Expanding the Pro 12 into the USA

[BBD]

Article from The 42 - THE GUINNESS PRO12 plans to continue discussions with USA Rugby about potentially including American franchises in the competition in the future.

Pro12 managing director Martin Anayi also confirmed that the league may move to a conference system in the coming seasons, as he stressed the need for the top international stars to be involved in the competition as often as possible.

Furthermore, Anayi and the Pro12 are keen for the number of games across the global rugby calendar to be reduced.

The Pro12 has drastically fallen behind France’s Top 14 and the English Premiership in terms of TV revenue in recent years, pushing Pro12 organisers to seek new ways to improve their product.

The Pro12 currently earns around €14 million per season from the sale of its TV rights, a figure that is dwarfed by the €51 million of the Premiership and the eye-watering €97 million per season the LNR will earn from 2019.

Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Chicago have been discussed as possible locations for a Pro12 expansion into the US, although Anayi stressed that the dialogue remains in an early state.


It’s hard to give you timelines,” said Anayi at yesterday’s Pro12 launch. “We’re at too early a stage of discussion to say ‘this is when it’s going to get done.’

“The reality is that it might not get done. It might get to the point where it can’t be done logistically, for player welfare, other things. But at this time, it’s a very positive discussion.”

The discussions with USA Rugby and broadcasters in the US have been founded on the Pro12′s desire to “open horizons,” according to Anayi.

“The most amazing thing about the Pro12 is that it’s cross-border and that it’s got something different to the English and the French. It’s in our DNA to be cross-border and be expansionist, rather than look at contracting.

“If you take that philosophy forward and your unions are telling you that it’s the view they take and share, you start to look at other markets that might work.

“The US is definitely one of those, because it’s a huge primary market and has huge population, and massively-developed broadcasters. They’ve had a taste of it through the Olympics and there’s no reason we shouldn’t explore that further.”

Anayi stated his belief that the large Irish and Italian diasporas in the US mean a potential expansion onto American soil makes even more sense.

The Pro12 are keen to appeal to the Welsh and Irish diasporas in England as much as they can – luring new viewers on the Sky Sports platform to watch the league – but Anayi sees clear sense in aiming to capture American attention.

“There’s a massive Irish diaspora in America,” said Anayi. “We’re looking at what the potential attraction US rugby would have to us. There has been great interest for the Ireland – New Zealand game in Chicago, which is sold out, so there’s an interest, a Celtic interest.

“There are 19 million people in the US who have put down on their form that they are Irish-American. 19 million are Irish-American. There’s 12 million plus who think they’re Italian-American. I wouldn’t downplay how relevant a diaspora is.”

While Anayi was adamant that expansion is the way forward for the Pro12, he also argued that professional rugby players need to play fewer games.

He said such a move can go hand-in-hand with Test stars making more appearances in the Pro12. A move to a conference-system in the Pro12, meaning fewer regular season games but more play-off fixtures is one solution.


“You need to see the international players playing [in the Pro12] more often, that is what will drive real growth in the club game,” said Anayi.

“But there’s got to be less rugby played. We’re trying to create a system with a conference format where you reduce the number of club games, but that’s also got to see the amount of international games reduced.

“Overall, the high-performance coaches, the players are saying, ‘You’re killing us. You’re hurting the progression of rugby by making us play more games.’ It would be crazy not to listen to that.


We could push to a six-team play-off, rather than a four-team play-off, so the best part of the season becomes even better. The broadcasters have bought into the play-offs, so why not grow that.

“You could go to a conference system with 12 teams and it would work well with the teams we’ve got, playing less games.

“We need to get the international players playing more often, that is the key. That’s why a Leinster fan will buy a season ticket, or a Connacht fan will buy a season ticket. They want to see their best players

[BBD]

I think he identifies the problems with the Pro 12 nicely enough. Whilst the USA is indeed a massive market, Im not sure that the US will be so keen to continue to invest unless their sides can perform and stand a chance of winning. The only way that will happen is by an influx of non USA players from the NZ/Australia and European market, that wont be popular with their respective unions

[OptimisticJock]

The time difference may put people off. Will they be interested in watching matches at 1500 on a Friday afternoon or mid saturday/Sunday morning?

[BBD]

I think to make it pay/worthwhile for the American networks we would have to accept that our viewing habits would have to come second to those of the potential/growing audience in the USA. If their prime time means we have watch the games at unusual times then we will have to suck it up to make it work. I think it would be enormously costly for each side to go out, prepare and then play so the money will be a big big figure to make it work

[Sandydragon]

Ultimately if the rugby is good enough then people will be supportive. If the American teams offer nothing in quality terms then it will just be a gimmick.

[BBD]

They will have to buy in their squads for the first few years until their college system can be convinced, then steered and then developed enough to be supportive

I can't see the EPL, top 14 and super rugby clubs being chuffed with that, plus they may well offer big bucks to some existing pro 12 talent

[OptimisticJock]

I think to make it pay/worthwhile for the American networks we would have to accept that our viewing habits would have to come second to those of the potential/growing audience in the USA. If their prime time means we have watch the games at unusual times then we will have to suck it up to make it work. I think it would be enormously costly for each side to go out, prepare and then play so the money will be a big big figure to make it work

The welsh with all their TV money won't be happy.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

I think Anayi is bonkers. He wants a shift from playing Test rugby to club rugby. First that's never going to be sanctioned by the unions. Second it would make less money overall for the relevant areas. Third the "problem" with the pro12 us not that internationals play too seldom. It's that there is increasing dominance by one region. It is worth nothing that that region plays its internationals least and had by a country miles the highest attendances as well as the most success.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Having said that I'm not against expansion or conferences. As unfair as that might be in a competitive sense it might make commercial sense. However you'd need to stop it from becoming a crap version of the Heineken of from being too confusing.

[BBD]

I think Anayi is bonkers. He wants a shift from playing Test rugby to club rugby. First that's never going to be sanctioned by the unions. Second it would make less money overall for the relevant areas. Third the "problem" with the pro12 us not that internationals play too seldom. It's that there is increasing dominance by one region. It is worth nothing that that region plays its internationals least and had by a country miles the highest attendances as well as the most success.

When we find out who these bastards are, we need to watch them very carefully

[rowan]

http://theprovince.com/sports/rugby/pro ... -expansion

The Guinness Pro12 league — which has teams in Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Italy — has talks scheduled with Rugby Canada and USA Rugby officials about the possibility of adding North American teams by 2020.

http://theprovince.com/sports/rugby/pro ... -expansion

[Eugene Wrayburn]

I think Anayi is bonkers. He wants a shift from playing Test rugby to club rugby. First that's never going to be sanctioned by the unions. Second it would make less money overall for the relevant areas. Third the "problem" with the pro12 us not that internationals play too seldom. It's that there is increasing dominance by one region. It is worth nothing that that region plays its internationals least and had by a country miles the highest attendances as well as the most success.

When we find out who these bastards are, we need to watch them very carefully