Former USA captain sees America becoming Sevens force by Rio 2016

By Ben Baker, Sportsbeat

FORMER Bath and USA captain Dan Lyle warned the rest of the rugby world America is coming, after playing an instrumental role in unleashing Sevens on the domestic masses.

CAPTAIN AMERICA: Dan Lyle congratulates Utah's Blake Miller and the University of Utah on winning the inaugural USA 7's CCI

Lyle - dubbed Captain America during his seven-year stint at the Recreation Ground - has swapped his position on the pitch for a position as tournament director for USA Sevens.

The three-day event took place last weekend and 16 teams took part with the University of Utah overcoming California 31-26 in extra time to lift the first-ever USA Sevens Rugby Collegiate Championship Invitational trophy.

But more significant was that the competition was aired by US television giants NBC, meaning rugby was introduced to over 110 million households in America for the first time, a factor Lyle believes bodes well for the game in a land dominated by their national sports.

Lyle said: "This weekend was huge for rugby as it is the first time ever that rugby in America was covered by a major network.

"To put it in perspective it is like rugby being shown for the first time on the BBC.

"I think that with it being Sevens, it is the perfect introduction for America because it is very easy to follow and it is the simpler and shorter version of the game.

"And now with millions of people being able to see it and touch it for the first time we are really hopeful it can take off.

"I really think the game is going to gain ground sufficiently after this. I think that in America people like the game of rugby but just don't see it enough. However, this weekend changes all that.

"It has everything we like, it is free-flowing and it's open so we do like it but it is just about giving it the coverage."