The Rugby Odds: MLR Champions, More 7s vs 15s Debate, The Rugby Championship, NPC, NRL, Fan Cameos

[@smaz9]

The MLR probably could do a 7s mini-tournament like they used to do in the Premiership, it would be a gamble but the success of the US teams in the Olympics could be a launchpad for American 7s, however, let's not forget that in countries who have a lot of sporting interests like the US and Europe, it can be tricky to break through into the big time, especially in the US where you have the NFL, the NBA and the like. In Australia it's a bit more balanced, rugby league's huge in Australia, so is rugby union, and cricket and football, too. It's a big decision but it's one that could be an indicator as to where American rugby will be when the 2031 World Cup happens.

[@imntg6649]

Where does this old guy get his information? 15s is still the major format in NZ not 7s.

[@DouglasLyons-yg3lv]

You guys are suddenly wild about 7’s. Jumping on the bandwagon much? I’ll believe 7’s is viewed as anything but an enjoyable Olympic sport when THE HSBC 7’s isn’t played in front of stadiums that are often 2/3rds empty. The publicity was great, Ilona Mahers success at marketing herself is a fun story but a month from now it will all be a memory. 7’s is fun and easy to watch but replicating what happened in Paris, with the story lines like DuPont and Maher and the women winning bronze was a perfect storm of circumstances. Replicating that on a routine basis is an impossibility. 7’s isn’t always great viewing. Suddenly you are all totally sour on the MLR. It’s an enjoyable product that has seen plenty of positives. The better organized teams bring in decent crowds, and not just traditional rugby fans. Had you told me I would being sitting in a little stadium with 4,000 other people to watch rugby in Boston I wouldn’t believe it for a minute. 12 k fans at a neutral site played in the middle of the peak of vacation season is far from a failure. NY playing in front of a home “crowd” of 200 loyal fans at Red Bull - that was a failure. I sat in a bar in Quincy for the final. It was packed. The people around me were all non rugby people who became Freejacks / rugby fans because of the teams presence and outreach to the community. You all seem to have amnesia over what a great RWC took place just last fall. It was amazing. Who wouldn’t want that? Who cares if the U.S. isn’t going to win it (speaking about the men).

[@giftegbelu]

The viewership numbers says otherwise. And from a sponsorship stand point, companies throw in where they see he eyes most. Make the money and notority from the Olympics, and transfer to other rugby events. But OLYMPIC rugby is more important for USA rugby growth than RWC, It's not even close

[@RugbyWrapUp]

Some great input and thanks for taking the time to watch and comment. Here's our two cents: -Our TRO panelists have varying opinions on all things rugby, so when you lump all together, it's not an accurate depiction. -As for the MLR, it's about the presentation of the product. JBL, Gift, Steve and Matt all like the product on the field. John doesn't see a significant change in that presentation happening, and therefore said it's not a viable venture. Matt thinks there will be change. But all think the rugby itself is solid. There isn't a collective souring by any stretch. If there was, we wouldn't go through what we do to present these shows each week. -As for 7s, again there are different views, so saying the collective has one opinion is simply not accurate. John comes from a sports entertainment juggernaut - the WWE - and gets frustrated by things he sees that could be done better. Gift, Steve and Matt have been in the American rugby space for decades, so their view is completely different. For instance, John and Matt had opposite views on the final in this show. -Nobody forgot about the RWC, which was great. The collective frustration in this case, is how the men's 15s has nose-dived since beating Scotland in 2018, due directly to disastrous leadership from the executive office. John's point about Scotland was more passionate frustration than anything else, as we beat more of Scottish 2nd side then (and it took a missed kick at death to win it), while only Finn Russell and Zander Fagerson were missing from the Scottish lineup this go 'round. Adam Hastings, who had been dealing with injuries, is an excellent #10 in the absence of Russell, while the Scots' front row depth more than made up for Fagerson's absence. In the shows around that match, there were absolutely different opinions re the weekend in D.C.. Keep those comments coming and thanks again for watching.

[@rittherugger160]

Star? This is America. You're not going to get a star out of the MLR. They don't play AMERICANS. What use is it to USA Rugby to make a star out of some guy that is from a Super Rugby or 6 Nations country that most probably, when they become a Star will up and leave to play elsewhere? Yes the games are competitive. If you threw all the funny talkers out they would still be competitive. We're not going to get any American stars until the majority of the players on the pitch are Americans. Most of the audience they are looking for have no idea what 'good rugby' even looks like. If the games are competitive the fans will come.

[@RugbyWrapUp]

You make a good point about players moving on, and that's certainly a problem. But they DO play Americans and there are are players that can be spotlighted more. We need to develop characters and/or celebrities, even if they might not be stars. And we're guilty in not doing a better job of that. We'll pick it up a notch.