COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., - July 9, 2001 - USA Rugby's Board of
Directors has advanced plans for a professional, city-based
rugby competition within the U.S., ratifying an agreement with
sports executive Douglas Logan.

At its recent general meeting, the 35-member board voted
unanimously to sanction Logan's efforts to form a professional
competition in which USA Rugby would be an equity partner. Logan
will now be responsible for the planning and funding work needed
to establish a new league.

We believe a professional competition is key to the growth of
rugby in America, USA Rugby President Anne Barry said. We
have worked steadily on this initiative for several years now,
and although we are still quite a way from taking the field,
this agreement is another step in the right direction.

USA Rugby began to research the viability of a professional U.S.
competition in 1998, in partnership with potential broadcaster,
Fox Liberty Networks. Barry noted the financial forecasts
developed at that time were positive, and since then research
has continued.

We are fortunate to have Doug Logan's expertise behind this
project now, Barry stated. He is uniquely suited to help
advance this long-term project.

Logan was the first President, CEO and Commissioner of Major
League Soccer, holding the position from 1995 to 1999. He has
also owned, managed or consulted with teams and leagues in
professional basketball, hockey, arena football and baseball.

I have been researching the sport of rugby for quite some time
and I think there is an excellent opportunity to develop a
professional competition that will be profitable and encourage
growth in the sport, Logan said. Rugby is authentic,
exciting and appealing to the American sports psyche. If we
develop a prudent business plan, and keep our expectations
reasonable, we can launch a league that will survive and
flourish.

President Barry concluded the announcement noting that much work
remained before a competition could kick-off and that Logan will
be looking to raise several million dollars for the initiative.


The President also reiterated USA Rugby's intent to work with
other unions regarding overseas players in the competition,
avoiding issues of 'player drain.'

This is a responsible business initiative and will result in a
responsible competition, Barry noted. Any speculation that a
U.S. competition would harm other competitions worldwide is flat
wrong. We won't let that happen.

Meeting in Baltimore, USA Rugby's board also approved plans to
continue work on the structure of club competition for senior
men. An advisory committee that, earlier in the year, floated
plans for a comprehensive realignment has been charged with
further, more focused revisions.

We want to zero in on the areas of the country where
competitive inequities are a serious problem and come up with
solutions specific to those areas, Barry explained. This
is a micro rather than a macro approach to the problem. We want
to fix this for our constituents, and are taking a new tack to
get us there.

Meanwhile, the board also approved changes that will streamline
administration. The competitions committee, for example, will
now take full responsibility for seedings and pool assignments
at all national championships. The committee's work will be
presented to territorial presidents and the board of directors
for comments, and will be subject to management committee
approval.

The board also confirmed a policy to adopt the International
Rugby Board's law changes each year effective the first Monday
following the conclusion of the XVs season, and mandated only
CIPP members of the military community are eligible to vote for
the USA Rugby military representative. Beginning in 2003,
nominees for the military director must also be registered as a
military member.

It was also announced that the National All-Star Championships
for both Men and Women will take place in Tampa, Fla., on Dec.
7-9, 2001.

In other news, the National Team has appointed Scott Compton as
its new director. The team's General Manager Jack Clark
announced to the board that Compton will assume responsibility
for day-to-day operations and administration of the Eagles
program.

We've promoted a long-serving administrator to steer the
team's growth, Clark said. We're focused on the 2003 World
Cup, and are adding organizational capacity to get us there.

The move also allows Clark to focus on strategic issues for the
rugby union.

Compton is in his 5th year with the National Team. He previously
managed the Eagles' communications and events operations with
supporting roles in the areas of sponsorship fulfillment and
business development. More recently, Compton, whose sports
administration career dates back to 1989, has managed the
National Team 7s program.

The Board also reviewed reports from several committees, and
received updates on operations in the National Office, a
highlight of which was recent progress on Youth Development
initiatives. USA Rugby's corps of Youth Development Officers
has added seven new members since April and promotional kits are
now available for all YDOs. The kits include a recently
completed video that introduces the sport and explains how rugby
can be incorporated in schools or community-based programs.

The Board also heard that USA Rugby's membership will likely
grow to exceed 40,000 in 2001.

USA Rugby formed in 1975, is the national governing body for
rugby and is a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) and
the International Rugby Board (IRB).

For more information, or if there is a problems with the this
transmission please contact USA Rugby at (719) 637-1022.

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