Park City courts USA Rugby

USA Rugby will not relocate to Park City this year as city officials and local enthusiasts of the sport had hoped.

That doesn't mean local fans wanting to transform Park City into a rugby resort should take their oval-shaped leather ball and head elsewhere.

USA Rugby didn't turn down Park City's official bid invitation to make the Wasatch Back its home for the sport's national headquarters and for the country's top-tier team. It just sent a notice that it was postponing the decision — and announcing that the city made the organization's short list of potential future destinations.

"Park City has made the first cut of the cities," said USA Rugby CEO Doug Arnot. "One of the things that makes Park City stand out as a candidate was the large amount of community enthusiasm."

Utah has long been considered a hotbed for amateur rugby, thanks to high school and collegiate programs that have excelled nationally and internationally, particularly Highland High, BYU and the University of Utah. Current and former members have rallied around Park City, as have players and supporters of the city's organized club, the Muckers.

Arnot learned of Utah's love affair with rugby while serving as Salt Lake Organizing Committee managing director of operations from 1999-2002. After taking over at USA Rugby, he encouraged Park City to apply to be headquarters for the offices and national squad. Currently, the business aspect is handled in Colorado Springs, Colo., while the national squad, the Eagles, trains in Berkeley, Calif.

USA Rugby's board and selection committee initially wanted to consolidate forces into one locale and be settled into its new roost by September, but the organization decided to prolong the process to better evaluate proposed sites. For now, its main focus is on the World Cup in Australia in September and on an International 7's tournament.

Arnot declined naming other finalists, although it's likely that several rugby-rich California sites — such as Palo Alto and San Diego — are among the contenders. Seattle, Portland, Ore., and Reno, Nev., also submitted strong bids.

"We're anxious to see how plans mature with Park City now and other finalist cities," Arnot said.

Hoping to take advantage of the delay and strengthen its chances, Park City requested that USA Rugby award it a major event or tournament next summer. The decision will probably be delayed that long.