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Pro Rugby in America: Brian Burke Calls for Professional Rugby in North America
Published: August 22, 2013
Our exclusive Bleacher Report coverage has previously chronicled the interest of both SANZAR (Super Rugby) and Premiership Rugby Limited (The Aviva Premiership) in gaining a foothold in the Americas.
Local American investment groups have also been involved in discussions.
Today, former NHL executive and Toronto Maple Leafs President Brian Burke added his experienced voice to the fray, as he took to the podium on behalf of Rugby Canada; on whose Board of Directors Burke now occupies a prominent seat.
The scene was a press conference, in advance of this weekend's Rugby World Cup qualifier in Toronto, where Burke was keen to answer your humble corespondent's questions in regards to the the future of pro rugby on the continent.
When an organization like Rugby Canada says they want you on their board, why I think that's a great honour.
Professional rugby is coming, in my view. We're playing catch-up with a lot of established professional sports. We're playing catch-up with a lot of broadcast sports, but that doesn't diminish the fact that we think we have a product that can compete with those sports.
Rugby is a late comer to us here in North America, but that hasn't stopped other sports from acquiring the kind of status they want to have in the professional community. So I think professional rugby is coming. I don't want to give you a time frame on it, but that's our goal.
Flanking Burke at the press conference were Canada and ASM Clermont-Auvergne star Jamie Cudmore and Canadian National Senior Men's Team head coach Kieran Crowley.
Burke made it clear that he wanted the next generation of elite rugby players in North America to be plying their trade in front of Canadian and American audiences.
Our goal is to get to a place where an athlete like Jamie Cudmore doesn't...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Rugby Union
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