2020 Hong Kong Sevens: Golden Eagles booster club is money in the bank for developing rugby in US
- A group of rugby-loving businessmen has helped a start-up sevens programme grow into perennial contenders in a matter of years
- The Golden Eagles now have close to 50 members and donate more than US$1.5 million to the teams every season
“I would go to the Sevens and listen to all the people with funny English accents talk about how much we sucked,” he said with a laugh. Bobbett, who moved to the city in his early 20s, found success starting his own manufacturing and supply product company, and decided it was time to put his money where his mouth was.
When the IOC announced in 2011 that sevens was going to be in the 2016 Rio Olympics, Bobbett had had enough playful ribbing from his friends, given the US men’s side were in danger of not even qualifying for the illustrious event.
“We had another typical American outing at the Hong Kong Sevens that year so I picked up the phone and called the coach.”
That man was Alexander Magleby and neither minced words after meeting up for dinner in the US. Magleby had just taken over from Al Caravelli and the US men’s rugby team officially became a professional programme in January of 2012. Eleven players signed contracts, but it was nowhere near the level needed to either retain or attract top talent.
