USA

[striker]

Interesting if this ever get of the ground
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013/ma ... ians-irish

[Indiana]

Rugby is quite popular in California too would make an interesting tour!!!

[dcpete]

If this got did get off the ground the Irish teams could be in high demand to appear in mini pre-season US tournaments in the style of the soccer tournaments:
http://epltalk.com/2013/04/15/fox-socce ... ghtly-epl/

Alternatively, let the Welsh have their wish to join the Aviva Premiership and form our own 10 team, 2 division league:

NRFL Ireland: Ulster, Munster Leinster, Connacht, London Irish

NRFL US: Boston New York Washington DC Philadelphia Miami

I'm sure the IRFU would be well capable of organizing that!

[Russ]

IRFU are a feed of tom kite

Let me manage that one, would relish it

[Hans Indaruck]

On the down side - if they secure some serious money ( á la soccer - LA Galaxy etc) then it is another potential lure for talent away from these shores!

[bootlaced]

Apparently those US footballers who don't make the draft will be encouraged/targetted to play rugby, I think some of their sevens players have come via this avenue.

[Neil F]

On the down side - if they secure some serious money ( á la soccer - LA Galaxy etc) then it is another potential lure for talent away from these shores!

Don't see it, myself - despite the money in the US game (and the Chinese game, for that matter), only players nearing the end of their careers seem to be making these moves. Frankly, if a similar thing happened in rugby, it would be good for the Irish national side, certainly. Clearing out old talent to make way for the new at the provinces might not necessarily be a bad thing.

[bootlaced]

Nigel Melville in Total Rugby [on the telly] was making positive noises re this which was where I got my info in my above post he would though but he seems to be doing his best as US rugby CEO.The problem that I see is where do you get all the support networks from,coaches etc,a lot of these athletes are just that,they lack the finesse when it comes to scrum,rucks and mauls,and when they play any decent opposition they will get mangled as they learn the game.The US have an interest in 7s but that is because it is'nt reliant in the breakdown and set pieces.The other great fear of course is turning on the telly to watch a game between the New York Leprechauns v the Bronk Begorrahs,with pre match entertainment showing re runs of Darby O Gill and the Little People and The Quiet Man.

[dcpete]

The other great fear of course is turning on the telly to watch a game between the New York Leprechauns v the Bronk Begorrahs,with pre match entertainment showing re runs of Darby O Gill and the Little People and The Quiet Man.

And the likelihood of tv adverts at every break in play!

[mikerob]

NFL and rugby have totally different physical demands - an American footballer will only run a couple of hundred metres at most over a 3 hour period, so an American footballer wanting to cross over to rugby will need to completely re-train for the physical requirements of rugby.

NFL cross overs also don't have any "footballing" ability so you won't see them playing positions like out half or scrum half where it does seem that you need to be playing rugby as a kid to stand a chance of being good when older.

[Kofi Annan]

Do they not already have a super league in US, their biggest problem I see is the vastness of the country and trying to pull players together for sessions etc for national squads. Educating parents who come from an age of all American sports is a bigger hill to climb so they can support young bobby or Mary belle in their participation . But to dismiss the US as a rugby nation is just rugby snobbery at its worse, if America take it seriously and invest wisely they will do it right.

[mikerob]

They do have a Super League in the US but it is still amateur and they haven't been able to create a "stable" competition as the number of teams taking part and competition format have changed a lot.

As you say, it is difficult to have a national competition over such a vast country where it isn't possible to play rugby in the north east during the winter, but it is possible in other areas.

The US has set up a professional 7s squad using Olympic money but they really need to have a professional 15s competition. This doesn't need to be anywhere near the same scale as NFL and NBA - there are a number of other US sports, like indoor football (soccer) and lacrosse, that have professional leagues. With these sports, the players earn enough that they can play and train full time during the season but generally need another job to support themselves in the off season.

These smaller leagues establish themselves in smaller cities that will never be big enough to attract a NFL/NBA/NHL/MLB franchise but they find backers in the city who are keen to have a local pro team and be involved with pro sports (even though initially they may know feck all about the sport...)

It is tough to get a pro league going as they need backers to get a competition off the ground, the backers will want to ensure there are TV rights, but the broadcasters won't want to commit unless they think the competition is viable.. but hopefully they can get something going.

There was talk of a US bid, or maybe a joint US/Canada bid for the 2023 RWC. I think the IRB would love to have the competition there, but given they are in Japan for 2019, I can see 2023 going to an established country, like S Africa.

[waggonsroll]

The Guardian article contained the following: "If the event is a success, the plan is to build on that momentum and seek potential investors who are willing to pay for one of the new franchises and to conclude deals to play fixtures in NFL stadiums. The NFL Network is hoping to find live sports to cover outside of the American football season" I seem to recall that the NFL season covers the colder months (images of the Packers playing in the snow). This would presumably mean that their rugby season would be the summer. Could that not mean the possibility of european stars being lured to play a few months in the summer - a bit like cricket players now play for prtetty much 12 months of the year. Obviously the physical demands are rather different but it could be an attractive option if the money was right for those nearing the ends of their careers.

[Kofi Annan]

Is their Super League not semi pro and did we not start as amateur as well?

[mikerob]

Is their Super League not semi pro and did we not start as amateur as well?

I believe players may get some money, but not enough to allow them to play and train full time during the season.

You've got to start from somewhere and I hope they can continue to grow rugby in the US.