SAN DIEGO, CA – There has been big news and major change coming from USA Rugby Headquarters in Boulder, CO. First, CEO Nigel Melville named Mike Tolkin as the new head coach of the Eagles 15s program… and that was big news. But then came a some arguably bigger news: Al Caravelli was out as head coach and Dartmouth’s Alex Magelby was in… To shed some light on the latter, Matt Hawkins of USA 7s spoke with RWU’s Matt McCarthy on camera.
Here’s the interview:
Some points that didn’t make the clip as per time constraints:
-The Team USA player contracts started in January and are not for a full year as of yet. They end in May – when the HSBC Sevens Series concludes – and will then be reevaluated by the US Olympic Committee and USA Rugby.
-The unofficial annual salary associated with the contracts is 20k. Understandably, Matt Hawkins would only confirm a ballpark figure of $18,000 – $22,000.
–Mark Bokhoven was released, but will be at the next camp for Hong Kong.
-Players not under contract that make the team only get their $100 daily per diem when they are with the club.
-Players are allowed to pursue other means of income, as long as it does not conflict with team schedules.
Tomorrow, Johnathan Wicklow Barberie pins down the slippery England 7s star Mathew Drew Turner for a rare on-camera chat.
