League joins campaign to raise profile in America through exhibition game.
After Premier Rugby Limited, who represent all English Rugby Union teams, announced that they had confirmed an exhibition match for London Irish to play an American Barbarians side this Summer, the NFL have joined the campaign to help grow the sport in the US.
The game is set to take place on August 10th, and will be held at the home NFL side the New England Patriots. The NFL’s television channel have agreed to broadcast the game live, hoping that their viewership will help raise the profile within the American community.
A return match is rumoured to be scheduled a week later, with the Barbarian side facing a different opponent, with Twickenham a proposed venue.
Rugby has suffered in America with its nationwide profile due to the popularity of American Football, the sports closest comparison.
Whilst this is a good opportunity for the sport to gain some national exposure, it will still be a big task to lift the sport into the national media on a constant level.
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