NRL US - will Americans watch it?

[PlainSimpleJoel]

Next March, the NRL US (National Rugby League US) will start, with an eight team contest. Currently six teams are already announced being based in Philadelphia, New York, Los Angeles, Denver, Jacksonville and Boston, with two teams to be announced to be on the west coast.

There are talks with NBC to broadcast it, and Donald Trump is interested in it also.

More here!

 

[Michael Chris]

Some will. I know one person who is slightly interested in rugby.

 

[Mallory]

I'll probably check it out, but given rugby's popularity here I'm not optimistic about the future for this venture.

 

[SomniumRabidum]

This will fail, miserably. It's not Rugby's fault, but there is next to no chance that American sports fans will embrace Rugby.

American football is far too popular, and Rugby bears far too close a resemblance to it.

Add that to the NHL, NBA, MMA, MLB, NASCAR, etc.... and there's very little room for a new major professional sport.

 

[nevermore]

Football > Rugby.

 

[RoJoHen]

It will have about as great a following as Arena Football.

 

[Titus Andronicus]

You know, I'd watch it. I don't know much about Rugby, but I'd certainly give the sport a chance, and also learn more about it along the way.

 

[SmoothieX]

It will have about as great a following as Arena Football.

I would say more like MLS.

 

[Jono]

I almost hope it isn't successful because if it is and Australian players start moving there we'll have to put up with endless Gus whinging about local players going overseas.

 

[PlainSimpleJoel]

^ I don't think many people will be, as they can't compete with the NRL here. It might stop some players going to England.

 

[BenRoethig]

It will have about as great a following as Arena Football.

I would say more like MLS.

I think it will have about the same following as major league Lacrosse. On the brightside, soccer will have another sport below it on the totem pole. Through a curling league in this and the MLS might look respectable.

 

[Skywalker]

I almost hope it isn't successful because if it is and Australian players start moving there we'll have to put up with endless Gus whinging about local players going overseas.

I wouldn't be too worried about it. MLS still has trouble keeping their marquee players from leaving for Europe, and they've been around since the late '90s. So maybe a few Australian players will move here because they've been lured away in hopes of generating interest for the NRL, but it probably won't be too bad.