Spain finally found a fly-half who came from nowhere to lead the Leones. He's born in Argentina, he improved lately and chose to play for an emerging nation. Is that remember you someone else ? Yes, you find him ? Diego Dominguez, Italian legend.
Heredia was discovered in 2010 by former Spain coach, Ged Glynn. It seems really incredible that a player like Heredia didn't attract scouts from France and England. He's a very skilled player, big man (1,84m, 90kg), versatile back. Each time he had the opportunity to start at fly-half, he was efficient. He's a productive defender, maybe the best among all the Spanish. Martin Heredia had a professional experience of several months in the inaugural SuperIberica in 2009, but, since 2010, he's playing in a regional amateur club, Costa del Sol. Martin Heredia is a regular member of the Spain Sevens national team. He played in the Hong Kong Sevens. Once again, he proved all his talent. http://www.youtube.com/irb#p/u/2/GZjw-N4zM0g Well, Martin Heredia really is the number 6 on the first try...
As Diego Dominguez changed the history of Italian rugby, Heredia have the power the capacity to carry Spain to another level. A level where Spain belong. Like in Italy, Spanish rugby has always been affected by French rugby. Recent matches organized by French clubs in San Sebastien and Barcelona focused the attention on rugby in Spain. In 2009, Spanish TV star commentator Michael Robinson even convinced Canal Plus to launch the first professional competition of rugby in Spain, SuperIbérica de Rugby. The 2010 edition of the 3 months competition was canceled, the 2011 edition could start in late April. This could be another opportunity for Martin Heredia to show all his abilities...
mercredi 30 mars 2011
jeudi 17 février 2011
Sevens World Series = ATP World Tour
It's time for Sevens to become like tennis and launch a true World Series on a weekly basis.
It's time for Sevens to attract big crowds all around the world.
It's time for Sevens to reveal and publicize tournaments Prize Money.
Since its olympic admission, rugby sevens becomes in only several months a successful and profitable sporting show. Sevens had a huge success in most of the multiport events of the last years. Most notable one was during the Asian Games in Guangzhou in November 2010 where a total of 60,000 spectators attended to the stadium during two days to see China men's team finish fourth ! At least, China women's team finish second. In July of 2009, Sevens attract more than 70,000 in 2 days in Kaohsiung (Taiwan) for the World Games. Rising Asia seems really interested in Sevens. Thousand will come in Hong Kong in March, but also in Adelaïde, Edinburg and London in 2011. Sevens became a one-time event that must be seen when it's coming to your town. Sevens manage to become what tennis did in the 70s, a worldwide entertaining sport.
Now, the IRB shouldn't wait too much to organize a global World Series with different levels of points given. The 8-event current world series is just a small start of what it will be. In the near future, we could see a structured schedule from october to july with 2 or 3 rest periods. Based on the current sevens tournament in the world, it's easy to imagine several tiers of tournaments. A 30-tournaments World Series could contain new events in Moscow (next World Cup host), Rio (next Olympic tournament host) but also some tournaments in the US where Sevens definitely broke through this year. Tokyo, Ghangzhou, Shanghaï, Nairobi, Auckland, Sydney, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hannover, Mar del Plata, Taiwan, Madrid are some of the cities where you can bring Sevens without fear.
It's time for Sevens to attract big crowds all around the world.
It's time for Sevens to reveal and publicize tournaments Prize Money.
Since its olympic admission, rugby sevens becomes in only several months a successful and profitable sporting show. Sevens had a huge success in most of the multiport events of the last years. Most notable one was during the Asian Games in Guangzhou in November 2010 where a total of 60,000 spectators attended to the stadium during two days to see China men's team finish fourth ! At least, China women's team finish second. In July of 2009, Sevens attract more than 70,000 in 2 days in Kaohsiung (Taiwan) for the World Games. Rising Asia seems really interested in Sevens. Thousand will come in Hong Kong in March, but also in Adelaïde, Edinburg and London in 2011. Sevens became a one-time event that must be seen when it's coming to your town. Sevens manage to become what tennis did in the 70s, a worldwide entertaining sport.
Now, the IRB shouldn't wait too much to organize a global World Series with different levels of points given. The 8-event current world series is just a small start of what it will be. In the near future, we could see a structured schedule from october to july with 2 or 3 rest periods. Based on the current sevens tournament in the world, it's easy to imagine several tiers of tournaments. A 30-tournaments World Series could contain new events in Moscow (next World Cup host), Rio (next Olympic tournament host) but also some tournaments in the US where Sevens definitely broke through this year. Tokyo, Ghangzhou, Shanghaï, Nairobi, Auckland, Sydney, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hannover, Mar del Plata, Taiwan, Madrid are some of the cities where you can bring Sevens without fear.
vendredi 21 janvier 2011
A very soon MLR ?
The IRB tried to do it for years, it seems Americans by themselves will do it in several months. The most waiting professional league of rugby in the United States is nearer and nearer. In a recent tweet exchange, USA Rugby CEO Nigel Melville answer me : "@rugbyglobal @mcuban yes, I have interest from a group of investors, its the next step for us...". You should ask you what Mark Cuban does in it. Simple, "@mcuban @NigelMelville Do you think it's time to launch a small pro league of #rugby in soccer-specific stadiums ? Is #NBC interested ?" was my original tweet. Maybe you ignore this, but Mark Cuban is a former rugby player. He already said in several interviews how he enjoyed the game, so his name frequently appears when you talk about possible investors in Pro Rugby. But Mark Cuban is not the only influent man who played rugby during his youth. That's the advantage of the game "for barbarians played by gentlemen". Two former US president, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush or Tony O'Reilly, former CEO of Heinz played rugby at different level. Money turns around US rugby since a long time, the problem was rugby unable to catch it.
What's new now ? Three words : Major League Soccer or specifically Soccer Specific Stadiums. The MLS is making its financial model by building human size cheaper stadiums. But now these stadiums are built, the question of their commercial success appears. They need events, they need to attract spectators. So what sport better matches association football pitch ? Rugby football ! Same size, same grass surface, same origin. Stadiums in Europe did the conversion every nearly week. USA Rugby quickly understand this and organized rugby events in The Home Deport Center (LA), Dick's Sporting Goods Park (Denver), Toyota Park (Chicago), Rio Tinto Stadium (Salt Lake), Colombus Crew Stadium, Red Bull Arena (NY) and soon at PPL Park (Philadelphia). All Soccer-specific stadiums but Pizza Hut Park in Dallas hosted or will host rugby events. It's now easy to understand why several MLS owners expressed interest in rugby. The most recent one is Robb Heineman, owner of Sporting Kansas City. He simply said he wants a pro rugby franchise in the new KC Soccer Stadium ! . When you see Nigel Melville tweet, you understand discussions are improving fast. When USA Rugby finally catch NBC as a rugby sevens broadcaster, the next step was broadcasting American rugby on a weekly basis, and nothing else than a professional league can allow this, so yes, the Major League Rugby is very near. And the MLS could participate because the MLR financial model will be the same as for soccer. In both sports, US National Team usually goes to the World Cup, is improving, but failed to win the trophy. Both sports massively attract a foreign-born or foreign descent population. Both sports correspond to an alternative way in sports. Both sports have a strong world wide fan base. Most of all, both sports have big financial supports.
The history of the MLS proves the 1994 FIFA World Cup wasn't the key to success. Don Garber bring success to the MLS changing the league strategy in 1999, assuming the foreign origin of soccer. Investors want to do the same with rugby and found common interests with stadium owners.
What's new now ? Three words : Major League Soccer or specifically Soccer Specific Stadiums. The MLS is making its financial model by building human size cheaper stadiums. But now these stadiums are built, the question of their commercial success appears. They need events, they need to attract spectators. So what sport better matches association football pitch ? Rugby football ! Same size, same grass surface, same origin. Stadiums in Europe did the conversion every nearly week. USA Rugby quickly understand this and organized rugby events in The Home Deport Center (LA), Dick's Sporting Goods Park (Denver), Toyota Park (Chicago), Rio Tinto Stadium (Salt Lake), Colombus Crew Stadium, Red Bull Arena (NY) and soon at PPL Park (Philadelphia). All Soccer-specific stadiums but Pizza Hut Park in Dallas hosted or will host rugby events. It's now easy to understand why several MLS owners expressed interest in rugby. The most recent one is Robb Heineman, owner of Sporting Kansas City. He simply said he wants a pro rugby franchise in the new KC Soccer Stadium ! . When you see Nigel Melville tweet, you understand discussions are improving fast. When USA Rugby finally catch NBC as a rugby sevens broadcaster, the next step was broadcasting American rugby on a weekly basis, and nothing else than a professional league can allow this, so yes, the Major League Rugby is very near. And the MLS could participate because the MLR financial model will be the same as for soccer. In both sports, US National Team usually goes to the World Cup, is improving, but failed to win the trophy. Both sports massively attract a foreign-born or foreign descent population. Both sports correspond to an alternative way in sports. Both sports have a strong world wide fan base. Most of all, both sports have big financial supports.
The history of the MLS proves the 1994 FIFA World Cup wasn't the key to success. Don Garber bring success to the MLS changing the league strategy in 1999, assuming the foreign origin of soccer. Investors want to do the same with rugby and found common interests with stadium owners.
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