Interesting interview with Martin Anayi, CEO of PRO12 Rugby, at the launch of the new season today. His comments on the possible US expansion and desired changes in the global season and Six Nations could split the assumed togetherness of the six main NH unions.<br><br><br>
"Guinness Pro12 bosses have confirmed they have been in negotiations with rugby chiefs on the other side of the Atlantic about opening a new frontier in the United States.<br><br>
The Pro12 hierarchy sees north America as a potential route to generating more broadcasting and sponsorship revenue in their bid to close the gap on the cash-laden French Top 14 and Aviva Premiership in terms of popularity and financial clout.<br><br>
They want to use the lure of Leinster, Munster, Connacht, Ulster, Treviso and Zebre to tap into the large Irish and Italian communities on the eastern seaboard of the States.<br><br>
Rugby is growing in popularity in the USA, with a new domestic league having been established, while world champions New Zealand’s primary sponsor, the insurance giant AIG, has created an annual fixture in Chicago.<br><br>
The Sevens tournament at the Olympics has also resulted in a surge in interest.<br><br>
A record 61,500 fans watched Steve Hansen’s All Blacks take on the USA Eagles at Soldier Field in 2014, while Ireland will play the world champs there in November.<br><br>
And an Aviva Premiership match was taken to New York last season, with London Irish facing Saracens in front of a 15,000 crowd at the Red Bull Arena.<br><br>
Guinness Pro12 chief executive Martin Anayi said: “We’ve had really early discussions with USA Rugby, broadcasters, sponsors, and consulted internally with our teams and shareholders.<br><br>
“Everyone’s saying the same thing... that if it’s good for the tournament across a whole range of areas like player welfare, commercially, and for the fans then we should explore how far we can take it.<br><br>
“Initial discussions are really good. They believe in the same things we do, one of which is that the only way for a tier two nation to become a tier one nation is through professional club rugby because there is no scope to expand the international calendar for the USA to play more games.<br><br>
“Does it work from a logistics perspective and will the players travel? We haven’t even got to that level of discussion.<br><br>
“But they’ve got exactly the same situation as us with a passionate fan base and union control of the club game, but small markets.<br><br>
â€It’s how they are going to capitalise on that and how they do it. Is it through a national league and a professional franchise?<br><br>
“Do you do it through us or SANZAAR (South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina)?<br><br>
“I think northern hemisphere rugby suits the American psyche, they are more northern hemisphere orientated.<br><br>
“The growth areas are Boston, New York and Philadelphia, where the Celts and the Italians are.â€<br><br>
Pro12 chiefs haven’t put a time-scale on the talks with the Americans but Anayi believes a key factor would be whether agreement can be reached on a global season.<br><br>
“You’ve got to talk about why is it that we’re losing a huge proportion of international players, not week-in and week-out but for big chunks of the season,†he said.<br><br>
“Intersperse that with European club rugby as well and you get quite a disjointed season. It’s quite hard to follow and then also becomes less of a reason to buy a season ticket.â€<br><br>
He maintained the Pro12 would benefit from the Six Nations being held in April and May, rather than in February and March, as it is now.<br><br>
“We think there’s a simple solution to the global season, which is to push the Six Nations back a bit and get the club season in before it. That would also tie in with European rugby."<br><br>
“The Six Nations is critically important for the finance of the game. My opinion and those I’ve spoken to in the broadcast industry is you would get the Six Nations in before the Champions League final, and it doesn’t go into BBC territory for The Open, Wimbledon and the Olympics.<br><br>
“And it’s the simplest route for us to get to what we want to, which is a club season and an international season. That’s how we’ll generate more fans.â€<br><br>
“We are really, really sure about our future and about how successful club rugby can be globally if we can just get our international players playing consistently.â€
