Interview with Dan Lyle

By Neil Davey
November 3 2009

Dan Lyle joined Bath during the 1996/97 season, played 125 times for the club, won the European Cup in 1998 and captained the team during the 2001/02 season. A convert from American Football, playing mainly at No.8 whose one-handed throws across the pitch will be remembered as fondly as the consistent level of effort that he put in for the club.

ERE - If we can start in the beginning and with what memories I have of your history prior to joining Bath, I recall that your father was a 2-star general and I presume that you travelled with the military. Did you live outside of the USA as a child and had you come into contact with rugby union in any way before college? What sports did you primarily play as a child?

DL - Yes I was very well travelled 13 places before I was 18 including 5 years in Europe, based in Germany.  I did not know about rugby before I went to university, but I am sure being exposed to high levels of non-US sports such as soccer allowed me a greater sense of what was beyond US shores.  I played soccer until I was 18 at school - mean center fullback/sweeper as you may have guessed the aerial corner kicks that all defenders go up for was my favorite part and a few goals were scored off of my big noggin - not sure what made me more curious to the guys at Bath when I showed up, that I could play rugby or when we played soccer for cross-training, I could play that as well?!

ERE - You went to Virginia Military Institute and played American Football there. As military institutes are not something that many of us in the UK know about, how does it differ from university and what did you do there? What are your sporting memories from VMI?

VMI is like Sandhurst, you are going to university while you are training to be in the military - it is a four year education where you get your BA - mine was in History - possibly another reason I warmed to our historical city of Bath so well?  VMI was a small school that played larger schools, bigger audiences then I ever played in front of including the RWC, (20,40,50,75k people).  This environment (pressure, media, etc) and the military discipline were tough but helped you enjoy the fun times when they came, certainly not the university environment that most readers would see from American movies or even what goes on up at Bath Uni...

ERE - After college you trialled with Washington Redskins and were invited to trial with Minnesota Vikings in the NFL, as a tight-end. For those of us who don't know the sport well, what is a tight-end and how does that compare to a no.8?

Very few athletes in the US get this chance and I was privileged to get it, it was during this time that I starting playing rugby to give me an outlet and stay fit while trying to make the NFL.  My position of Tight End is 1/2 of what a backrow forward does; lots of contact, medium size runs, aggressive strong, etc. The defensive side was where I had to improve when I got to Bath but knowing how to tackle and being aggressive were never a problem, at least that is how I hope most fans remember my contribution.  Lots of positions in American football could translate into good rugby players but my growing up with soccer and basketball as well which are more field vision and team oriented really helped me.

ERE - When and how did you find rugby union and start playing? Who was inspirational in your rise in the game? Which clubs did you play with in the US?

As above while training for the NFL, I played for the Washington rugby club and my cousin Mark Casey, loved that it was all the games I played in American rolled into one.  Many friends and coaches helped me along the way and Jack Clark the then national team coached picked me into the squad less than a year into rugby, so he had the vision. I played for Aspen and San Diego's Old Mission Beach Athletic Club as well, both had great coaches and support personnel and some great teammates!

ERE - How did Bath rugby club find you, who was involved in your move to the club? What made you choose Bath Rugby instead of the NFL?

Playing for the US in Toronto vs Canada we beat them up in Canada for the first time and I was man of the match, David Jenkins was over looking at Luke Gross my lock teammate who played for Harlequins and many other European clubs was almost 6'10" and drawing attention. So I told Dave in typical American bravado, "you want the best?", so forth and so on. Next thing I know John Hall called and said, "do you want to sign a 1 year almost-trial deal?" I was loving rugby, travelling the world, knew Bath were the best, so said, "of course!"

ERE - What was your first impression of Bath rugby club, compared to the NFL teams? What do you remember about your first meetings with the players and staff?

I had no expectations other than to play good rugby, and the players at Bath then were all about ball in hand running rugby, fantastic environment to come into. Plus they were there because Bath was Bath - one of the clubs to play for. This made it very competitive and therefore if you played well you played, full stop.  Of course everyone, including me, gets a huge pump playing and training in the heart of the city, we are lucky that our city is a rugby city, makes it that much more special. It can be a huge draw for players but it must be cherished and nurtured. If we could improve the facilities for fans and players, the sky is the limit!

ERE - You brought elements of your American Football past into your rugby game, such as the one-handed throws. Did you find it easy to adapt to the Courage League?

Well I guess being an athlete helped me overcome whatever rugby skill deficiencies I may have had coming into it, and that Brian Ashton, Robbo, JC and others encouraged and challenged me to take chances. It was a perfect storm for me to display the one handed moves and "pizza box" style passes, etc.  I always prided myself on doing the hard work first and being a complete number 8, good runner, defender, passer, lineout, kickoffs, ruck, etc - if you want to be the best you can be, you must work on all parts of the game.

ERE - You played in the Heineken Cup win against Brive in 1998, what do you remember about the game?

I remember it all, the ref was very tight on us, penalties all the time. Maybe he was tight because he was Scottish (ha!) Forced us to change our game a bit...and like most finals you need a bit of luck and 2 parts fortitude.  Ieuen and Ade both had game saving tackles, our front row and locks fronted up on the goalline scrum and we kept our belief, behind what was an outnumbered but highly vocal Bath crowd.  Bloody fantastic as you Brits say!

ERE - What do you recall of the seven consecutive scrums on our own line early in the second half? That was probably the turning point in the match. Also you started the move from the scrum that set up Jon Callard's try, do you recall your thoughts at that scrum?

Yes, that was what I was referring to on the "goalline scrum, Hilts,  Ronnie and Vic were awesome with Haggy and Nigel locking it down. Funny how we then had a scrum on their line and after one resulted in a second scrum we had a great platform to launch an attack. My job was to get past the flanker and try to engage the flyhalf, that I could get the ball away to Andy (he was right there, probably more him than me/being on the spot), meant we were always going to have an extra man if we used the ball right...and with Catty, Phil, Jerry and JC all internationals...was this the first time that every player that touched the ball on a move was capped by their country?

ERE - Personally one of my strongest memories of you was moments after the final whistle as you were amongst a group of players who ran down to the Bath fans at the other end of the ground in the Parc Lescure in Bordeaux. I recall a couple of players propping you up as we yelled in delight at each other, (players and fans) as I was in the third row, just the other side of the perimeter ditch from you. I remember tears streaming down your face, (I think). What are your memories post match?

I remember all of that, maybe not the crying (softy). It was a long time coming for the players but more the fans, we celebrated in complete unison in the streets and then back at Bath that whole weekend and beyond, brilliant, brilliant memories. My biggest disappointment is all the celebrations in the changing room I missed because I was drugged tested after the match. Typical stuff, but why that match, ughh!

ERE - What other highs do you remember from your playing days at Bath?

I remember match days, and great players, and being proud to play for the city and the club...what a great honour!

ERE - Any particular testing opponents who you enjoyed playing against?

Probably too many, always respected and studied my opponents whomever they were. Probably my American sports background.

ERE - How did you become captain of Bath? What are your memories of that?

This is a humbling question. Consistency, challenging myself and team mates. This is for others to answer, it was a great experience.

ERE - How did the move to Leicester come about? Did you have any other offers?

Well that is hard to answer. We had several transitions and coaches at Bath, losing some great players in their prime and tail-end of their careers. I cannot say that I thought Bath had a great succession plan or retention plan for the team and let a few people know this. Disagreements happen all the time in sport, so we parted company and I had several offers but always wondered what made Leicester tick so jumped at the offer from them.

ERE - You returned to The Rec' to bid farewell and apologise for joining Leicester, with a smile on your face. I think we found it quite easy to forgive the misdemeanour, considering you only played three times for them.  What are your memories of the Bath fans?

Lots of American greats finish their careers in different places. That is professional sport, unfortunately but I am a Bath man, Bath family, so it was fitting that I finished at Bath and if I did not apologize to you all at one time then I would have had to every time I saw one of you in the city!

ERE - You played 45 times for the USA Eagles, how did the ability and ambition of the American team change during your international career?

American rugby is different to any country in the world, in that we develop our athletes in America through our high school and collegiate systems. Most of the world is club based.  We are working to replicate the American model in rugby in the states and when we get that right we will be competitive, not before. 

My ambition never changed, represent my country to the best of my ability at all times. It was not much different to my Bath commitment, play hard for the right reasons for your team mates and team and you cant go wrong.

ERE - What are your international highlights?

Anthems, hair on the back of your neck standing up, full stadiums, the whole hog, nothing like it!

ERE - You retired from playing to become Operation Director for USA Rugby, what did that involve? What did you achieve there?

As stated earlier, rugby in America is in transition. I am helping to create an American model for the sport, it is challenging, but we will get there.

ERE - You're now the Tournament Director for the USA Sevens tournament. Tell us all about that and what you hope to achieve with it?

We are on the IRB world series, have a wonderful event, and it is a real proof of concept that rugby can be successful in the USA.  Go to http://www.usasevens.com/ and have a look and please come out. I will have a special Bath section for you all!

ERE - You're obviously interested in expanding the game in North America, what could be done to spread it and develop more teams and players in the US?

Well we are talking a continent, if growing English rugby included Turkey, you can see the vastness of it all.  As stated earlier, we are building something that all Americans can understand, based upon how they grow up participating in sport. As that matures we are going to be a country on the rise!

ERE - Do you still play rugby at any level?

Touch and beach rugby, mostly gym, pickup basketball, and golf. My main sport now is chasing my twin boys, best sport I have ever played!

ERE - On returning to the US you took a piece of Bath with you, in Becky. Do you get many opportunities to return to Bath with the family? Have you been back to The Rec' recently?

Couple times a year, will be there in September, hope to see all at the Rec! (Dan was at The Rec' for the Newcastle match in October).

ERE - We've recently seen a first glimpse of the 2030 Bath back-row pairing of Harry and Jack Lyle, what will be your advice to them in their burgeoning rugby union careers? Don't play for Leicester?

Yes that is great advice, we will see if the Rec has developed by then (ha!) Mummy wants Bath and England, we will have to see, we would be very lucky!

ERE - Finally could you sum up your relationship with Bath Rugby in one sentence?

It is my club, full stop!