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Gloucester is the latest English Premiership side to have their name come up in rumors regarding a possible match stateside. A handful of clubs have put up their hands with an interest in playing a Premiership match in the USA in the coming years. London Irish are the club that appears to be the common denominator in all of the discussions. The Irish have confirmed that they have been in advanced negotiations with USA Rugby in regards to playing a match.
The Irish are looking at a three-year deal that would see them host a match each year in the New York-Boston area around St. Patrick’s Day.
With the release of the Aviva Premiership schedule this past week, Saracens and Gloucester appear to be the front-runners if a match is going to be played in the United States in 2016. The Irish are scheduled to host Saracens on March 12th followed by a home fixture against Gloucester on March 20th.
“The club is exploring the possibility of playing a Premiership game at an alternative venue. As soon as details are confirmed we will communicate with our supporters,” said a representative from the London Irish.
Rumors of professional sides playing in the USA have flourished in recent years as more and more rugby nations look to capitalize on the rapid growth of the rugby market in the United States. The question of whether a match will happen has shifted from “if” to “when”.
