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OTC Changeover Might Spur Change for Eagles, Too

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OTC Changeover Might Spur Change for Eagles, Too

From 2014 - USA Men's Team players in training at Chula Vista. KLC Photos.

Life could be changing at some point for the USA Men's and Women's 7s teams that train at Chula Vista, Calif.

The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) will, in 2017, be handing over administration of the Olympic Training Center at Chula Vista to the City of Chula Vista, and the City has outsourced the administration of the facility to Point Loma Nazarene University. 

That change in and of itself is not reason to think that the Eagles will move out of their Southern California digs. But there's some indication that the cost of using the facility - for some years offered to USA Rugby at a discount - will rise. With several other sports having decided to run their Olympic programs off-site, as it were (the USA Field Hockey team opened its Home of Hockey facility in Pennsylvania in 2013), it might be time for USA Rugby to look at options.

In the short-term, nothing is expected to change. The players and coaches will assemble this fall to prepare for their World Series seasons, but it's worth looking at a few of the drawbacks of Chula Vista.

While the facilities and organization are excellent and helped a great deal in getting both USA programs into a full-time environment, perhaps they have outgrown such support. The location is a nice place to live, and the weather great for year-round training, but it's expensive for athletes not making much money, and travel is difficult, as well. 

So could there be a Home of Rugby 7s in the Eagles' future? It might be something for USA Rugby to consider. And if they do consider that, perhaps they could take advantage of the locations at elevation that love and support rugby.