Expanding American Rugby Union League
Rugby is the fastest growing sport in America currently. With 50,000 male and 12,000 female rugby players currently playing rugby is only growing. With 47,000 teenage males and 20,000 teenage females actively playing high school rugby and engaging onto colleges with more seen scholarships than ever before. NCAA is growing closer recognizing rugby to a nationwide Varsity sport with 32,000 collegiate rugby players active. Of course with Title Nine says male and female student should have an equal number of available sports to participate. Rugby maybe a realistic chance for boys and girls with 179,000 preteen males and 150,000 preteen females actively in rugby.
There will be a great market for professional rugby in North America coming soon.
Two Ways North America can form a National Rugby Union League.
Way # 1: NA4 (already trialed)
The NA4 composed of a committee of USA Rugby, Rugby Canada and IRB back in 2005. NA4 consists of (2) USA Rugby squads and (2) Rugby Canada squads. USA Falcons and USA Hawks were two teams split form the USA Rugby team. Canada West and Canada East were split from Rugby Canada team
The USA Falcon consists of 34 players using facilities in Glendale, Colorado.
The USA Hawks consists of 34 players using facilities in Columbus, Ohio.
Canada West was based out of British Columbia, near Vancouver, Canada.
Canada East was based out of Ontario, Canada.
The USA Hawks consists of 34 players using facilities in Columbus, Ohio.
Canada West was based out of British Columbia, near Vancouver, Canada.
Canada East was based out of Ontario, Canada.
These four team played 2006-2008 in a short three week season in the summer months. An elimination weekend and a championship weekend decided first, second and third. Canada West won all three years. The expectations of the NA4 was to expand by two more teams every year allowing to increase the season length. Expectations were to have 8 teams to sell off in 2008 into commercial franchises.
Canadian Rugby Championship
In 2009 partially fund by IRB in grant to develop Tier 2 Nations. Canadian Rugby Championship (CRC) succeed from the NA4 with an additional team to compete with British Columbia and Vancouver. British Columbia was matched with Prairie Provinces Wolfpack in the Western Conference and Vancouver was matched with St. Johns (Eastern five Provinces) in the Eastern conferences. The CRC was a 3 weekend season in 2009. In 2010 the CRC 3 week season with a playoff matches. The 2011 CRC was a 5 week season without a playoff. 2012 CRC was a 5 week season with a final match.
In 2009 partially fund by IRB in grant to develop Tier 2 Nations. Canadian Rugby Championship (CRC) succeed from the NA4 with an additional team to compete with British Columbia and Vancouver. British Columbia was matched with Prairie Provinces Wolfpack in the Western Conference and Vancouver was matched with St. Johns (Eastern five Provinces) in the Eastern conferences. The CRC was a 3 weekend season in 2009. In 2010 the CRC 3 week season with a playoff matches. The 2011 CRC was a 5 week season without a playoff. 2012 CRC was a 5 week season with a final match.
Americas Rugby Championship
In 2009 USA Rugby entered into a 4 team annual series along with Rugby Canada select side to challenge Argentina Jaguars and Tonga. Eventually Tonga was replaced in the series with Uruguay. Argentina Jaguars won all series in 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2013. Canada came runner up three times and USA Rugby one time runner up in the series.
In 2009 USA Rugby entered into a 4 team annual series along with Rugby Canada select side to challenge Argentina Jaguars and Tonga. Eventually Tonga was replaced in the series with Uruguay. Argentina Jaguars won all series in 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2013. Canada came runner up three times and USA Rugby one time runner up in the series.
Recap NA4
Rugby Canada teams were playing in stadium capacities of 7,500 and succeeding. America has since hosted international teams that broke record of 17,000 in 2012 versus Italy and in 2013 20,000 in attendance versus Ireland. November 9th 2013 USA Rugby will host New Zealand's Maori in Philadelphia at PPL Park. Rugby has dramatically increased its T.V. audience of rugby to large broadcasting stations across the entire nation since year 2009. Rugby live broadcast reached 3.5 million viewers, even re-run past events are on the air broadcasting today.With USA Rugby recruiting former high performance football players, T.V. ratings will climb higher.
Rugby Canada teams were playing in stadium capacities of 7,500 and succeeding. America has since hosted international teams that broke record of 17,000 in 2012 versus Italy and in 2013 20,000 in attendance versus Ireland. November 9th 2013 USA Rugby will host New Zealand's Maori in Philadelphia at PPL Park. Rugby has dramatically increased its T.V. audience of rugby to large broadcasting stations across the entire nation since year 2009. Rugby live broadcast reached 3.5 million viewers, even re-run past events are on the air broadcasting today.With USA Rugby recruiting former high performance football players, T.V. ratings will climb higher.
Proofing National teams are capable and profitable.
Way #2: Sevens
Olympic Sevens is American perfect form of rugby. Instead of 15 players on one side of the ball, rugby adapted to 7. Less players more focus on the athlete. Sevens is faster with less tackles and less stoppage of the game. Rugby Sevens increases frequency of scoring to roughly less than a minute to increase excitement of the game. Rugby Sevens is perfect for Americans because the halves are only 7 minutes long which will increase T.V. contract revenues. The entire game spans into less than 20 minutes to keep American audience’s attention spans. Rugby Sevens allows multiple games per day event versus other teams repeatedly. With shorter rosters better pay can be spread around for higher incomes to obtain greater athletes to convert football players to the game of rugby.
Olympic Sevens is American perfect form of rugby. Instead of 15 players on one side of the ball, rugby adapted to 7. Less players more focus on the athlete. Sevens is faster with less tackles and less stoppage of the game. Rugby Sevens increases frequency of scoring to roughly less than a minute to increase excitement of the game. Rugby Sevens is perfect for Americans because the halves are only 7 minutes long which will increase T.V. contract revenues. The entire game spans into less than 20 minutes to keep American audience’s attention spans. Rugby Sevens allows multiple games per day event versus other teams repeatedly. With shorter rosters better pay can be spread around for higher incomes to obtain greater athletes to convert football players to the game of rugby.
Rugby Sevens is less inexpensive method to start a league of rugby franchises across the nation. Rugby Sevens can pave the way for rugby union 15s in the futures to come once there is a foundation.
But from right now USA Rugby has the 2016 Olympic gold title to defend.
Twitter: @hawkeyerugby
Google+ MichaelKlostermannIowa
Twitter: @hawkeyerugby
Google+ MichaelKlostermannIowa
