I had the fortune of being a part of the Rugby world for about two weeks and it gave me an experience of a lifetime. A bucket-list moment.

Both curious and committed fans crowded into the lakefront arena of Solider Field in Chicago as New Zealand’s All Blacks — the world’s top team in the sport of Rugby — beat the USA Eagles 74-6 on a crisp, sunny afternoon. The results were almost beside the point. Saturday’s game celebrated both community and an emerging sport that returns to the Olympics in 2016 after a more than 90-year absence. It was the first-ever at an NFL stadium and he sellout crowd of 61,500 was the largest to witness rugby in the United States.

There was plenty of color from start to finish on this historic day and I was lucky to be a part of it. My time with USA Rugby was brief, but it left a lasting impression that will leave me forever grateful. The color, the location, the historical aspects – this had it all. Here is a snap shot on what my lens saw:

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Categories: Noteworthy Shoots, Sports PhotographyTags: All Blacks, Chicago, rugby, Solider Field, USA Rugby