For the past few weeks, there has been a bit of buzz amongst the rugby league online community about a possible televised, fully professional, and nationwide American rugby league competition ready to be announced in weeks.
This new league, called the National Rugby League, will start out consisting of eight privately owned teams spanning the East Coast to the West Coast.
It appears they will be using stadia built for the MLS.
So far only small amounts of details have slowly leaked out through the official website, which means we are still left with many unanswered questions.
Where is the money coming from? How will they get crowds?
Despite this, there is no questioning the potential of marketing rugby league to an American audience. It is perfect for television. It’s more like American football then any other code of football: it’s quick, end to end, and a hard hitting sport with excellent camera angles, especially in those close try decisions.
Another big thing is talent.
There are many highly skilled athletes who get rejected and don’t make the NFL. This is the kind of talent that rugby league could take advantage of.
There is a big chance that this thing could flop, just like Pro Cricket and the XFL. But, if successful, it could be huge.
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April 8th 2009 @ 12:45pm
PastHisBest said | April 8th 2009 @ 12:45pm | Report comment
“in swimming they have a good rivalry going with OZ, so trying to beat us at our own games are massive incentives”
You have to be joking right?! That is just about the longest bow ever drawn. Why not AFL? Now that’s an Australian game. Two up?
Take a break oikee.
April 8th 2009 @ 1:30pm
Col the Bear said | April 8th 2009 @ 1:30pm | Report comment
Maybe RL could team up with an NFL team for monetary support, and learn from their administrations..12 mil a year is to run a club is probably a pittance to them, how much to run an NFL team a year i wonder, and ideas..
Central Coast Bears and Chicago Bears..partnership.(just for MF)
Richo at Souths has had talks with Giants recently.
Gold Coast were talking with dolphins until they had to change their name, could team up with tennessee Titans
Canberra raiders and Oakland Raiders or Minnessota vikings.
West tigers and Cincinnitti Bengals.
Manly sea eagles and seattle sea Hawks or Philadelphia Eagles
Brisbane and Denver broncos
st george and New orleans saints
North Qld and dallas Cowboys..
penrith panthers and Carolina Panthers
Newcastle Knights and the New england patriots.
Melbourne storm and San diego chargers.
new Zealand warriors and Kansas city chiefs.
Bulldogs and Buffalo bills
Eels and Greenbay packers
Sharks and tampa bay Buccaneers.. OK now i’m getting desperate.. but you know what i mean..
April 8th 2009 @ 1:34pm
Col the Bear said | April 8th 2009 @ 1:34pm | Report comment
Oh Roosters and New York jets, (because of newtown)
April 8th 2009 @ 1:42pm
jaymz said | April 8th 2009 @ 1:42pm | Report comment
I think they need to get competitions started in high schools and colleges, possibly ones without strong links to gridiron. You can then build a culture in these places and help the game grow. It also wouldnt hurt to include tomahawks in a yearly international comp (like pacific nations cup, 4 nations, etc). For the game to really take off internationally i do believe USA and China should be the first nations who become competitive with AUS,NZ,GB. Also they should move the WCC to the USA, its a neutral country and with a bit of promotion from a Russel Crowe or the like it could really give some exposure
April 8th 2009 @ 2:21pm
Worlds Biggest said | April 8th 2009 @ 2:21pm | Report comment
Carl, you should get a job with Geoff Carr and Colin Love at the ARL promoting the code world wide. What’s next, South Korea & China ?.
Oikee – surely your comment about the Tomahawks was a gee up !.
April 8th 2009 @ 2:30pm
Brian Ferrie said | April 8th 2009 @ 2:30pm | Report comment
The NFL regular season is only 4 months long. The NFL has its own pay tv network. Rugby league is similar enough and different enough to NFL to appeal to NFL subscribers and fans. Pay tv in the USA needs off season NFL content. Soccer and AFL aren’t going to work as a pay tv game in the USA. Maybe the US NRL will work or maybe it will fail. This isn’t an initiative being pushed by Australian or English league : it is coming from within the USA itself. Surely they know their market better than any Australians.
April 8th 2009 @ 2:34pm
sportsfanslife.com said | April 8th 2009 @ 2:34pm | Report comment
I say why not? Rugby is always spruiking about their global influence, and Rugby League needs to be competitive internationally through more than three countries if they are serious about matching Rugby’s strengths. Even a small percentage of market share would have a big effect, considering the size of the market, population etc. Sure, the timing sucks with the current financial crisis, but if, and it’s a big if, it works….why not?
Can’t believe they are calling it NRL….would have thought they would go with Major League League.
April 8th 2009 @ 2:52pm
Calexico said | April 8th 2009 @ 2:52pm | Report comment
Yesterday I saw Snoop Dogg on television wearing a Souths jumper – suited him.
April 8th 2009 @ 3:17pm
Simon said | April 8th 2009 @ 3:17pm | Report comment
Michael C – you’ve got to be kidding! Aussie Rules will never “break out” in any other country in today’s climate, especially in the US. It is too helter skelter with no perceived structure. While the Aussies might love this, I simply disagree that the US will even like it!
April 8th 2009 @ 3:33pm
oikee said | April 8th 2009 @ 3:33pm | Report comment
Pasthisbest, yes you are, its a victorian game(afl) , nothing more nothing less. Until you have a team in Tassie i will never eccept its national.
Really i dont find anything wrong with what i said, we have a rivalry with the yanks in swimming, bet you went to harvard ya basturd. And yes you can include beating us at AFL in there as well if you like. Pull your fingers out of OZ and move overseas instead of wasting all your money on the coast and sydney Pasthisbest..