American rugby players based in the English Premiership will be released for the US Eagles’ game against world champions New Zealand on November 1.
The match, which will be played at the NFL’s Chicago Bears’ 61,500-capacity Soldier Field home, falls outside the International Rugby Board’s autumn Test window.
Premiership clubs would not have been obliged to release non-English players, but Premiership Rugby confirmed an agreement had been reached with USA Rugby.
Northampton forward Samu Manoa, Saracens’ Chris Wyles and Leicester back Blaine Scully are among those likely to be part of the Eagles’ plans against the All Blacks.
And the news has been welcomed by USA Rugby chief executive Nigel Melville, the former Wasps and Gloucester rugby director.
“This is a significant milestone in the development of the game in the USA,” Melville said.
“We will be playing the world champions, New Zealand, in an iconic football stadium, in front of a record 60,000 capacity crowd with a live broadcast via NBC with a reach of over 115 million homes in the USA.
“The other three matches in November provide opportunities for some of our younger players to play for the Eagles and to stake their claim for a place in the 2015 Rugby World Cup.”
Premiership Rugby chief executive Mark McCafferty added: “As we help grow the sport in the USA, it is essential to support a match of this quality which has clearly captured the interest of the American supporters.”
It will be New Zealand’s first competitive appearance in the USA since 1980.
USrugger
Guest
Maybe...but very few in the US is huge. With a population of some 320 million, there are more than enough great athletes to go around. The stadium is sold out. With Olympic participation...albeit in 7s...& growing school exposure, I'm excited about the game here...
American Dave
Guest
Great to hear the Eagles' European players will be available. It will be especially good to see how Cam Dolan's game has developed since joining Northhampton. Win, draw or loose (admittedly in order of increasing probability) the test should do good things for the profile of rugby in the US. The ABs have been doing some pretty good work to promote this game in Chicago.
richard
Guest
Gold!
Aidan Loveridge
Roar Pro
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahauaha yeah they're not even going to speak about him even if he makes a practice squad he wont actually play for atleast a year while he learns the basics. I for one hate rugby league its basically a dumbed down version off rugby union that has pointless scrums holds club higher than country used to have shoulder charges which was one good thing they had and now thats gone. It will never rival rugby in anywhere but aus and maybe england
In Brief
Guest
Looks like the 'Hayne Train' has stolen rugby's thunder with rugby league now taking centre stage. ;-)
Aidan Loveridge
Roar Pro
I like the eagles but i dislike the cockiness of americans when it comes to sport they think they're countries athletes are the best in the world and that every sport they put effort into they win but i don't believe that especially in rugby yes they could be in the top 10 in 10 years but until they have boys that grow up with rugby and live and breath it they wont go much higher. Also congratulations Uruguay even though your pretty much in the group of death :)
Mattocks
Guest
Current world champions versus current Olympic champions. Should be a cracker.
So Cal Ray
Guest
While it may seem unfair, a trouncing at the hands of the All Blacks will have a minimal effect on the general publics perception of rugby. Neither would an Eagles victory, the biggest upset in rugby history. It just isn't on J. Q. Public's radar. At the time of kickoff, there could be as many as 5-6 different college football games on the various networks - maybe more. The NFL plays on Sunday, so at least it's not competing with the juggernaught. Basketball season and ice hockey are well up and running. In that sporting congestion, the MLS soccer play-offs will barely rate a blimp in the TV ratings. It will be a great rugby weekend in Chicago for all the folks who make it out to the game - and there will be huge support for the AB's, but if the Kiwi's put three quick tries on the board, there will be very few watching the game on TV - just the Kiwis who could not make it to Chicago!
John
Guest
Good to hear they got they're team at full strength.
kibuib
Guest
It won't damage the growth of rugby in the USA, it will spur us to get better, and catch up with the rest of the world. Rugby is growing and high school games have plenty of quality. College rugby is pretty competitive and the USA will be a second tier team by 2019.
Die hard
Roar Rookie
The only thing the ARU come up with is more games against NZ. Maybe they can follow their lead. But before they do they owe Tongaa home game as ppayback for all those Tongans playing for the wallabies.
Simon_Sez
Roar Guru
God save America, but it is only God who will save the Eagles.
moaman
Guest
I was pleasantly surprised by the Eagles' stout showing against NZ Maori last year---with a parochial and vocal crowd behind them there is no reason why they can't acquit themselves well in this fixture; If they can keep it tight for an hour who would begrudge them shipping a few points at the death? I'm interested in the ground; according to wiki it once held 100,000 but extensive renovations-particularly in the 90s and early 2000s have seen the original U-shape plugged by a new stand and more seating ultimately reducing capacity to around 60,000.Apparently it is the oldest and third-smallest NFL stadium. Whatever happens on the day--and remember it could be literally freezing at kickoff time----this match is bound to generate some good publicity for the game in North America.And it's something a little different for the jaded fans over here ;-)
richard
Guest
Why? Give you a feelgood factor,does it? Scoreline is irrelevant,it's quality of performance that counts.
Dave H
Guest
The rugby fan in me hopes for a high scoring, clincaland ruthless display of AB dominance to show the Americans how beautiful our game can be when played well but the cynic in me suggests a trouncing will do a lot of damage to US rugby with the American publics inability to accept failure on the world stage. Can Americans embrace a sport in which they are not the worls best or at least competitive? Perhaps I am just ill informed, but I think not.
Tom
Guest
Not quite true - some of them are fringe players for their respective clubs. But at least two or three are very important to their clubs. Samu Manoa, for example, is one of Saints' best players and would probably be in the England team were he English. Guys like Wyles and Scully are also very important.
therugbyfan
Guest
I just hope the AB's lay 100 on them lol
Simon_Sez
Roar Guru
This is an exciting development for rugby in the USA to a packed out stand and being potentially shown in so many homes in the USA. . I just hope the Americans don't get turned off when the All Blacks give their team a dusting. I would like To see Australia feed from the same $$ trough. The other interesting piece of related news is that USA players can get releases by clubs for national test duties outside the official IRB test windows. I am sure it has something to do with the players desire to play for their country and could even include a condition in their club contracts. This should be investigated further by the ARU, but it probably won't because they have trouble even managing just a single player. . . incompetent!
Eddard
Roar Guru
Good they'll be available but the 3 for 1 deal seems a little excessive by the clubs. 2 for 1 would have been more reasonable but they obviously played hardball. The Soldier Field looks a little more narrow than most rugby stadiums. If that is the case then it should help limit the score a little. Regardless of how many the All Blacks score it would be great if the Eagles can score a try or two. Hoping for a result like 50-15 rather than 80-6.
Dubaikiwi
Guest
Or we didnt really need them anyway so will make it look good, cause i really believe they have the USA growth in their frame of mind. Yea right!