Bad Company
08-24-2008, 05:25 AM
Bledisloe Cup test could be played in US
By GREG FORD - Sunday Star Times | Sunday, 24 August 2008
The New Zealand Rugby Union confirmed yesterday it was "in dialogue" with
the United States Rugby Union and "may" stage one of next year's Bledisloe
Cup matches against Australia in the US.
Although the concept is in its genesis, the old Mile High Stadium site in
Denver, Colorado, where the US Rugby headquarters is based, has been
designated as the likely venue. The NZRU recently started a formal
relationship with the US union as the US is a market it's keen to tap into.
NZRU chief executive Steve Tew said: "We're looking at a number of
possibilities [for next year's Bledisloe Cup]. Denver is one of them. But as
I said, we're in the very early stages.
"It would be wrong to say we're planning a test there. That would be going
too far. But it's fair to say we're looking at it. But before we make any
decision we need to ascertain whether it is viable first. It has to stack
up. There has to be a genuine reason for being there."
One reason would be money. A match in the US could generate some serious
cash. Rugby is a fledgling sport in the US but the All Blacks brand has a
solid following and would prove a drawcard as it's proving for this year's
Hong Kong Bledisloe fixture.
Tew confirmed that match is all but sold out and if next year's Bledisloe in
the US were equally as popular, test matches in the US could become a
regular part of the landscape.
Tew said there was an appetite for big tests on foreign territory and the
Australian Rugby Union was keen to take a game to Tokyo next year, which
could supplant the fixture in Denver. An All Blacks' match against Ireland
in New York or Boston has also been talked about.
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So, a match between 2 of the top sides in world rugby in Denver could be on the cards.
Would anyone from here go see it?
By GREG FORD - Sunday Star Times | Sunday, 24 August 2008
The New Zealand Rugby Union confirmed yesterday it was "in dialogue" with
the United States Rugby Union and "may" stage one of next year's Bledisloe
Cup matches against Australia in the US.
Although the concept is in its genesis, the old Mile High Stadium site in
Denver, Colorado, where the US Rugby headquarters is based, has been
designated as the likely venue. The NZRU recently started a formal
relationship with the US union as the US is a market it's keen to tap into.
NZRU chief executive Steve Tew said: "We're looking at a number of
possibilities [for next year's Bledisloe Cup]. Denver is one of them. But as
I said, we're in the very early stages.
"It would be wrong to say we're planning a test there. That would be going
too far. But it's fair to say we're looking at it. But before we make any
decision we need to ascertain whether it is viable first. It has to stack
up. There has to be a genuine reason for being there."
One reason would be money. A match in the US could generate some serious
cash. Rugby is a fledgling sport in the US but the All Blacks brand has a
solid following and would prove a drawcard as it's proving for this year's
Hong Kong Bledisloe fixture.
Tew confirmed that match is all but sold out and if next year's Bledisloe in
the US were equally as popular, test matches in the US could become a
regular part of the landscape.
Tew said there was an appetite for big tests on foreign territory and the
Australian Rugby Union was keen to take a game to Tokyo next year, which
could supplant the fixture in Denver. An All Blacks' match against Ireland
in New York or Boston has also been talked about.
------------------------------------------------------------------
So, a match between 2 of the top sides in world rugby in Denver could be on the cards.
Would anyone from here go see it?