RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) – Nothing could stifle Dan Payne’s spirits Tuesday, not even the U.S. team’s heartbreaking 17-14 loss in rugby sevens when Argentina scored after the siren.
The CEO of USA Rugby expects a big boost in the sport’s popularity in the U.S. with the men’s gutsy performance coming on the heels of a surprisingly strong showing by the women’s squad.
“The Olympics is what we understand in the United States, more than anything,” Payne said. “It’s just a pleasure for these guys to be able to play the game that they love in front of a strong crowd.
“And really for us it’s about competing here, but it’s also about that 8- to 9- to 10-year-old boy and girl at home watching it. We want them to aspire to be future rugby Olympians and share that goal, and that really helps the game grow and fills the stands.”
Player Nate Ebner, who learned the game from his late father, who played college rugby, has similar hopes for the sport.