Gary Gold advocates for basketball players to join U.S. rugby
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 27, 2026, 4:16 AM
Last updated Jul 27, 2026
Gary Gold, former head coach of the U.S. men’s rugby union team, suggests targeting basketball players to boost rugby participation. With the Rugby World Cup approaching, Gold emphasizes that basketball skills translate well to rugby demands, unlike the more specialized skill set typically found in football players. His insights reflect a broader strategy shift within USA Rugby, recognizing a lack of depth in talent from traditional routes. Gold's theory stems from a belief that basketball players possess skills that are ideally suited for rugby dynamics and field play.
- •Gary Gold cites basketball's transition skills as beneficial for rugby.
- •Gold's strategy challenges traditional talent sourcing from American football.
- •USA Rugby is exploring talent identification from other sports, including basketball.
- •More than 19,000 men compete in NCAA basketball annually, many falling short of the NBA.
- •Recent pathway camps included basketball players showcasing rugby potential.
- 4:16 AMYahoo Sports — U.S. rugby needs more players. The answer could lie in basketball
"Gary Gold was sitting courtside at Crypto.com Arena in February 2022 when he had an epiphany. The South African was taking a break from his duties as head coach of the United States men’s rugby union team. The Rugby World Cup was 18 months away, and the pressure of turning one of the sport’s sleeping giants into a side capable of reaching the quarter-finals was starting to pinch. Gold, a lifelong basketball fan who grew up following Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls, was living out a childhood fant
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