Bledisloe Cup test could be played in US

[Flamethrower]

Bledisloe Cup test could be played in US
By GREG FORD - Sunday Star Times | Sunday, 24 August 2008
Bledisloe Cup test could be played in US - New Zealand's source for sport, rugby, cricket & league news on Stuff.co.nz


First it was Hong Kong, now it appears the Bledisloe Cup is headed stateside.

The New Zealand Rugby Union confirmed yesterday it was "in dialogue" with the United States Rugby Union and "may" stage one of next year's Bledisloe Cup matches against Australia in the US.

Although the concept is in its genesis, the old Mile High Stadium site in Denver, Colorado, where the US Rugby headquarters is based, has been designated as the likely venue. The NZRU recently started a formal relationship with the US union as the US is a market it's keen to tap into.

NZRU chief executive Steve Tew said: "We're looking at a number of possibilities [for next year's Bledisloe Cup]. Denver is one of them. But as I said, we're in the very early stages.

"It would be wrong to say we're planning a test there. That would be going too far. But it's fair to say we're looking at it. But before we make any decision we need to ascertain whether it is viable first. It has to stack up. There has to be a genuine reason for being there."

One reason would be money. A match in the US could generate some serious cash. Rugby is a fledgling sport in the US but the All Blacks brand has a solid following and would prove a drawcard as it's proving for this year's Hong Kong Bledisloe fixture.

Tew confirmed that match is all but sold out and if next year's Bledisloe in the US were equally as popular, test matches in the US could become a regular part of the landscape.

Tew said there was an appetite for big tests on foreign territory and the Australian Rugby Union was keen to take a game to Tokyo next year, which could supplant the fixture in Denver. An All Blacks' match against Ireland in New York or Boston has also been talked about.

[jargan83]

so it looks like the national bodies are going to sell out the Bledisloe again.

At least least the rest of the world knows who the top nations in Rugby are and thats the Southern Hemisphere nations

[jono]

ive an idea steve.
HOW ABOUT GIVING PERTH ONE!
i mean seeing as australia is one of the nations who actually PLAYS in the bledisloe... you would think it would be common sense to share it around said country. espically seeing as western australian rugby players play in the australian side...
prick...

[jargan83]

no stadium, we have been through this before
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[Flamethrower]

Ranga Goldfish????

[jargan83]

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[BLR]

Denver? Pfft, who wants to go there on a rugby trip?

[Moses]

espically seeing as western australian rugby players play in the australian side...
prick...

Didn't think you liked Sheehan?

[shasta]

no stadium, we have been through this before
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The Carpenter Monument will allow 60,000 punters to the 2021 Bledisloe match in Perth. Most of them will be further away than they are now but at least we'll get a Bledisloe - if he wins and if he keeps his promise.

[BLR]

Didn't think you liked Sheehan?

He's just racist towards non-rangas, don't mind him.

[Burgs]

I doubt Australia would agree to Denver.
Was watching a Dallas Cowboys pre season doco where they had a week there with the Denver Broncos. Being in different Conferences it was the first time most of the Cowboys had travelled there and most of them commented that the altitude really killed them.
Fair enough if playing against the US but too much at risk in a Bledisloe.
Would think up in the North East States or California would be more likely Larry/thunderchook?

[BLR]

They should put it in Boston or preferabbly New York, I'd go there. Not LA though, we don't want our players coming back with facelifts.

[.X.]

I don't see how Americans will pay $$$ to go see a match that doesn't have a great deal of "wide spread" appeal nor does it involve their own Team.

It would make more sense to have the game play in Singapore or China. At least there is a growing interest in the game there.

[beige]

You'd get a bigger crowd in the US than you would in China. I imagine you'd generate good interest in Singapore though.

[GIGS20]

Yeah I reckon the US will fill a stadium for Rugby. I mean look at the crowds they get for hot dog eating and poker.......110,000 for a game of rugger would surely be childsplay.

Fron the way thunderchook talks, California would be the place.