• • Facebook
  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • Technorati
  • Reddit
  • Stumble Upon
  • Furl

by Robin Heymann

President Barack Obama isn’t the only African American inspiration that is currently operating out of Washington. Based in one of the most disadvantaged suburbs in the city, Hyde School have set a precedent in sporting circles themselves – widely believed to be the only wholly African American high school rugby team in the country.

Tal Bayer, Hyde Rugby’s missionary, has spent the last couple of years inundated with media requests from across the globe with people seemingly inspired by this special story. In a story that resembles a clichéd High School sport’s flick, the reality is that oval shaped ball is helping keep kids off the street and into University.

Diverse Education

So what makes Hyde different to other institutions? Charter Schools were introduced to the US educational system to provide alternatives and improve the overall public education system. Perhaps the key distinction here is that they offer independence and attempt to introduce cutting edge approaches to learning.

“In 1999, we were part of the leading edge as one of the first charter schools to open in the District. Today we are the city's second largest charter school,” said Bayer.

“We focus on Character Development by emphasising things like Courage, Integrity, Leadership, Curiosity and Concern for Others throughout everything we do. All Hyde students are required to participate in Athletics, Performing Arts and Community Service”.

Another nuance that was added to Hyde was that teachers were openly encouraged to start up programmes and activities that they had a real passion for. In Bayer’s case that could only mean one thing. He was first exposed to rugby as a child in the UK, helping him to carve out an ultra competitive and physical streak that led him to concentrate on the sport on his return to the States – a ‘rugger’ was born. Spells playing at Radford University, Atlanta Renegades and ultimately Washington Rugby Football Club gave Bayer the rugby ‘fix’ he needed. It was in fact his time at the Washington club that helped facilitate a move to take up a teaching role at Hyde.

“Our first year in 2000 was tough as we lost every game, including one to a team that had girls in! We were building a team culture in addition to teaching a sport so things were a bit rough around the edges. We focused more on the attitude issues and rugby was secondary but over time we started to turn it around.”

Hyde's rugby motto became "Step Aside for the Pride" and success started to manifest itself on the pitch. Arguably Hyde’s greatest strength comes from their sevens team. In contrast to the intricate technicalities and discipline required in the fifteen-a-side game, sevens offers an outlet for Bayer’s boys to use their natural athleticism, speed, and flair – attributes that had moulded from years of playing blacktop basketball. Bayer talks of a sense of ‘game’ that this background can bring in aiding the boys to play an exciting brand of rugby.

Star is born

In rugby terms the jewel in Hyde’s crown is without doubt USA Eagles Sevens international PJ Komongnan. Living a life of petty crime in USA's capital, and with few prospects, Komongnan fell on a chance encounter with rugby.

"We were practicing one day and one of my players told me that this kid was throwing broken glass onto the pitch," said Bayer.

"So I went over to confront him about it and he shouted his mouth off and told me 'we sucked'. So I challenged him to do better."

Immediately it became obvious that PJ was far more lethal with a ball in his hand then he was at petty vandalism. Dazzling feet, an electric turn of speed, and surprising power for 5' 5 135 pound 8th grader astounded all. After being suitably disciplined Bayer told the pocket rocket in no uncertain terms that Rugby was now his sport.

PJ’s problems didn’t disappear overnight but through rugby he had more direction and targets to achieve. He lit up school matches and sevens provided him with an ideal platform to showcase his natural talents. Upon successfully graduating to Delware State, Komongnan played a season of American football as a running back and kick returner and also made the United States' under-19 rugby team.

USA Sevens coach, Al Caravelli, took note of PJ's X-Factor that could be so powerful in a sevens arena and capped him. The former ‘street’ kid’s life had officially been transformed, as he jetted off to play in Dubai and Wellington as part of the IRB Sevens World Series.

"Before rugby I was a real troublemaker. I just did what I wanted to do and hung out with the wrong crowd – just your typical 14 year old from where I come from", said Komongnan.

With aspirations of making it as a full professional, Ultimate Rugby Sevens arranged for him to train with Gloucester RFC last year, with former player and international James Forrester, taking him under his wing.

"He's got fantastic footwork," said Forrester, who played also represented England Sevens.

"Footwork is something you can't teach people, the ability to get around your man. It's something you're born with."

"The game over here is incredibly physical. He's not the tallest, but he's powerful. With his ability, if he trained he could make it", added Forrester.

With a choice of American Football or Rugby to make after College, PJ's success in rugby made his decision easy.

"It's going to be a 2 percent chance to make the NFL, but 80-90 percent chance to play rugby".

Endless possibilities

The statistic makes one think of the vast pool of talent that goes by the wayside form the US collegiate system that could be leveraged for rugby’s benefit. There are around 16,000 American Footballers tied up in the collegiate system. On average around 1,000 of those become involved in football professionally. It serves to wonder what ever happens to the undoubtedly talented 15,000 remaining players?

It would undoubtedly be an interesting proposition to see these athletes doing a ‘PJ’ and switching their attention wholly on rugby. Sevens is the ideal environment to host talented newcomers to the sport with more of a focus on raw attributes such as pace, strength, and power.

“The open play, less forward play and limited line-outs and scrums make it easier for a novice to understand and be a fan of the game,” added Bayer.

With a decision pending in October on Rugby Sevens being drafted into the Olympics, the decision could affect nations like USA the most. Increased funding and lucrative sponsorship opportunities, based on the magnetic pull of a potential gold medal, could see an influx of other kids and rejected Major League athletes donning their rugby hats. PJ is one that feels the potential could be massive.

"The Olympics will bring a better quality of athlete from the Football (American), Basketball, Baseball arenas. I feel they can be adapted – who wouldn’t want to be in the Olympics!"

Increased attention and funding could not only help bring in the players but also the right coaches and expertise throughout the system. This would facilitate the likelihood of programmes such as Hyde Rugby being replicated and helping to expand the demographic of rugby participation in the States amongst other African American areas.

Bayer emphasised how vital the support of the local rugby community also is. In Hyde’s case they received much-needed aid from Bayer’s pals at Washington Rugby Club.

According to USA Rugby the number of schools offering the sport, particularly in disadvantaged urban areas, is increasing exponentially. In recent years American Football, still the USA's most watched sport, has struggled to distance itself from associations with gang culture and other scandal – perhaps another factor in kids being driven to rugby. The NFL will always be closest American’s hearts but at least there is genuine hope in rugby now being a credible and viable alternative.

The victory that matters

In perhaps a particularly fitting turn of events PJ has teamed up with Bayer as an assistant rugby coach at Hyde in between his commitments with the USA squad.

“For real I mean the kids look at me as a role model, and it’s great I can teach them things I learnt on tour when I come back. It’s like I’m giving back to Hyde what it gave to me when I was a kid. When I’m on tour I’m not only representing USA, but also Hyde. The principles it taught me will never leave me”, said Komongnan.

“PJ’s story is very inspirational not just for our players and students but people of all walks of life. He has a magic ability to connect not just with our students but all kids. He has an energy about him that people are drawn to. In the past, PJ used that energy for mischief... now he uses it to make a positive impact,” added Bayer.

The essence behind this inspirational story is the ability of Bayer and his colleagues to positively change attitudes and lives through the platform of the sport. It is perhaps easy to forget the power of rugby.

In Hyde’s case it would be fair to say that rugby breeds hard work, team-building and has wholly improved the students' self-esteem. Hyde is an alternative to DC's troubled public school system. Fifty percent of male African-Americans in Washington never graduate high school; 100 percent of Hyde's students go on to college. That in itself trumps any victories that Hyde’s rugby all-stars have achieved on the field.