TRI-NATIONS to FIVE NATIONS in 2009

[welshrugbyfan]

Lots of great comments From up here, the only way for North American rugby to grow is to keep our best players from going to Europe ( i.e. MacDonald, Emerick, Ngwenya, etc). As far as developing a market, one of the ESPN networks televised, live, nation-wide, our Super League (Actually Super Union-we're confused) finals, and all U.S. matches, as well as the semi-finals and finals of the RWC were televised on Vs., an "extreme sports" network. The Munster v. Eagles friendly in 2007 was also seen in many parts, and the upcoming 2008 friendly had to be moved to a bigger stadium due to high ticket demand. The advent of digital cable and dish networks has enabled rugby to gain some decent exposure up here. We need (and hopefully the IRB will agree) to keep rugby's momentum going - top-notch professional matches would do the trick! Will it happen before RWC 2011? Probably not. But the point made earlier of cross pollenization is an important one, as more Pacific Island teams grow, it will definitely influence rugby here -lots of friends and family of Tongans, Samoans, and Fijians live here - not to mention the potential of Japan. ( Incidentally our Eagle fly-half Mike Hercus plays there!) Expansion in the Pacific will eventually help the US and Canada, so by all means, bring it on!!!

Gotta love Emmerick, knocks the Dragons out of the Heineken cup one year, next year puts them back in. Great pick up for the Dragons when we had him. Hilarious to hear the crowd shouting USA USA every time he had a run.

[GIGS20]

JARGAN83 - To put money and corporate sponsors and television in perspective you have to factor in consumers.

The greater the population the greater the interest from sponsors and TV broadcasters.

Hell yeah, and when it comes to population and consumers, USA and Japan are where it's at!

one of the ESPN networks televised, live, nation-wide, our Super League (Actually Super Union-we're confused) finals, and all U.S. matches, as well as the semi-finals and finals of the RWC were televised on Vs., an "extreme sports" network. The Munster v. Eagles friendly in 2007 was also seen in many parts, and the upcoming 2008 friendly had to be moved to a bigger stadium due to high ticket demand.

If this stuff dribbles in now, imagine the deal that a smart operator could stitch up with an American team in "the toughest provincial rugby competition in the World"

Sounds a bit like a World Series doesn't it?