Tim Lowe (left) Daniel Solchanyk (right)
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Tim Lowe, a recent grad from the University of Delaware and Daniel Solchanyk of Santa Monica, headed straight from the airport to the Sydney Football Stadium to begin their rugby immersion Down Under and watch the NZ Maoris defeat Australia ‘A’ 21-18.
Lowe commented that since he got off the plane, everywhere he looked has been rugby.
"The buses have Wallabies ads, the papers have front page stories on the Wallabies, we have been to an international game were I saw my first ever Haka, there are Rugby balls all over the house. I love it, it is rugby 24/7."
"The best way for a player to develop his game is to immerse himself in rugby,” Down Under Rugby general manager Grant Houldsworth told ARN. “During the eight-week Down Under Rugby program in Sydney, we do everything we can to make sure that the boys sleep and eat rugby.
“We have rugby tapes in the house, we go to international games, have video review sessions, introduce them to professional players and have many on-field sessions. We even tuck them in each night with a rugby ball to make sure they sleep well."
Daniel and Tim will be joined this week by other US athletes attending the third Down Under Rugby program. Athletes will play for men’s club University of New South Wales which has six teams.
Teams are graded and play on the same field one after the other each Saturday. After the games are finished, the Tri-Nations fixtures are on live TV for all to watch and learn from.
"The best way to learn rugby is by playing and training in a developed rugby nation like Australia," remarked Daniel Solchanyk. "On July 26 we go out to watch the All Blacks take on the Wallabies for the Bledisloe Cup. I can't wait for that."