(Cont’d)

Carsten Schmidt introduced Sean O’Leary, Head Rugby Coach for the University of Notre Dame.  Sean described how he played rugby in Ireland as a youth and when he moved to the United States was presented with an opportunity to coach a start-up high school girl’s team at a school outside of Boston.  Sean then started coaching a boy’s team at a high school in Boston, then for Northeastern University before being called upon to work with the USA Under 19 national team.  After a couple years, he created a USA Under 17 national team before agreeing to take his current position with Notre Dame.  Notre Dame was rejuvenating a program that was dormant since the 1960’s.  Sean noted that several of the largest donors at Notre Dame are former rugby players and that they credit their experience with ND Rugby for their business success.  Rugby teaches leadership, discipline, and teamwork, which are vital to the success of the players after they hang up their cleats.  Sean mentioned that the Australian National Team will be competing at Soldier Field in September and will be staying for two weeks at Notre Dame prior to heading to London for the Rugby World Cup in October.