Whose responsibility is the controversial siting of this weekend's World Cup qualifier in Charleston South Carolina which is competing with the nearby Cape Fear 7s tournament?

In reply to an open letter from the tournament director USARFU chief executive Nigel Melville Friday indicated that unnamed Eagle coaches and players lobbied for the venue and that the union's failure to communicate its decision is attributable to a departed employee.

A day earlier Ray Funderburk wrote to Melville to reiterate that no one had alerted tournament organizers of the decision much less consulted with the 35-year-old event and so the clash pits rugby against itself in competing for regional sponsorship dollars. Funderburk also pointed out that the Cape Fear 7s is part of a fledgling effort by the USA 7s tournament to provide elite regional tournaments with prize money in an effort to seed the grassroots of the 'abbreviated game'.

The venue for the July 4 was announced in February prior to Eddie O'Sullivan's March signing and O'Sullivan's staff was not named until April. Over the past year USARFU's Eagle scheduling has been under fire for playing an optional match against Ireland in Santa Clara on the same date as the national club championship in Denver and for playing a French club in Charleston on the same weekend as the 7s national championships in San Francisco.

USARFU's test strategy would be more easily defended if revenue were outstripping costs but no money appears to be falling to the bottom line. In fact player dues and sponsorship monies ostensibly intended for the collegiate ranks look to be required by the Eagles while Boulder staff are shifted to event management.

With this month's Churchill final falling almost 50 percent shy of its break-even attendance mark of 9000 the USA's inaugural staging of the tournament lost some $450000 according to people familiar with the matter. USARFU is a partner in the venture with England's Rugby Football Union and Rugby Canada.

The World Cup qualifying date was determined by the International Rugby Board. In his reply Melville also indicates that the union hasn't been looking for regional sponsorship which prompts questions about the saleability of the Charleston event and is likely to raise eyebrows in Dublin which is footing the bill for the qualifiers.

The compete text of the two letters is below.

yers and in 1997 the centerpiece of our tournament was the US vs Wales 15s test match.  We have not only been a constant fixture on the summer sevens circuit an argument could be made that we have been the premier event of US sevens tournaments.

So you might understand my anger my frustration my consternation when USA Rugby scheduled the USA Canada test match in Charleston on July Fourth.  We could not and we would not change the date of our event.

USA Rugby has shown a complete lack of business acumen and basic communication ability. No one from USA Rugby contacted anyone at the Cape Fear Rugby Club.  No one showed the business sense or the common courtesy to
give us a call to talk about the schedule and location of an event that could have a serious impact on our existing event.  And communication skills aside it seems that USA Rugby has little understanding of the business and promotional aspects of this decision. Regional rugby events compete for sponsorship dollars and publicity with regional soccer baseball lacrosse MMA and too many events and organizations to list here.  We should not compete with other rugby events for those dollars and spectators.

This year is critical because USA Sevens is attempting to initiate a USA Sevens circuit with generous prize money for premier US teams at selected regional events and a final tournament with those teams playing for the largest purse in US Rugby history.  USA Rugby has shown either ignorance or arrogance in scheduling the Canada test in direct competition with this attempt at establishing a US Sevens circuit.  I expect better planning communication and scheduling from USA Rugby and US Rugby clubs and players deserve better.

Ray Funderburk III
Director Cape Fear Sevens

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[June 26 2009
to Jeff Mundie]

Jeff

Thanks for copying me on the letter below [above] it wasn't sent to me directly so I thank you for doing so and hopefully you can pass this message to Ray Funderburk III.

Firstly the reason the Rugby World Cup Qualifier is in Charleston is because the Eagles coaches and players wanted the game to be played there. They played against Clermont in Charleston a year ago and found it to be an excellent venue and wanted to return to play this extremely important international fixture.

The dates for the game were the 4th and 11th July this was predetermined by the Rugby World Cup the home and away options were then agreed Canada having first pick as higher seed from the previous RWC. We therefore had to play on 4th July weekend.

I was under the impression that Court Jeske USA Rugby had met with the Cape Fear Sevens organizers to discuss the situation. If this meeting did not happen I can only apologize. Court has now left USA Rugby.

I realize that this is an inconvenience for the Cape Fear organizers in terms of local sponsorship dollars we have not and will not be engaging with local sponsors for this event.

Having played in the Cape Fear event myself I know what a wonderful everyone does to put on this event with the game being played live in HD on ESPN I am sure that many supporters will choose to attend the Cape Fear weekend and watch the game on TV. It is an unfortunate position it was not planned to in anyway undermine the sevens event and in the future I will ensure that our events staff fully communicate with local event organizers before agreeing venues.

Kind regards

Nigel Melville
CEO
USA Rugby

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