Sports In The Making

Dan Lyle - Director of AEG Rugby & Former USA Rugby Player

Episode Summary

Dan Lyle is a former Team USA rugby player who has also played professionally with Bath Rugby of the English Premiership. He's played alongside and opposite some of the greatest players in rugby history. Out of college, he was offered a contract to play professional football with the Minnesota Vikings but opted to play rugby outside the U.S. We talk about the history of rugby, how Dan is helping to grow the sport in the United States and the future of rugby.

Episode Notes

• 1:43 - What Dan Lyle does as Director of Rugby for Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG)
• 3:22 - What the differences are between Rugby and American Football and the history of how rugby started.
• 7:11 - What each position does in Rugby Sevens.
• 8:32 - What positions do in Rugby Union.
• 9:43 - Why Dan decided to pursue professional rugby outside of the United States instead of American football with the Minnesota Vikings.
• 14:15 - Was it a culture shock to play rugby overseas.
• 16:25 - What the history of rugby is for the United States and how it fits in with rugby’s origin.
• 20:14 - How women are embracing rugby and why they are passionate about it.
• 22:02 - What the differences of tackling in rugby and American sports and how rugby tackling has been successful for NFL and Collegiate coaches.
• 25:19 - What some of the cultures are in rugby, including the “Haka”
• 25:59 - How there is a culture within the game of rugby.
• 28:44 - How Dan is able to grow help rugby in the U.S. 
• 32:28 - Finding the face of rugby in the US with current cross over players.
• 35:28 - What the future of rugby is like in the US.
• 37:57 - What the challenges are to get new fans excited about rugby.
• 41:04 - How AEG is in the business of creating sports properties
• 42:14 - How Dan became the rugby analyst for NBC Sports.
• 44:35 - What Dan’s recommendation is for someone new to rugby who wants to learn the game.
• 46:59 - Who were some of the best rugby players Dan has seen in his lifetime.
• 50:25 - What Dan’s perspective is on the movie “Invictus,” starring Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman.
• 51:56 - How the movie and real-life events affected Dan and his view on how it affected society.
• 54:03 - What Dan would like people to know about rugby that they might not otherwise know.
• 55:54 - What the best advice Dan has been given working in sports.
• 58:33 - How people can find out more about rugby in the United States.