Rugby? Lacrosse? On Network TV!

[Lose Remerswaal]

Yes, it is against the US Open, but I thought it was cool that right now there is both US Major League Rugby and US Premier League Lacrosse on CBS and NBC right now. I did not even know we had a rugby league in this country.

 

[scottyno]

MLR debuted last year, Boston is getting an expansion team starting next season.

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

And I realized later yesterday that this isn't the same Lacrosse league as the Boston entry. We have two Lacrosse leagues?

 

[smokin joe wood]

And I realized later yesterday that this isn't the same Lacrosse league as the Boston entry. We have two Lacrosse leagues?

Yes. Paul Rabil (formerly best player in the world and current player in the Premier Lacrosse League) has co-founded a new league. They also have a pretty strong deal with NBC to air the games. In the process he took about 90% of the best players in the world with him from the MLL (the league where the Boston Cannons play) with him to the PLL. Changed wage structure and gave the players some equity in the league. The on-field product through three weeks has been remarkably good.

 

[kenneycb]

And they'll likely have gambling next year.

 

[Spacemans Bong]

I've mentioned this now and then, but remarkably the best covered Rugby World Cup in US history was 1995 - Sportschannel (through Prime) showed most games live from South Africa. So most people with cable could get the World Cup. I have vague fleeting memories of it.

Remarkable given how much bigger rugby is today, and remarkable as it's the only World Cup in history the US failed to qualify for. South Africa's return from exile and Canada's surprise quarterfinal in 1991 (meaning they automatically qualified) meant the Americas only got one place and even in 1995, beating Argentina in Buenos Aires was too much to ask for.

 

[rbeaud]

I've mentioned this now and then, but remarkably the best covered Rugby World Cup in US history was 1995 - Sportschannel (through Prime) showed most games live from South Africa. So most people with cable could get the World Cup. I have vague fleeting memories of it.

The time difference meant that many matches were available during the day. It was great to grab a long lunch and watch pool play.

 

[HoyaSoxa]

So I just saw the NBC Sports Gold is asking $200 for their RWC package (or $220 for the full year to include Six Nations), which is a whole lot to spend for games that will be played in the middle of the night, and so many non competitive pool games. What I can't find is any indication of what they plan to show on cable or other outlets - typically most Six Nations matches end up shown on NBC Sports Network tape delayed later the same day, so hoping that continues with the RWC.