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The
Chicago Lions welcome all players, especially if you come from high school or
college.
The Chicago Lions are actively recruiting committed players
who looking to continue their rugby career at the highest
level, while living and working in one of the great cities
of the world.
The Lions offer you a chance to play to play in the USA Rugby
Super League, the highest league in the US and the clear
stepping-stone to the North American 4 competition and the
Eagles. Since just 2002, over 20 Lions have been called up
to play for the Eagles in both 15s and 7s. In addition, in
just two years, eight Lions have played in the NA4 competition.
The Lions field national championship-caliber teams in both
15s and 7s -- finishing second in the 2007 Super League competition
and then winning the 2007 USA Rugby Sevens championship.
The Lions have a particularly strong record in developing
American college players into high-level rugby athletes.
Many players have made the leap from college to starting
for the Lions and playing for the Eagles, including -- most
recently -- All-Americans John Vitale (Ohio State) and Scott
Peterson (Purdue), and University of Washington standout
Jeremy Nash. Other regular Super League players come from
programs all over the US, including Chad Slaby (Colorado),
Jim Pelton (Purdue), John Coughlin (Miami), Dustin Hugen
(Iowa State), Tom Dolan (Arizona), Vinnie Staropoli (Bowling
Green), and Austin Britts (Washington).
For elite college players, the Lions can offer assistance
finding a job as well as subsidized housing. Super League
travel, kit and other player expenses are heavily subsidized
by the Club. In addition, all Lions players enjoy access
to AthletiCo, the official physical therapists for the Eagles,
as well as the Chicago Bears, White Sox and Cubs. The Lions
also have strong ties with Down Under Rugby, an intensive
rugby camp in Sydney, Australia, affiliated with the Randwick
Rugby Club and run by Grant Houldsworth, a former Lions player
and coach. Many Lions players have attended the 3-month summer
session in Sydney.
As a player for the Lions, you will coached by professional
and experienced staff of coaches and managers, including
Head Coach Marty Wiggins, the current Forwards coach for
the Eagles and a former assistant manager with the Queensland
Reds, Aaron Manheimer, the Lions' Strength and Conditioning
coach as well as the coach of the 2007 National 7's champion
Lions, RC Edwards, one of the Eagles' World Cup trainers,
and George Plackman, Super League manager.
As a Lion, you are part of a worldwide network of Lions fans.
Over 600 Old Boys and supporters in every continent receive
the free eLion, our newsletter. You'll find Lions Old Boys
in some of the highest spots in business and government.
For more information contact our College Recruiting Coordinator,
Chris McClellan, or 773-220-8729.
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