Rugby at Dell Diamond

Team USA and its fans took over the Dell Diamond on February 13. More than 7,000 were in attendance for the match against Canada in the Americas Rugby Championship.

USA trailed in the first half but rallied in the second to pull out the 30-22 win. 

The Americans are now tied atop the standings in the tournament. Get more information about the tournament here.

The crowd on had was definitely a testament to the growth of the sport in the U.S. 

One of the players on the U.S. national team is from Houston. Kingsley McGowan says he feels like rugby is a perfect fit for those who are from the Lone Star State.

"I think guys who play rugby in Texas can definitely compete with some of the best in the country as well. Even in the world I would say. There's a certain athleticism you get from growing up in Texas as a child.  You kind of play football, baseball, basketball, and track. There is no offseason essentially if you're a youth in Texas. So I think having that versatility in terms of the sport really helps out within rugby," McGowan says.

"And that's kind of why I find myself being able to be good within rugby. Because I played basketball. I played baseball. Played football growing up. So to me it's kind of a culmination of all these sports that I played as a child.  So I think guys in Texas have that same foundation. So I think in terms of rugby compete across the country as well," McGowan adds.

McGowan's USA teammate, Chris Baumann, agrees.

Baumann says, "Austin's a great community with rugby because two clubs actually own their own land.  And the team I play for the Austin Blacks.  They actually own their own clubhouse as well.  Which is a pretty rare thing in the United States."

The U.S. national team will finish its Americas Rugby Championship home stand against Chile in Florida.