United States
USA Rugby hoping novelty factor will help Premiership replicate NFL's overseas success
Martyn Thomas
November 3, 2015

USA Rugby hopes to replicate the success of the NFL's International Series when London Irish and Saracens contest the first-ever overseas Aviva Premiership game in New York next March.

Wembley played host to its third and final NFL game of the season on Sunday with 83,624 fans watching the Kansas City Chiefs comfortably beat the Detroit Lions.

Club rugby cannot expect those numbers in America just yet but Irish have been delighted with the take-up of tickets since they went on sale last Friday.

It was important to USA Rugby that they were able to bring over a meaningful game, and following a year and a half of work behind the scenes it seems that the match has resonated with supporters on both sides of the Atlantic.

© Stephen Pond/Getty Images

"I think the important thing about this game is to see a live professional mid-season game in the United States, it's a bit of a first," USA Rugby CEO Nigel Melville told ESPN. "It's a novelty value and that's what's happening in London with the NFL games, the novelty value of going to see these teams play.

"I was on the train the other day when there was an NFL game at Wembley and people were wearing jerseys from all over the NFL, not only those two teams. So, it's for people who support the Premiership and watch it and let's see more of it.

"And the same would happen if you brought a Premiership soccer team over here. People follow sport all over the world and to see a live game in the U.S. is a great thing."

It will also be an opportunity for American rugby fans to see a couple of their own in action, with Eagles players Chris Wyles and Hayden Smith both on Saracens' books.

Melville is hopeful that the pair's involvement will help raise awareness in the States. Not only of the game, but of the sport in general.

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"It would be good to see them play here," he said. "I'm sure they're excited about it, and it just helps bring more visibility to the game. Visibility of the game is one of our challenges here."

Melville added: "It will be a very good rugby game, it will good to see them play on American soil and to play in a great stadium and play in New York -- it will be good for rugby."

While the benefits of playing a game in the U.S. are obvious to both teams taking part, the match also forms part of USA Rugby's plans to build a rugby community in the country.

An increasing number of Tier One international teams are playing Test matches against the Eagles -- including New Zealand's visit to Soldier Field in 2014, a game watched by 61,500 people.

"We want to continue doing that because it's good for the big teams to play against the Eagles," Melville said. "It's good for us to have that challenge and upgrade our fixture list because that will make us more competitive."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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