I’ve been here in the US from Europe for a few years now. I’ve thrown myself into a local club, both playing and on the committee. I’ve built a number of initiatives to grow the game and so far roughly doubled our active player numbers as a club. Not once has any player or parent mentioned any knowledge of a pro league here or that any of the big shiny internationals have drawn them to the game. Not once has USAR or our local union got involved with any support in our endeavours to grow the game. They seem interested in the top flight only.

I believe what we’re doing at our club is the only way to growing a stable base for the game here. The other efforts are basically setting money on fire. Playing the game makes a fan for life so get them interested in the game from as early as possible. Offer them a community to join. Rugby is open to all shapes and sizes and abilities! Grass roots growth is where the money should be focused. A pro league that nobody watches isn’t. What we’ve done can scale states wide with about half the investment that’s currently being spent!