Building the American Identity with Dominic Besag & Martin Pengelly - US Rugby Happy Hour

Join us on this week’s U.S. Rugby Happy Hour as we explore the heart and soul of the American game. We kick things off with our signature "National Maul" segment, featuring the insightful and always opinionated Martin Pengelly, who joins us to discuss the unique challenges of American rugby infrastructure and the evolution of the USA Eagles’ identity.

In our main segment, our jingle department's latest masterpiece—a cello-accordion techno anthem that you absolutely have to hear to believe! Then, we sit down with USA Eagle and Saint Mary’s standout Dominic Besag. At just 21, Dom has already racked up an incredible 20 caps for the senior national team, and he gives us an exclusive look at life in the Eagles’ camp under coach Scott Lawrence. From his perspective on the "process-over-scoreboard" mentality to his candid thoughts on the future of collegiate rugby scholarships, Dom provides a front-row seat to the future of American rugby. This is an episode you won’t want to miss!

Chapters:

00:00 Intro & The Jingle

02:54 The National Maul w/ Martin Pengelly

05:30 Rugby Infrastructure in the US

19:00 The Eagles' Performance & Identity

23:05 Interview with Dominic Besag

26:18 The College/International Balance

31:18 Scott Lawrence’s Process

43:00 The College Scholarship Gap

45:00 Looking Ahead to 2027