Ross returns to coach US rugby team

Woy Woy resident Ross Hopkins will return to the US next month to be a part of the coaching staff for the University of Wisconsin men's rugby union team

Mr Hopkins has just finished his season as head coach of the Gordon Highlanders in the Sydney Premiership and is involved his third year at the Madison-based university.

In his first year, Mr Hopkins took a team who were looking at being dropped to a lower division onto some impressive results, followed in his second year with a win at the Wisconsin state titles and runners up in the Midwest region in November 2008, qualifying them for the National Championships in Florida early last year.

A ranking of 16 didn't stop the college when they beat the top seed on day one to win the following day to qualify for the national final four.

A quick trip back to Australia for Mr Hopkins, followed by a trip to San Francisco a week later for the Championships at Stanford College in Palo Alto, saw his team win its semi final to progress to the national final.

Mr Hopkins said that although the team lost in the national final, the entire journey revealed a team having gone from nowhere to somewhere in a short period of time.

The journey placed the University of Wisconsin as the second best team in the country out of more than 600 colleges in its division and ensured Mr Hopkins an extension to his tenure in Madison.

Last year the team was promoted to division one where it swept all before it in its conference game to be undefeated, only to lose by a point against Notre Dame in the playoff game.

Mr Hopkins said: "Rugby in the town is growing at a rapid rate.

"It is a fantastic time to be involved as rugby is growing at such a fast rate in the US and is now acknowledged as the largest amateur sport in the country."

Press release, 17 Sep 2010 Ross Hopkins, Woy Woy