The world of rugby has taken yet another huge step forward in its global expansion with the announcement of a professional club rugby tournament in the USA. The Professional Rugby Organization (Pro Rugby) has the full backing and endorsement of both USA Rugby and World Rugby meaning that this is the genuine article to take rugby to the masses. PRO Rugby launched today to much fanfare but in truth there are still a great number of details yet to be released.
What we do know is that the league is set begin in April 2016 consisting of six brand new teams that will not have any affiliation to pre-existing clubs. This will allow players to move between their clubs and the new professional teams as is the case already in the southern hemisphere if you look at Super Rugby as a model. In doing this the amateur ethos of the game can continue to grow alongside the professional one with both being able to boost each other’s fortunes. The location of these clubs is yet to be revealed but already there are plans for expansion with 2017 noted as the date for the introduction of Canadian teams into the league, bolstering PRO Rugby as a true North American competition.
One major downfall will be the lack of television rights from the outset of the competition as unless you are lucky enough to be in one of the six locations chosen it will be difficult for supporters to fully embrace PRO Rugby. The announcement of online streaming of matches will boost this but realistically a television rights deal will be close to the top of the agenda once matches begin. This, however, is a situation that can only be rectified once the competition begins and establishes itself as a marketable tournament within the US.
Rugby as ever in new markets will face a huge amount of competition from sports that are already a mainstay. To dislodge football, basketball, hockey and soccer is an unreal expectation but rugby has the opportunity to carve itself a niche. The rugby community is what makes the sport so incredibly special as many have witnessed at the years Rugby World Cup and in countless other scenarios rugby supporters come together for the love of the game. The hits, the tries, the excitement, the camaraderie and the entire experience of being part of rugby. It is this unique selling point that PRO Rugby needs to build upon to ensure its success.
It would be easy to eulogise here about the incredible news that PRO Rugby being launched in the USA is, but it is still early days. There have been numerous failed attempts before to start professional rugby in America in various different guises. So as much as it is great to see PRO Rugby being backed by USA Rugby and World Rugby it is tentative steps towards the final goal. The success of this initiative will come from merging of supporters, players and executives and in truth USA Rugby CEO Nigel Melville appears to be the man to do it. Hopefully this can be the beginning of a massive success story and rugby flourishes throughout North America.
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