USA National Rugby Team

Hall Names Assistant Coach
(Berkeley, California) 4 April 2000 -- USA head coach Duncan Hall has named
American rugby veteran and former USA head coach Ray Cornbill as his
assistant.
Cornbill, who currently coaches Manhattan RFC in New York and steered the
USA's development side in 1999, will be responsible for the backs unit
during the Eagles' 2000 campaign that includes five Epson Cup matches and a
one-off test against Ireland.
"Ilook forward to helping Duncan and the team assimilate many of the
changing features of the modern game," said Cornbill. "The challenge will
be to seek out and play to our advantages, such as good hard running and
tackling, while establishing high levels of basic skill."
The New York-based researcher also acts as chairman of the National Team's
selection panel at the annual All-Star Championship and served as an
assistant coach on the Eagles' 1997 tour to Wales.
Domestically, Cornbill has coached the U.S. Marine Corps team the last
three seasons, serves as a Level 1 coaching instructor and sits on the
National Technical Panel.
His rugby resume also includes stints as the Director of Coaching for the
Eastern Rugby Union, selector and head coach of the US Maccabiah Games
team, head coach of New York's Old Blue and Eagles head coach in the late
70s/early 80s.
Head coach Hall said it wasn't only Cornbill's wealth of experience that
made him the stand-out candidate: "I believe that finding a coach to
complement the team philosophy is of paramount importance. From the
development of the fundamental skills of rugby to the tactical game Ray can
support our next phase of growth. Together with his willingness to impart
his knowledge, it makes him the right man for the job."
Cornbill's appointment came after a review of candidates from throughout
the rugby playing world. The international search process, which included
worldwide advertising and union-to-union contact, drew applications from
several major rugby playing nations.
Cornbill currently heads the Health Services Research and Development Unit
at Mt. Sinai medical school and is also Academic Co-Director in the
graduate program at the Baruch College school of business. He was
previously Vice-President at Mt Sinai and NYU medical centers and
Exectutive Director of North General Hospital in Harlem.
The USA National Team first sees action under the Hall-Cornbill combination
in late May when the Eagles play in Japan. The team will then move to
Manchester, New Hampshire June 3 to play Canada and faces Ireland at the
same venue on June 10. The 2000 schedule also includes away games in Tonga
and Fiji, and a match in San Francisco versus Samoa on July 15.

© USA National Rugby Team
Kurt Oeler, Media Relations
Hudson Rugby Fieldhouse
Berkeley, California 94720 4426
phone 510.643.1971 / fax 510.643.2192


