Professional rugby league in the USA looks set to emerge on the world stage. The World Arena Rugby (Union) Championship will be played out over two days this August at the Allen Convention Centre in Allen on the outskirts of Dallas, Texas.
Originally established as an exhibition concept in 1998, with a select team from both Los Angeles and Dallas and again in 2004, the owners of the concept Zuma Beach Entertainment will be looking at the August event to look to launch an 8 team, 12 round league in 2014 culminating in a playoff series that will feature both a semi- final and bowl game.
Based around the 7s variant of the game, Arena Rugby utilises similar dimensions to that of the Arena Football League (and varying other indoor sporting leagues in the US) which is roughly 50 metres in length by 25-35 metres wide.
The working theory behind this is to make the game more accessible to new audiences bringing the crowd closer to the action and making the nature of play more obvious and easier to understand. Another theory is that the non-stop action involved would be desirable for sports broadcasting demand from networks.
This is just another of what has been a plethora of groups looking to bring professional rugby to the USA in the past two years.
You have Grand Prix 7s, American Professional Rugby Competition (driven by Australian sports marketing group Moore Sports), North American Professional Rugby League out of Delaware, RugbyLaw out of Minnesota and now Zuma with WAR.
It’s quite a list, one that’s likely to narrow in the coming six to twelve months.
So, how likely is it that this concept of Arena Rugby will succeed in the short term?
Well, it’s reasonably good at least for one season. Arena sporting leagues already have a presence on the American sporting landscape.
Arena football has no less than seven professional leagues (the AFL being the undoubted largest) and according to reports they already have the sponsorship end covered for the event in August and the proposed league next year.
While Arena Football Leagues have tended to struggle, they all tend to suffer from their similarity to the granddaddy of all sporting leagues in the US in the NFL.
Put simply they lack a real point of difference, are too similar to the real thing and despite of their efforts and claim of being faster and higher scoring (and they tend to be) they pale in comparison to the NFL.
Arena Rugby on the other hand has the advantage of riding the surging growth of rugby, from archived footage is much faster and more physical than its competitors.
If done right, and that’s a big if, by strategically locating teams in rugby hotbeds and keeping the Arenas selected to around 5,000 seats, there is a possibility that not it could get up and running and more importantly enter a second season.
The premise behind its marketing strategy appears to providing a strong, cost effective alternative to other sources of entertainment. A high octane, thrill-a-minute, hour-long event.
Twelve man squads play 4×7 minute quarters, keeping the interest levels up for beginner supporters.
Anyway, I’m going to leave to you to decide and form an opinion.
You’ll notice they have named nine teams that will be competing this August (you’ll also notice that one of them is going by the name of the Philadelphia Fight, an American rugby league team, but I’ve been told that this event will be rugby union) which is interesting and will likely form the core of teams if the league gets up and running.
Credit to Grant Cole of Ruck Bottom for breaking the story and Thisisamericanrugby for reposting it.
Working Class Rugger
Roar Guru
Texas has proven itself to be alongside Northern California, Colorado and Utah to be the really bid surprise for Rugby in the States. The game is going gangbusters in the Lone Start state. Though, its not alone anymore. The recent NY Mayors Cup run by PlayRugbyUSA attracted more than 75 teams of kids under the age of 16. There's examples of huge growth all over the US in regards to youth Rugby. In Maryland only five years ago they had a couple of hundred juniors, that fugure is now over 2,000 and growing at around 10% p. a.
tc
Guest
yeah right So was the game the year before but that didn't stop 20 000+ from turning up this year. A lot of the problem with the US team is that they looked very undisciplined but this will get sorted with more top flight tier one games in the future . I believe once Rugby goes pro in North America it will take Rugby Union to a new level globally ,and by the looks of it, it will be in the next couple of years . There is a down side to this, if pro Rugby is hugely successful in North America then it is a given that they will swoop down south of the equator and take all our top talent including League talent because we simply won't be able to compete with the money they will be able to throw around , so I think it is important for SANZAR to have some kind of input into any venture that starts up other wise we will be left as nothing more than a group of talent development agencies.
yeah, right!
Guest
Unfortunately it was a rubbish game, very stop start, lots of penalties and no tries
Vhavnal
Roar Rookie
Texas is the Homeland for Rugby in the US.. I think on the USA-Ireland game a few weeks ago, over 20,000 came to see it there..
AdamS
Roar Guru
Then write an article. That's what they are for.
Working Class Rugger
Roar Guru
P. Tah, What I don't appreciate is his use of my bloody article on the development of professional Rugby in the States to do it. If he's so concerned he should write his own piece. It's a public site after all, one that encourages users to actively participate in providing content.
Jock M
Guest
p.tah You had better get used to me because I will not be stopping my ' rants' anytime soon. I will debate anyone any time on the demise of our great game.
p.Tah
Guest
Who would have thought Jock M would derail an article to start up his monthly rant about the breakdown? I'm stunned.
Jock M
Guest
The lineout is not a true contest-they are allowed to lift-another farce. Do they lift in any other sports? Yes it has become a game for bigger stronger athletes because they do not run as far as we did,they do not contest the ball at the breakdown and they continually smash into each other.(Just like Rugby League).
Working Class Rugger
Roar Guru
So those haven't been mauls that I've watched during both the Lions series and SR this season. They must have just been scrums formed from lineouts. Funny thing is, they certainly look like mauls to me. The scrum from next year will ensure a contest as they have been ordered to ensure the feed is straight. The lineout is a contest. It just takes timing and ability to decipher the oppositions combinations. The Wallabies did a good job of it last weekend. Rugby has changed since the introduction of professionalism. It's become a game for bigger, stronger athletes. That's the difference.
Jock M
Guest
Davey, It is not just the rucking and drive and urgency that went with it but the fact that Rugby ball players go to ground in or before the tackle. They do not even maul the ball anymore. And why wouldn't they go to ground? All they then have to do is roll over and place-the laws keep the opposition at bay-what a farce! You have been conditioned into believing that you are watching something better but I guarantee that if you were to see a game played under laws that allowed for competition at the breakdown you would enjoy it much more. The modern player has no where near the skills or the demands of the players of my era and before. The game today is much more physical and one dimensional and akin to Rugby League.
Jock M
Guest
If you truly believe that the battle for possession is much more skilfull now,then I suggest that next time you walk through your front gate watch out for the fairies. Have you read the fairy story-The emporer with no clothes?! The message in that story applies to modern Rugby-the most interesting thing is the fact that non players are more in tune with the problems than the traditional supporter and even Test players. I am continually asked-'What happened to the Rugby that the Ellas and Campisi played. I reply that the modern game does not allow for the spectacle and beauty that once applied becuase there is no space for attack and a defensive wall that cannot be got around because forwards are no longer committed to the breakdown. I have even heard it suggested by those who should know better that the two breakaways should be removed to allow more space! Those of you who bother to read this should have a think about what I am saying when you watch your next game..
Davey
Guest
Jock M, I was one of many fans who missed the rucking part of the game but it didn't all affect my love for the sport. Many League fans are upset they have loss their shoulder charge, biff and 80 minutes forwards. Its 2013 and players safety is more important and I think both sports will keep grow despite all this law changes changes. I love rugby now than the rugby I played and watched in the 70's and 80's.
Working Class Rugger
Roar Guru
A farce that has grown consistently world wide year on year. There still is a contest for possession, it's just that now it requires skill and timing in order to execute it. League and Union are much, much different games. But hey, if you're happy thinking this way then go for it. Find some footage of your Rugby and knock yourself out.
Jock M
Guest
Working Class Rugger. You are badly mistaken if you think that I am the only person who has an issue with modern Rugby. Prior to professionalism the ball was continually open to a contest for possession. Due to many devious Law changes at the breakdown,the attacking side has had such an advantage given to it that the defence is given little option but to refrain from entering the breakdown. As a result we have a continuous recycling of the ball by the attacking team which has resulted in flat footed backline play,a lack of urgency at the breakdown and a boring predictability all around. The game differs little from Rugby League now where the ball is played after the tackle by the player getting to his feet. In modern Rugby the tackled player remains on the ground and rolls over and places the ball. In Rugby the tackled player even has to roll away to allow the the tackled player to play the ball. In League the tacklers have to release. What a farce Rugby has become!
Working Class Rugger
Roar Guru
Guys, its a start. Think of it this way. Arena based sports have proven notoriously difficult to develop in a sustainable manner. Mostly because they are pale comparisons of the real thing and much bigger leagues like the NFL. What this has is the lack of a bigger, meaner brother. It won't usurp 15's but it could in inadvertently provide the test case for other groups looking to develop Pro Rugby particularly if it does prove to be popular in its chosen markets,
Working Class Rugger
Roar Guru
It's an interesting concept indeed in terms of using this format to crack other nations. One that immediately comes to mind is China. The Arena Football group that owns the AFL in the States are already looking to do similar with the support of the Chinese Rugby Union. So the question needs to be asked, why not do the same but with Rugby. Would be interesting. Another possibility would be India.
Working Class Rugger
Roar Guru
That's it. It's not going to be one all conquering League that builds an audience for the game, it will be a number of different start ups and yes, probable failures that will get it there. It will take time and effort but the positives are that now their are groups that are seriously looking to do something. There's also one group I forgot to mention purely because they aren't actually a group as such. In Texas there are plans afoot to run three city based select teams in what has been dubbed the Texas Cup (Houston, Dallas and San Antonio from memory). This could again be an unexpected avenue or at the very least the next stepping stone to Pro Rugby. Interesting times indeed.
The Bush
Roar Guru
WCR, Anything that increases the profile of the sport in the US and brings in funds can't hurt - gotta start somewhere. Yeah that little bit of information remains one of the funniest things you'll ever learn because it is probably the greatest example of irony in sport. Insular Australians (or other nationalities) use it as an example of American's being insular/self obsessed, but in reality their own ignorance around the history of the World Series reveals that it is in fact they who are insular/self obsessed!
Working Class Rugger
Roar Guru
Jock M, You're the only person who seems to have an issue with the path Rugby has taken. Tell me, what has been removed from the game that at least in your opinion has changed the game from what you think Rugby was. I'm curious to find out.