|
One such club is the University of South Carolina.
The Gamecocks, who finished in the middle of the pack last season in the South, will be joining six other sides competing in a newly established Carolinas league in the spring.
The winner of that league will earn one of the four seeds to go through to the South’s restructured playoff format to determine the conference’s two seeds for the Round of 16.
Teaming up with USC’s long-time head coach Geoff Mason, are two coaches with some pedigree.
Englishman Neil Richards will be the forwards coach, while Australian Ken McCarthy will coach the backs.
Richards, an ex-flanker, had playing stints with Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Atlanta Renegades and Columbia Olde Grey. During his playing days, McCarthy represented New South Wales Country and Australian Universities.
“Looking forward to the Carolina Rugby League in the revamped South,” coach Mason told ARN.
“I know Andy Richards copped a lot of flak about it, but I reckon it’s a great idea cutting travel and developing some real good rivalries.”
The Palmetto side has also been boosted by the addition of new coaches.
Former USC grad Mark Morris has been appointed head coach with John Bayard as forwards coach and Jed Shropshire the backs coach.
