Six Nations: World Rugby Offers to Assist in Moving a Fixture to the USA
BBC Sport reports on World Rugby's initiative to promote rugby in the United States, specifically considering a potential switch of a Six Nations match to the country.
World Rugby's Plan to Expand in the USA
World Rugby aims to bring more prestigious rugby fixtures to the United States, building on the success of recent matches like South Africa vs. New Zealand in Baltimore, which sold out the 71,000-capacity M&T Bank Stadium.
"In terms of the match-day economics, [South Africa vs. New Zealand] is like a Six Nations match... So if there is the appetite to take some of these big matches in the future to the US, we can now." - Alan Gilpin, World Rugby Chief Executive
Historical Successes and Future Opportunities
The All Blacks, known for their efforts to establish rugby in the USA, achieved a notable victory over Ireland at Chicago's Soldier Field in 2016, repeating the success in 2025. New Zealand has also played matches against the United States and Fiji in the past decade, indicating a growing interest in the American market.
World Rugby recognizes the potential of the Six Nations tournament, with its strong expatriate fan bases in the USA, as a tool to further expand the sport's reach in the country. However, a long-haul venue switch, like playing a Six Nations match in the USA, would be unprecedented in the tournament's history.
Key Takeaways:
- World Rugby is open to assisting any nation that wishes to host a Six Nations match in the USA.
- The financial viability of such a move is not the primary barrier, suggesting a potential for growth.
- The history and strong fan bases of the Six Nations could be valuable assets in expanding rugby in the USA.
- A decision to move a Six Nations fixture would ultimately rest with the participating nations.