This weekend, Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry heads to America as South Africa and New Zealand meet at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore for the fourth and final Test of their series.
The Springboks lead 2–1, but this weekend is about considerably more than the series score.
With the United States preparing to host its first men’s Rugby World Cup in 2031, Assistant Editor Ben Jaycock is joined by rugby journalist and former Major League Rugby writer Joe Harvey to ask the big question:
How does rugby actually crack America?
🇺🇸 Can Rugby Break Through in the USA?
We discuss:
• What taking Springboks v All Blacks to Baltimore can achieve
• Whether a crowd dominated by South African and New Zealand supporters actually helps grow American rugby
• How rugby converts a major one-off event into lasting interest
• What American sports fans need from rugby
• Whether the traditional rugby audience is enough to make the sport successful in the US
• The importance of building momentum before the 2031 Rugby World Cup
🏉 The State of American Rugby
Joe gives us his insight from years covering Major League Rugby and the North American game as we examine the opportunities — and challenges — facing rugby in the United States.
Can the sport establish a genuine place alongside America’s established leagues? What lessons can be learned from Major League Rugby? And what needs to happen over the next five years to ensure 2031 leaves a meaningful legacy?
🇿🇦🇳🇿 Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry
There is also the small matter of the rugby itself.
South Africa take a 2–1 series lead into the fourth and final Test against New Zealand, with Baltimore providing a fascinating setting for the conclusion of one of international rugby’s greatest rivalries.
Can the All Blacks level the series, or will the Springboks finish the job on American soil?
🎧 Subscribe for more weekly rugby insight, analysis and debate from The Rugby Paper Roundup.
You can subscribe to The Rugby Paper digitally or physically for more great content via this link:
https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/subscriptions
OR by scanning the QR code in the top right corner.
Follow us across social media for more rugby insight and analysis:
X: https://x.com/TheRugbyPaper
Facebook: / therugbypaper
Instagram: / therugbypaper
