths to play for enjoyment, rather than winning. Everyone gets a game with an approach countering the competitive nature of prospective, young American football players.Having sevens in the Olympics will continue to have a positive knock-on effect for the sport here but the Eagles need to develop into a side capable of knocking over tier one sides on an annual basis to really explode into the public consciousness.And then theres the stardust of having the All Blacks and Ireland on your home patch. The U.S. Eagles match with the Maori All Blacks was a good occasion on Friday night but you doubt therell be any long-lasting impact from that game other than essential experience for the U.S. side who are going through a cultural sea change under John Mitchell.The 18,000 fans wouldve enjoyed it but seeing your Eagles team getting hammered does little to grow their fan base. It is rugbys superstars that carry the biggest weight here. The players from the All Blacks and Ireland bought into the whole Chicago experience.Its hard not to when you have five million Cubs fans flocking to the streets for Fridays victory parade.Both times Ive come here its been a great occasion, All Blacks captain Kieran Read said. The stadium is world-class. We love to come here and hearing the crowd and how passionate they are about rugby is great. We dont want to lose, obviously, but you have to give credit to the Irish. Chicagos been great, weve really enjoyed it.Five All Blacks were on Adidas duty before the parade; they signed balls, posed for photos and took in an impromptu game of baseball on the closed off streets. A chap called Trey was there to see his heroes whom he learned about juts two years previous.Man, that haka, the All Blacks - I cried like a baby the first time I saw the haka on Soldier Field in 2014.He looked on in awe as Julian Savea and Aaron Smith stood within touching distance. The growth of rugby in the U.S. will be a gradual process. It needs a culmination of eureka moments with the continued growth of the grassroots game. Irelands historic win in Chicago offers the game a chance to take another step forward. Cheap Air Max 90 China . The Vancouver coach and an announced sellout crowd of 18,910 watched in dismay as the Canucks lost 7-4 to the New York Islanders on Monday night by squandering a 3-0 lead in the third period. Cheap Air Max 90 Free Shipping . 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Victor Moses converted a 20th-minute penalty after an Ethiopian handball, and Victor Obinna made certain of Nigerias place in Brazil with his powerful free kick in the 82nd at UJ Esuene Stadium.ARLINGTON, Texas -- Cincinnati Reds starter Johnny Cueto is on the disabled list for the third time this season because of issues with his right lat muscle. The Reds put their opening day starter on the DL again Saturday, a day after he left the series opener at Texas because of tightness in his upper back. Cueto threw only 29 pitches and came out one batter into the second inning Friday night. "Its very disheartening," manager Dusty Baker said Saturday. "So close to being himself. Its hard. I just hope we can come up with a solution." Cueto returned to Cincinnati on Saturday to be examined by Reds medical director Dr. Timothy Kremchek. Cincinnati recalled right-hander Logan Ondrusek from Triple-A Louisville. Cueto (4-2, 3.33 ERA) was on the DL from April 15 to May 19 with a strained right lat. He missed the first half of June with what was called a strained right shoulder, though it was related to the lat problem. "I dont know how to explain what is happening," Cueto said through a translator after Friday nights game. "Its the third time its happened. I just want to keep working and hope it will get better." Baker said left-hander Tony Cingrani (3-0, 3.42), who took over for Cueto and went four innings Friday night, will again fill Cuetos rotation spot. That next comes up Wednesday against San Francisco. In Game 1 of the National League division series last season against San Francisco, Cueto left after only eight pitches because of a strained right oblique and ddidnt pitch again in the post-season.dddddddddddd. But he was healthy throughout spring training. Cueto, a 19-game winner last season, made three starts in April before going on the DL for the first time. He came back to make three more starts before another DL stint, and was making his third start since returning again when came out Friday night. On at least one pitch in the first inning to Adrian Beltre, who had an RBI single to put the Rangers ahead to stay in a 4-0 victory, Cueto clearly grimaced. Though he wasnt feeling right, Cueto spoke to pitching coach Bryan Price after the first inning and said he wanted to keep pitching. Cueto thought maybe hed loosen up and the discomfort would go away. But after Cueto threw a 1-2 fastball that Mitch Moreland fouled off leading off the second, he was done for the night. "Your heart sort of sinks when you go out there and you know the news youre about to get. See the look on his face," Baker said Saturday. "Especially a guy that loves to pitch like that. ... He lives for it." Even before Baker got to the mound Friday night, Cueto had already put the ball in catcher Devin Mesoracos mitt. Asked if his twisting motion has contributed to the issues with his lat muscle, Cueto said he didnt think his mechanics had anything to do with it. "I always discuss it with the pitching coach, and he said I dont have to change," Cueto said. "If its anything that would hurt with my mechanics it would be my oblique area." Chiefs Jerseys China Cheap Nike Chargers Jerseys Cheap Nike Raiders Jerseys Wholesale Cowboys Jerseys China Cheap Nike Giants Jerseys Philadelphia Eagles Jerseys For Sale Wholesale Redskins Jerseys China Cheap Nike Lions Jerseys Packers Jerseys China Cheap Vikings Jerseys Free Shipping Cheap Panthers Jerseys Hoodies Cheap Saints Jerseys Free Shipping Cheap Nike Buccaneers Jerseys Cardinals Jerseys China Cheap Rams Jerseys Hoodies Cheap Nike 49ers Jerseys Seahawks Jerseys China Bears Jerseys China Cheap Nike Bills Jerseys Ravens Jerseys China Wholesale Falcons Jerseys China ' ' '