New York is set to host the first ever overseas Premiership rugby game next year when Saracens take on the London Irish. The match is expected to take place at the Red Bulls Arena which can seat up to 25,000 fans and marks a huge step forward in the expansion of Rugby Union in the United States.
BBC Sport reports that the Aviva Premiership fixture will take place on St Patrick’s Day and so will look to rally the support of the huge Irish community in America. London Irish normally play their rugby at the Madejski Stadium, but this fixture will be held in New York Red Bulls’ Red Bull Arena.
Exiles chief Bob Casey commented on the match and claimed that it represents an enormous opportunity for the club to extend its influence and popularity to one of the world’s biggest sporting cities.
“This is an enormous opportunity for our club to gain exposure in one of the biggest sporting cities in the world”
Meanwhile, the Chief of Premiership Rugby, Mark McCafferty, claims that all of the hard work that went into arranging the upcoming fixture will pay off and hopefully increase the popularity of the sport as a whole in America – a nation who are up and coming in the world of rugby.
“It has taken a number of years and a lot of hard work to bring to fruition. There are ambitious plans to grow the game in the States and this is the latest stage in that strategy.”
London Irish currently sit at the bottom of the English Premiership while their opponents-to-be in America, Saracens are at the top. Therefore, the Irish will be hoping that their form can improve by the time that the big game comes along so that they can impress while on American soil.
