International Rugby in Charleston July 4

Independence Day brings international rugby to Charleston, when the USA Men’s National Team takes on staunch rivals Canada in a Rugby World Cup Qualifier match on July 4 at Blackbaud Stadium (kickoff 4 p.m. EST). For the first time in USA Rugby’s partnership with the ESPN networks, this cross-border clash will be broadcast LIVE in HD on ESPN.

The match in Charleston is the first of a two-legged North American Qualification Playoff between the USA and Canada, with the second match to be played on July 11 at Ellerslie Rugby Park in Edmonton.

“It is imperative for us to reach the Rugby World Cup,” said USA Eagles Head Coach Eddie O’Sullivan. “We have got to beat Canada on July 4 and 11 to go straight through, if not we will go into a repechage against Uruguay. That's the way they qualified last time around so that's the immediate short term goal, and if we qualify that will give us a two-year run-in to the next World Cup to become a more seasoned, experienced outfit.”

Both the USA and Canada enter the series following a grueling summer international schedule, with each squad facing off against Ireland and Wales before launching into the three-week Churchill Cup tournament.

Recently promoted to an 18th global ranking by the International Rugby Board (IRB), the USA Eagles head into the test rolling on the momentum of a commanding 31-13 victory over the Georgian National Team in the Churchill Cup Bowl (5th place) Finals on June 21. Canada hopes to recover from a disappointing 44-29 loss at the hands of Argentina Jaguars in the Churchill Cup Plate (3rd place) Final.

However, the ultimate victor of the USA-Canada series is anyone’s game. When the two teams last met in Chicago in June 2008, the USA dominated the first half of the match and sent the Canadians into the locker rooms held scoreless at the halftime. However, Canada turned the tables after the break and came thundering back to win it 26-10.

This time around, the USA hopes a healthy blend of youth and experience will do the trick. Its challenging schedule has led the Team USA to test out a new generation of players alongside its go-to veterans in order to find the best combinations building toward the RWC qualifiers.

“We are currently narrowing down our pool to the squad we want to compete in the qualifiers and we’ve allowed a lot of new players a chance to get some time on the field and show us what they can do,” said O’Sullivan.

“We have about two weeks before we play (Canada) in Charleston and with five games in three weeks it has taken its toll,” O’Sullivan added. “We need these next two weeks to recover and really turn all our focus to Canada.”

The winner of the North American Qualification series will claim the Americas 1 spot in Pool A of the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand and face the host nation, as well as France, Tonga and the top Asian qualifier.

The loser moves on to face Uruguay, the winner of the South American Qualification Playoff, in a two game series to determine the Americas 2 qualifying side, which will take its place in Pool C of the World Cup against the likes of Australia, Ireland, Italy and the Europe 2 qualifier.

A four-team Final Place Playoff will be held to decide the 20th qualifying team in the Rugby World Cup. This would include the third place Americas team versus the second place Asian team in a semifinal, with the winner playing the victor of the European 3 team against the African 2 team to claim the final spot in the RWC.

Buy tickets now to catch the USA vs. Canada live at Blackbaud Stadium via www.tickets.com.

For more information on the USA Men’s National Team and the Rugby World Cup Qualifiers, please visit www.usarugby.org.