ABSTRACT
The sport of rugby union has made significant gains in the USA sports market in recent years. The USA men’s team are beginning to achieve international recognition, while the USA women’s team are currently ranked fifth in the world and acknowledged as a dominant force on the international rugby scene. Along with recent success on the pitch, the consumption of rugby in America has seen substantial increases in match attendance, television viewership and participation. Nevertheless, notwithstanding these achievements, rugby remains a marginal sport in the American professional sport landscape and the country remains a peripheral rugby nation in an international context, albeit one with immense potential. Drawing on historical data, this chapter presents the history of rugby within amateur and collegiate setting and then explores contemporary efforts to introduce professional men’s rugby in the USA and addresses the sustainability of a professional rugby product in the country.
