Joshua Rice is the latest player to sign with Premier Rugby Management. We caught up with him to find out what is overall goals are, what the standard of rugby in Hawaii is like, and more.
This Is American Rugby: Why choose to make the switch to rugby union?
Joshua Rice: This past year I spent the spring playing union in Hawaii and the summer and fall playing league in New Zealand and a couple tests matches on the East Coast with the Tomahawks. After that in the offseason I decided that I would explore all my opportunities to play either code of rugby at a high level. Union offers a new challenge and a possibility to go to new places and gain new skills. So when PRM got in contact with me I jumped on it.
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TIAR: You've now played American football, rugby league, and rugby union. How difficult is it to make the transition from each sport?
JR: The transition between league and union wasn't too difficult because both codes have the same basic skills, you just have to understand the difference in strategy and positioning on the field. The main difference between football and rugby is obviously the use of helmets and shoulder pads. Without pads your tackling technique has to be very good because if you put your head in the wrong place you'll definitely get hurt. But besides that another huge difference is getting used to the level of fitness you need to play both codes of rugby.
TIAR: Describe the Hawaii Harlequins?
JR: The Hawaii Harlequins were established in 1964 and are the oldest rugby club in Hawaii. They are open to any level of player. This year is going to be the club's 50th anniversary. They hold the Hawaii Harlequins Rugby Championship tournament every year in October. The clubs had some famous players through the years like John Wilbur who was an NFL lineman from 66-74 and New Zealand All Black Number 8, Murray Mexted.
TIAR: What is the standard of play like in Hawaii?
JR: The standard of play in Hawaii is very good. Hawaii has a lot of great athletes. Also a lot of the players have heritage from the South Pacific, from countries like Tonga, Samoa, and Fiji. Most of those players grow up playing rugby from a young age so you see guys with a lot of great skills. Also there's a lot of international tournaments like the Hawaii Harlequins Rugby championship that draw international teams from Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other Polynesian nations that help raise the standard of play.
TIAR: Sometimes it's hard for guys from Hawaii to get a good look with national teams because of the distance. What are guys from Hawaii doing to try and combat that?
JR: Because of his connection to the Harlequins, Murray Mexted comes to Hawaii to recruit players for his International Rugby Academy in New Zealand (IRANZ) and the Harlequins had a player attend last year and currently have a player attending right now. Also the USA Tomahawks have held two international test matches in Honolulu against Mate Ma'a Tonga and Toa Samoa. These games featured a good amount of local talent and resulted in a player going to Australia to play league. Hawaii has a berth in the USA national rugby club 7's tournament which is a good opportunity for the coaches to see Hawaii players in action. Even though the distance can make things a little more difficult for players here, there has been some younger players who have been noticed. The 2012 High School All Americans choose 7 players from Hawaii for the South American tour and the U20's choose two players for the national team. And last year two players were chosen to go on the HSAA tour.
TIAR: Your goal is professional rugby. Is there a country or league you particularly want to play in?
JR: I don't really have a particular country I want to play in. I've played in Australia and New Zealand, so it would just be good to experience a new culture and improve my rugby game.
TIAR: What is one thing you think people should know about you?
JR: Even though I went to high school in Nevada, I grew up in Hawaii so I've been surfing almost my whole life. I actually grew with pro surfer Mark Healy and still surf whenever I get the chance - be that in Hawaii, on the mainland or abroad.