NZRFU esporta il miglior rugby in USA per 5 anni

[Pukana]

NZRU partners with USA Rugby
30/01/2008 from allblacks.com

The New Zealand Rugby Union and USA Rugby have signed a formal agreement to promote rugby in the United States of America.

The Memorandum of Understanding will see the two Unions collaborate in areas ranging from community rugby to commercial development.

“The rugby world wants to see the game grow in the United States and we’re taking concrete steps to help USA Rugby,” said NZRU CEO Steve Tew.

As a first step, the NZRU will give coaching curricula and resources to USA Rugby at no charge, supporting the American Union’s youth, referee and coach development programs.

As well as resources to grow participation at the community level, the agreement will also see the two Unions explore opportunities for high-profile matches in the USA as well as age-grade competition between the two nations.

“We welcome New Zealand’s help as we work to tap the potential in the United States,” said USA Rugby CEO Nigel Melville.

“The coaching resources are an immediate benefit, but longer term we’d like to look at joint sponsorships, merchandise agreements and anything that can benefit both Unions.”

The agreement, which takes effect immediately, is for five years.

[pinghial]

mo si che so cazzi..
gli USA hanno a mio parere un potenziale enorme.. soprattutto perché possono attingere ad un bacino di atleti praticamente immenso..
se cominciano ad allenarli sul serio faranno una crescita mostruosa nel giro di qualche anno..

[Umaga4ever]

già adesso la nazionale a stelle e striscie non è che faccia tanto schifo; aggiungiamoci che i neozelandesi daranno anche un contributo tecnico, secondo me verrà fuori una nazionale coicontrocojoni (come si dice a montecarlo).

[astronaut84]

Infatti.
In casa loro, purtroppo sono ancora troppo oscurati dal football, a livello mediatico, ma sul piano tenico e anche fisico, possono dire la loro.

[Pakeha_70]

Infatti.
In casa loro, purtroppo sono ancora troppo oscurati dal football, a livello mediatico, ma sul piano tenico e anche fisico, possono dire la loro.

E infatti per migliorare a livello mediatico negli USA sembra che si stia studiando la possibilità di un testmatch a New York contro l'Irlanda...

New York test match a possibility for ABs

The All Blacks are being tipped to line out against Ireland in a neutral test in New York as part of New Zealand's new agreement with the United States rugby union.

The two countries signed a five-year deal yesterday that will see New Zealand help the development of the American game while hoping to cash in on lucrative commercial opportunities in the massive United States market.

The New Zealand Rugby Union has made no secret of its desire to have the All Blacks playing glamour matches in neutral venues where significant revenue can be generated.

NZRU officials are currently in Hong Kong finalising arrangements for a test there against Australia in October.

But there is clearly appeal in tapping into the United States where rugby remains stalled in its infancy despite plenty of resources.

The large Irish population in New York lends itself to the possibility of a test being played there.

In following up yesterday's announcement TV3 suggested a test between the All Blacks and Ireland was a real possibility as early as next year.

NZRU officials certainly didn't squash that suggestion and USA rugby officials said a test involving New Zealand and Ireland at the famous Giants Stadium in New York would be "a dream" for American rugby.

The United States is a natural stopover for the All Blacks on the way to their traditional end of year tours to Europe and a mid-year date could also tie in with the end of European season.

Australia's eagerness to explore similar offshore opportunities could also see an All Blacks-Wallabies test in the United States as another possibility.

Whether the All Blacks step up to play the American Eagles is another matter.

The All Blacks have only played the United States three times.

New Zealand won 51-3 in California way back in 1913 when rugby was a significant sport on the west coast. Graham Mourie's 1980 All Blacks stopped over to win 53-6 at the San Diego Chargers' ground and their last encounter was at the 1991 World Cup in England with New Zealand winning the pool match 46-6.

New Zealand Maori have had involvement with the US national side through the Churchill Cup.

[hank]

Poche balle, è l'immenso MERCATO americano a interessare

[Pukana]

Poche balle, è l'immenso MERCATO americano a interessare

e non c'e' nulla di male se si pensa all'enorme deficit con cui la nostra union finira' l'anno fiscale. il costo per per dirigere competizioni internazionali e partecipare a tour europei e' diventato troppo alto per un paesino con soli 4 milioni di abitanti e le attuali sponsorizzazioni non sono piu' abbastanza. in piu' nuovi gli entroiti del mercato americano daranno la possibiltia' alla NZRU di poter ribattere i salari dell'emisfero del sud e poter trattenere giocatori giovani come McAllister nel nostro paese e nelle nostre competizioni.

[Pukana]

in realta' il progetto NZ-USA va ben oltre il solo aiuto neo zelandese agli Stati Uniti. nel prossimo articolo si accenna ad una Super League americana con squadre da citta come Chicago o New York con l'eccezione di Miami che potrebbe ositare un squadra argentina. Questo accordo "Accross the Pacific" potrebbe quindi allargarsi ed aiutare anche la precaria situazione del rugby in Argentina che di certo dopo tante parole e promesse alla fine della RWC 07 non ha ancora vista nulla di concreto attuarsi. Per quanto fondamentale sara' l'aspetto soldi-sponsorizzazioni-profitto, credo sia cmq da applaudire la volonta' di una power union come la NZL pronta ad investire ed aiutare nazioni piu' deboli in campo rugbystico.

All Blacks could play test in US
5:00AM Thursday January 31, 2008
By Wynne Gray

The All Blacks may once again showcase rugby in the United States if a new agreement between the two countries prospers.

New Zealand has agreed to give coaching and resources to boost development programmes in America and is to look into future commercial deals to assist both countries, says NZRFU chief executive Steve Tew.

The global conference after the World Cup urged senior nations to develop the game with Asia and the United States identified as the two big markets.

"There are many options over time for major games to promote rugby in the States but we do not want to be compared to the Harlem Globetrotters, they would need to be meaningful games," Tew added.

In time, the All Blacks might play the Wallabies as they propose to do in Hong Kong later this year en route to their Grand Slam challenge.

New Zealand were aware of their role in world rugby and hoped this deal might encourage some professional rugby in the States, perhaps a side based there in an expanded Super series. Anything was possible, said Tew. There were pockets of rugby strength on the west coast as well as around Chicago, Boston and New York while a link could be forged with an Argentine presence in Miami.

New Zealand had been discussing some collaboration with the States for the last few years and had connections with former All Black selector Peter Thorburn coaching the side at the World Cup and former NZRU board member Kevin Roberts now the national chairman.

"We have a five-year vision that we can assist with some strong development of the sport," Tew said.

US chief executive Nigel Melville said: "We welcome New Zealand's help as we work to tap the potential in the United States.

"The coaching resources are an immediate benefit, but longer term we'd like to look at joint sponsorships, merchandise agreements and anything that can benefit both unions."

A century ago, rugby was the dominant football code throughout California and in 1913 the All Blacks played a match against America in Berkeley as part of their tour of the Pacific Coast, winning 51-3.

[DVD]

ehi puckana per quanto riguarda la union in difficolta' qui in australia O'Neil ieri ha dichiarato che la ARU ha un buco di debiti enorme e che non fosse stato per i proventi della WRC 03, che ancora (sotto forma di investimenti) sono in cassa quest'anno sarebbero gia' in bancarotta!!

Cmq, pare che in un anno la ARU abbia perso circa l'1,8% di tesserati....e a quanto pare per il momento non hanno soluzioni a portata di mano, visto che le due selezioni portanti (NSW e Queensland) non hanno mai vinto un S12/14 e lo scorso anno sono arrivate ultime. Qundi carenza di pubblico e carenza di giocatori...mah

Cmq, sabato vado a vedermi i crusader a Melb contro la WF.

See you in March!!

[Pukana]

Un match test in Hong Kong e il contratto quinquennale di aiuto e sviluppo con la Federazione Statunitense, sono i sintomi di un nuovo cambiamento: dal 2010 la SANZAR non e' piu' business per le tre sole grandi sorelle.

US deal only a beginning
5:00AM Sunday February 24, 2008
By Gregor Paul

New Zealand's latest partnership with US Rugby increases the likelihood Sanzar will expand after 2010.

NZRU chief executive Steve Tew says the appetite for conquering new frontiers is greater now than in the past and the partnership could highlight the range of commercial opportunities outside Australia, South Africa and New Zealand.

Under the deal, the NZRU will provide free elite coaching and advice on developing the grassroots game.

What's in it for the NZRU is the prospect of striking merchandise and sponsorship deals further down the track and, ultimately, to help develop the sport to the point where the All Blacks can play a test on US soil for a substantial fee.

With that in mind, a US-based Super Rugby team would greatly enhance the standing of the sport and interest US television networks. Regular TV exposure is seen as the key to rugby gaining a mass following in the States and for the All Blacks to play a game in the US, they need to be confident they will fill the stadium and have a major broadcast audience.

"We have said all along that the next chapter of Super Rugby might involve stuff we don't currently do," said Tew. "I think it is a fair assessment that the possibility of expansion is greater now than it was before the last broadcast deal.

"I think we are more of a mind to look at all the options. At the time of the last deal, our two partners were more interested in expanding their own representation. We need to see how aligned we are as there are different drivers in our respective business.

"Australia, for example, might be keen on a structure that creates more rugby as they are in a very competitive sporting market."

The deal with the US is the second definitive agreement to highlight how Sanzar has become more active mode to pursue expansion opportunities.

New Zealand and Australia are in advanced talks to play a test in Hong Kong on November 1. According to Tew, both parties and Hong Kong officials are now working through the last details of the game and he's optimistic an announcement confirming the game will be made shortly.

"We have to be sure there is public interest and broadcast interest," said Tew of the Hong Kong game. "The last thing we want is for the All Blacks to play Australia in front of a half-empty stadium. That's why there is a level of comfort about Hong Kong because we know there is an ex-pat community there and we know there is a big interest in the game from hosting the Sevens."

If the test this year is deemed a commercial success, Tew says that will open the possibility of playing games in mainland China and Korea.

The IRB has targeted the US and Asia as high-priority markets to develop and the governing body is believed to be hugely supportive of the NZRU's ambition to play tests in these countries.

They would also be delighted to see Sanzar open up Super 14 to these countries so they would have exposure to a professional competition.

The present Super 14 broadcast deal expires at the end of 2010 and the Sanzar partners are already exploring various expansion opportunities.