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Involving
USA V NZ Maori's
then
NZ V Ireland
USA V NZ Maori's
then
NZ V Ireland
Wouldn't this be a good way to help raise the profile In The USA?
Tony doesn't like money.
Although if NZ want to do it, they should use there own home game.
Couldn't really see the IRFU going for it. If NZ want a test in Chicago v Ireland they should play it in June.
More evidence that money, or the desire for it, is going to ruin the game!
November can be inside the window, so I don't see what the problem is.
Chicago is a very "Irish" city, with Irish-Americans making up the largest ethnic group. I am sure Ireland would get great support from the locals
Sounds like a bloody good idea. Although I never realised that Chicago was an Irish town - I tend to think of Boston when I think Irish Americans. The game needs a high profile match in the US, and the All Blacks playing a well represented ethnic identity like the Irish makes more sense than just about anything really.
I think half of north-east Murica thinks they're Irish tbh.
On the one hand, I'd feel bad for all the Irish fans who'd lose out on their chance to see the All Blacks in Dublin, bad for the Irish team that their chance of getting in a win over the All Blacks would be somewhat hampered and so on, but on the other...
... either we're serious about growing the game or we're not.
If we're serious about growing the game, that means taking games people want to see to places they haven't before. If I feel bad for the Irish fans, how am I meant to feel for the American fans who've never ever had a chance to watch a Tier 1 rugby game on their home soil? I know the big idea is America grows their own Tier 1 team but that's a long and rocky road that involves convincing a lot of Americans that rugby is awesomesauce. Besides, it's not like this'll be the only chance Irish fans ever have to see the ABs in Dublin, lets be honest here.
Granted, huge amounts of this is about money. It's not a coincidence that the US is getting more love than most of Tier 2. I dislike exhibition matches because I dislike the idea of dumping on the fans who make the whole thing possible by taking games they wanted to see away, just for more money... but, well, more money is needed. Nervos belli, pecuniam infinitum and all that. The unions with small population bases need to generate more money if they don't want the game to be sucked into a black hole consisting of the French and English leagues.
I'd like to be against it but there is both some altruistic good to come out of this and some not so altruistic good.
The All Blacks (I rarely use the franchise name but think it's apt here) would have to make a hell of a pitch to get the IRFU to send a team to the states in November..
If we're serious about growing the game, that means taking games people want to see to places they haven't before. If I feel bad for the Irish fans, how am I meant to feel for the American fans who've never ever had a chance to watch a Tier 1 rugby game on their home soil? I know the big idea is America grows their own Tier 1 team but that's a long and rocky road that involves convincing a lot of Americans that rugby is awesomesauce. Besides, it's not like this'll be the only chance Irish fans ever have to see the ABs in Dublin, lets be honest here.
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