(Reuters) – America could be a superb place to host a Rugby World Cup given rising enthusiasm for the sport and the nation’s monitor file for staging mega sporting occasions, All Blacks captain Sam Whitelock stated on Friday.
Chatting with reporters on the eve of his workforce’s conflict with the Eagles in Washington, D.C., Whitelock stated he has heard “lots” of speak about the opportunity of the 2027 World Cup being held within the States.
“You may inform there may be some actual momentum going into rugby right here. It is fairly cool to see,” Whitelock stated.
The New Zealander has attended skilled basketball and hockey video games in america and stated the fan expertise is about rather more than simply the groups competing in opposition to one another.
“They will placed on a present,” he stated.
“It is in regards to the earlier than, the halftime, the celebrations, the music. They do it so properly. So whether or not it is right here in 2027, or after that, I am positive they’re going to do an superior job.”
He famous that there isn’t any scarcity of stadiums to carry the matches and stated the groups and followers would each profit.
“It might be a reasonably cool place for the gamers to return play and for supporters to return and be a vacationer and take a look round,” he stated.
Greater than 40,000 followers are anticipated to attend Saturday’s take a look at match at FedExField as the game tries to make inroads in a rustic the place American soccer, basketball, baseball, hockey and soccer reign supreme.
The following Rugby World Cup might be held in France in 2023.
(Reporting by Rory Carroll in Los Angeles, enhancing by Pritha Sarkar)
