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oxygenWhat you know about Baltimore may depend on what shows you’ve watched recently (or indeed, if any) electric wirebut for springbok and all blacks Fans, this Maryland city will soon be even more prominent on the map. On September 12, officials world rugby, south african rugby and new zealand rugby (NZR) are hoping to celebrate a sell-out show at M&T Bank Stadium after the ambitious decision to stage the fourth and final Test. The inaugural ‘Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry’ series takes place on the ground.
This news will cause great concern in the rugby world. After three Tests on South African soil – two in Johannesburg and one in Cape Town – were confirmed as part of the landmark series, speculation has been rife that the venue for the fourth has yet to be revealed. Allianz Stadium, Twickenham The Springboks have successfully transformed before; It might have felt like a good fit, but concerns about event saturation were ruled out with the national championship finals looming. It is understood that topics of discussion include Dublin’s Croke Park, Cardiff’s Principality Stadium and even Sevilla; however, As football prepares to chase the American dream Baltimore emerged as a surprisingly good option ahead of the 2031 and 2033 World Cups.
“We were contacted by a promoter asking if we would be interested in moving the sport to the United States,” explained SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer. “This makes sense because as part of World Rugby we have agreed to expand rugby into the US and agreed to World Rugby’s request to bring some of our fixtures and events into the US market.
“It makes sense for New Zealand and South Africa to bring this event to the United States, particularly Baltimore, as they aspire to be potential hosts of the 2031 World Cup in the United States. That’s why they raised their hands.”
Baltimore is one of 27 cities interested in hosting the 2031 World Cup, with World Rugby beginning to consider narrowing it down to just a handful of cities. M&T Bank Stadium, home of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens, has a capacity of 71,000, making it the perfect size for the game, and its location on the East Coast makes it easily accessible from Johannesburg and elsewhere. Even if the turnout at Twickenham is low, it is hoped that the 139,322 South African diaspora (as of 2022) will also participate.
“The timing is right for us to be able to bring the game to the United States,” Oberholzer said. “We have strong support from sponsors Nike and Coca-Cola. We believe there is a South African team in the United States that would like to see the Boks play. If we can be one of the foreign teams in the United States at the 2031 World Cup and gain the support of new American fans, then we will have achieved our goals.”
Between now and the Men’s World Cup, most of the world’s top teams will play in the United States. Last year, England played the United States in Washington, D.C.; All Blacks clash with Ireland at Soldier Field The November ticket draw has attracted considerable crowds and tickets are said to have been sold to buyers in all 50 states and several Canadian provinces. The game isn’t without its issues, though, ranging from chaotic performance on and off the ground to a superficial lack of quality. South African Rugby and their counterparts have learned from that game and hope to create a more prestigious occasion.
more The geopolitical situation may be beyond their controland the whims of Washington. Oberholzer and other key figures have discussed the matter internally and with South African politicians and are not unduly concerned.
“We don’t want to start something that would embarrass the US government or the South African government,” stressed the South African Rugby chief executive. “We feel reassured that we have taken the necessary precautions. We trust World Rugby. They thought long and hard about asking us to take the game there and are supporting us in investigating the consequences. At this moment, we feel very reassured that there will be no issues.”
The goal of growing the sport in the United States—commercially and otherwise—is admirable, but Oberholzer is candid and forthright in explaining why the event exists. Like most unions, he and South Africa Rugby are preparing for the 2027 World Cup, when their finances will take a major hit from fewer home games and the knock-on effects of that. “The aim of the game was always to find an option that would allow us to gain as much financial gain as possible,” Oberholzer said, with the help of a confidential donation from World Rugby.
“We understand the challenges we will face at the 2027 World Cup. We only have three international games [at home]which affects sponsorship and impacts broadcast rights. We have to make as much money as possible from this season and this series so that we and New Zealand have some cushion going into 2027. “
If more testing is commercially necessary, managing player welfare is also crucial. While all countries are dealing with a congested schedule, South Africa are particularly affected as they juggle European club fixtures and southern hemisphere international competitions.
Oberholzer is an advocate— Like Rassie Erasmus, his Springbok leader – move rugby championship The Six Nations window is getting closer and it is hoped that the global season that the men’s game has long sought can progress soon.
It’s been a busy year for international operations Featuring a new national championship; South Africa will face England, Wales and Scotland in July, with the series starting in August.
However, after three thunderous Tests at home, Oberholzer dismissed concerns that the game would become a sideshow. “I don’t expect it to be viewed as a festival match when the two play in Baltimore. I don’t think the New Zealand-South Africa game will be a high-octane, must-win game.”
To paraphrase Baltimore’s best TV show, the warning to New Zealand might be that if they come to follow the Kings, they better not miss out.