Earlier this year I wrote briefly about the inaugural season of PRO Rugby, the first professional rugby competition blazing a path for the game in the USA and potentially Canada.
For those unfamiliar, PRO Rugby or the Professional Rugby Organisation as it’s official known is a five-team professional rugby union league. With teams based in San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento, Denver and Ohio with as many as five more planned for its second season including possibly two Canadian franchises, PRO is a centralised league owned and operated by former bond trader Doug Schoninger.
News of its emergence broke in October 2015 and thanks to a shot clock as part of their sanctioning by USA Rugby things moved quickly to launched the first season in March this year.
Squads were hastily assembled with what available talent there was and training begun.
So it could be excused if the standard of play was a little sketchy. Excused but not necessary. Out of the gate the games were open and entertaining. Played at high pace. At times the skill levels didn’t quite match the intent but as the season progressed teams leveled out, a much greater parity was established all the while the games remained well worth the viewing.
Early favourites Denver burst out of the gate looking very strong early on. Only to be run down by a hugely impressive Ohio. Mid season teams were named via an online poll. Not bragging but my suggestion of Stampede for Denver and Breakers for San Diego won out.
Sacramento, San Francisco and San Diego had their ebbs and flows.
In the end perhaps fittingly the final game of the season ended up between Ohio and Denver in Columbus, OH. In lieu of a official Championship game (original plan called for six teams but field issues prevented that) a pack Aviator Field witnessed probably the best game of a very good first season.
Unfortunately for Ohio despite Ohio winning two of the two teams three meetings including the final game a dropped game earlier in the season proved costly as Denver claimed the title on points difference.
Overall, PRO Rugby’s inaugural season was hugely successful. Things were trialed and changed throughout the season. Denver moved stadium and the league opted to control its own content but this was expected for what was effectively its Beta Test.
In fact, its success can be measured by recent interest of both the Pro12 and Toulon. Both looking at entering the North American market in so form or another. The Pro12 in the form of a couple of franchises as they look to counter the growing gap financially between themselves and their European rivals and Toulon mooting a potential rival league.
SANZAAR have also been hinted at but nothing public has emerged. Personally, I believe PRO should be given the opportunity to fail. Not that I want that to happen. But they should be at least allowed to fulfill their sanctioning period which runs from 2018 with an option to extend it to 2020.
But that’s not to say I don’t think the likes of SANZAAR shouldn’t look to get involved. Setting up a strategic alliance with PRO would be a shrewd move on behalf of SANZAAR.
With suggestion that PRO will be looking to further align their season with that of Super Rugby, SANZAAR providing intellectual capital and systems could help PRO accelerate its progress.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Have to wonder how much the decision to keep the 6Ns as is will affect tbe viability of Pro12 plans in the US?
Derm
Roar Guru
The new "Global Season" that is due to be signed off in November will have a bearing on all this. Looks like SANZAAR have got their way and the NH club season will shift to start later and finish in June, with tests happening in July instead to allow the Super rugby season to finish without being interrupted. The mid-year tests will be scrapped for the year following a RWC. Lions tours and RWCs to continue as they are. Lions tour in 2021 will play in July and August though. Six Nations won't shift as England and France hold sway, so PRO12 plans for a shorter league season to run until March are now poleaxed.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Funny that you should mention that. While PRO Rugby is looking to align itself with the spring/summer months there are movements a foot for a pre-existing club league to make a similar jump offering similar sized contracts. This league is primarily Texas based and looks set to align itself with an autumn/winter schedule. So, your scenario isn't entirelt implausible even wothout Pro12 or SR.
AndyS
Guest
It is an interesting thought that the US could perhaps enjoy the best of all worlds. They could align with Sanzar in the Northern States with Canada and Argentina for a summer competition and Tests, then Europe in the southern states for a winter comp. Incredible opportunity for their players if they could handle the player management challenge.
Bakkies
Guest
Doesn't it have Pro 12, Top 14, AP, not the Heineken Cup sponsored by Heineken?
Working Class Rugger
Guest
That's part of the reason I think SANZAAR should be looking to partner with PRO. There could be the option of bringing in a completely new conference in the future. It's about options for both parties. PRO is sanctioned up until 2018 with an option to extend to 2020. In 2021 PRO if partnered with SANZAAR in the near future could look to join the alliance.
KD
Roar Rookie
Im sure Sanzaar will bring North America into the fold in the next broadcast agreement, most likely starting off with a team each for USA and Canada.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Word is apparently Houston is firming as the likely best candidate for a Pro12 team. To work around the weather issue. I suggested SANZAAR partnering with PRO as a means of accelerating its development. I actually think that would be a wiser move.
Unanimous
Guest
Playing outdoors in Dec, Jan, and Feb can be difficult in Canada and parts of the US particularly Jan and early Feb. Alignment with Super Rugby might make more sense than with European leagues if a champions league style competition is to ever take place. A champions league comp involving US teams will bring something to the US that is mostly missing from its sports market - genuine international club competition. Only rugby or soccer could do this, and the soccer calendar is full for top soccer clubs. It'll be a few years before US teams are good enough for even a second level champions league, but when they are there'll be a lot of value there. Perhaps a Pro12 team would be based in the southern states or west coast but then their reach is limited.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Just tidbits that emerged. Nothing officially confirmed. Hence why I called it a tidbit.:D
So Cal Ray
Guest
That number of views per game sounds way over stated. The field where they played had no stadium, it was the practice field for the Columbus Crew MSL team, so I'm just a bit curious how they could be at those numbers. Particularly in a small, local market. The team did improve impressively as the season went on, to their credit. Pretty unlucky not to win it all.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Cannot tell you much but a little tidbit emerged near the end of its first season. The Ohio games were carried by Time Warnera online streaming service. They were apparently averaging over 120,000 views a games. To put that into perspective, the Aviva games saw numbers of 80 -100,000 per game. As for where it may end up. Bein wouldn't be ideal to be honest. Limited reach in the US. They should be targetting the likes of ESPN, Versus etc.
gatesy
Roar Guru
The sleeping giant is finally starting to yawn ...it has to be good for Rugby, which is what I have been saying for years - but we have to remember that it is 7's that is putting the game on the map there, so it will be interesting to see what traction PRO Rugby gets.
gatesy
Roar Guru
I hope Bein Sports picks it up - there's a scarcity of Rugby there at the moment
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Yeah, solid without veing spectacular. Which is actually fairly good to start. Both games managed to outrate the two Bundesliga games shown at the same time. Positive signs. I'm hoping that they do well and grow as the season progresses. Hopefully that will prompt ESPN to up their broadcast of Super Rugby next year as well.
Steve
Guest
I notice that they got some ok ratings for the English Premiership on NBC.