Rugby has struggled to gain a foothold in mainstream American sports. But surprisingly, one of the biggest boosts came from an unlikely source - music producer DJ Khaled. A video turned meme featuring the line “you ever play rugby?” brought rugby references to the pop culture scene. This is probably not an unpopular rugby opinion but just a vent , that one lyric did more to raise awareness of rugby in America than USA Rugby itself has managed in recent years. USA Rugby just hasn’t done an effective job marketing itself and grassroots recruitment. The organization is disorganized and the national team underperforms. Rugby participation has grown only modestly. Yet when DJ Khaled merely mentioned the sport in a video, it opened the door to reaching millions of new potential fans. For ages 18-28, kids who came of age with DJ Khaled as a pop culture staple, that lyric was likely their first exposure to rugby. The power of celebrity influence cannot be understated. USA Rugby has completely failed to utilize pop culture or celebrity endorsements in any meaningful way. Kudos to DJ Khaled for his greater service to American rugby than the organization itself.