Crusaders to play Saracens in USA

[nickdnz]

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - The emergence of the United States as a lucrative rugby market continued on Wednesday with the announcement seven-times Super Rugby champions Canterbury Crusaders will play English powerhouse Saracens in the Superdome in New Orleans.
News of the August exhibition match follows on from the announcement that Australia's Wallabies would play the United States at Chicago's Soldier Field en route to the World Cup later this year.
The All Blacks also played the Eagles in Chicago last year.
The 'Hemispheres Cup' in New Orleans will be played on Aug. 1, though it is unlikely any international players will be involved just six weeks out from the World Cup.
Crusaders Chief Executive Hamish Riach said their team would be a combination of Super Rugby and provincial players.
"This will be an amazing opportunity for some of our local players to be involved in such a unique event," he said.
"There is a real appetite for rugby in the United States at the moment, so I am sure that the game will be well supported."
Rugby's power brokers have long eyed the United States as an untapped source of commercial revenue and playing stocks, though the inclusion of rugby sevens at next year's Olympics has been seen as a stepping stone to cracking the market.
The United States won their first World Sevens Series tournament in London last Sunday, while World Rugby said last week the 2018 sevens World Cup would be held in San Francisco

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https://nz.sports.yahoo.com/rugby/n...s-as-crusaders-to-play-saracens-in-superdome/

The downside of this is that the Crusaders won't really be the Crusaders, considering who they are likely to be missing :/.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

If Saracens are missing all of their internationals, as well, then that's like 12+ of their match day 23 as well.

Be a bit of a test of depth, but could be a good exhibition, and if the price is right should sell well (especially after the USA's recent success in the 7s).

 

[Amiga500]

Its what the fans want.

 

[jonny24]

Soo..... ?

 

[Mackem Falcon]

Wonder if these games being played in the US will give way to some sort of Club World Cup. Could feature 4 teams in a round-robin format: Champions cup winners, Challenge cup winners and the Super Rugby finalists or the winners of the AP, pro-12, T14 and SR. All 4 teams playing at the same ground on the same day around the US.

 

[ratsapprentice]

...And not particularly surprisingly: http://www.thisisamericanrugby.com/2015/06/saracens-crusaders-match-reportedly-axed.html?spref=tw

Another one bites the dust.