USA Eagles

First Leg of Welsh Tour Looks Like a Go
(Berkeley, California) 29 May 1997 -- The US National Team's management has forwarded to Wales details of resurrected arrangements for the first leg of Wales' July tour of America, which includes a July 1 match against the South RFU in Charlotte, North Carolina, and a July 5 test in Wilmington, North Carolina. Subject to final confirmation, the two matches now look to be a certainty.

Wales had previously declined to begin its tour in the Tarheel state, forcing cancellation of flights, accommodations, and so on, but then reversed itself. US officials have since been working diligently and in cooperation with South officials and the Cape Fear Organizing Committee (the group staging the test in Wilmington) to offset the difficulties of rescheduling events to be held around the busiest travel weekend of the year, Independence Day weekend.

"The first leg of the tour has been difficult for a variety of reasons," said Ian Nixon, USA Rugby's representative to the International Rugby Football Board. "We're just pleased it seems to have all worked out."