interview

Question
QUESTION: Hi nick I am James D I was wondering if I could interview you for a school project I am working on, I have 15 questions to ask and I am supposed to ask a rugby expert. I would greatly appreciate it if you could help me out by answering the questions. You can reach me at my email at any time.  Thank you

ANSWER: Hi James

I would be happy to. You can either put the 15 questions in All Experts or we can do it via phone. If your school is local to me - Orange County California I might even be open to coming to you at school with a teacher's supervision.

If you do want to call or meet please make sure to have an adults approval and give me the school you are at.

Frankly the easiest thing is to put your 15 questions in All Experts.

Thanks.

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QUESTION: Ok nick I will have all the questions by Wednesday if that is ok and I will probably just put them through allexperts because I live way to far away for a visit. Thanks,.

ANSWER: Great I will look forward to answering your questions.

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QUESTION: Sorry it took so long but here are my questions.

1. Did you play rugby?

2. What are you doing to promote rugby if anything?

3. How would you try and make rugby more popular if you could?

4. How does cauliflower ear happen in games?

5. If people were to see rugby and how it is really played do you think people would be more interested in it?

6. Do you think rugby is more dangerous then football and what is your reasoning?

7. How common is it to break your nose or mess up your shoulder?

8. Is there a semi-pro team or any higher level of play higher then high school rugby in California?

9. Do colleges offer scholarships for rugby if they even play it in colleges?

10. Why do you think when people talk about rugby they always say its dangerous?

11. What抯 the most serious injury you have had in rugby?

12. What made you interested in rugby?

13. Have you play on a professional level?

14. If so what抯 the difference between pro and international?

15. How old were you when you started rugby?

Answer
Hi James

Some of these questions require semi-statistical data so please understand that my answers are based on my personal experience and my own personal opinion.

1. Did you play rugby? Yes

2. What are you doing to promote rugby if anything? I contribute to ALL EXPERTS.com and whenever possible verbally "spread the word". I have also set goals to become a high school teacher and include being a rugby coach in that.

3. How would you try and make rugby more popular if you could?
Answer:
Better access on TV - free to air if possible.
Dedicate funds to a fully professional USA squad of 33 players with 3 year contracts with incomes no less than $75,000 plus health benefits
Dedicate funds to sponsor college scholarships
Have a USA national competition based on states and a yearly "East West" competition like the Australian Rugby League State of Origin series.
Hire an American Chief for USA Rugby not a foreign one.
Aline with foreign professional teams to send USA players over for "internships"
actively recruit USA players from college American players who do not make the NFL have a "USA Second Team" than nurtures these players and coaches them up
Many many many more ideas

4. How does cauliflower ear happen in games? Usually by collision like a head clash or knee or elbow to the ear.

5. If people were to see rugby and how it is really played do you think people would be more interested in it? Yes - see my desire for more Rugby on TV

6. Do you think rugby is more dangerous then football and what is your reasoning? No I think they are similar. Certain things cancel out the pads / no pads factor.

7. How common is it to break your nose or mess up your shoulder? I would say one in 4 rugby players have cracked a nose and 1 in 10 have hurt a shoulder - again this my own opinion not a statistical analysis.

8. Is there a semi-pro team or any higher level of play higher then high school rugby in California? Semi-pro can be found in the American Super League also with the USA 15's and 7's team. I think a handful of USA players have professional contracts with foreign clubs but USA Rugby is not a professional organization.

9. Do colleges offer scholarships for rugby if they even play it in colleges? Rugby is very strong in USA colleges and there are scholarships. Stanford University has scholarships and also look at this link:

http://www.eteamz.com/WCRustinRugby/news/

10. Why do you think when people talk about rugby they always say its dangerous? Misinformation and general ignorance about how the game is played. Lack of education about the sport.

11. What抯 the most serious injury you have had in rugby? Aggravated spinal disk, dislocated collarbone, concussion, strained neck muscles.

12. What made you interested in rugby? Culture - all kids in New Zealand used to play, all my friends did, it was what you did.

13. Have you play on a professional level? No I have never been paid formally to play although I have played at high levels of amateur rugby prior to Rugby becoming professional.

14. If so what抯 the difference between pro and international? Pro is being paid to play for any team, International is playing for your country and if your country happens to have a pro program then you would get paid if your country is amateur (like the USA) you do not get paid. It is possible to play professionally in your country for a club or actually play overseas for a club and get paid while never actually playing for your national team.

15. How old were you when you started rugby? 9 or 10, I was a late starter. Most kids started at 3 or 4.