Details of confirmation of the All Blacks test match in the USA

Having been in the pipeline for months, it's finally been confirmed that the All Blacks, the number 1 ranked side the world and leading brand in world rugby will travel to the USA for the first time in the professional era. Here is a look at the details behind the game.

Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

The game will take place on 1 November at Soldier Field, the 63,000 home of the Chicago Bears, before the All Blacks embark on their usual European tour to play England, Scotland and Wales.

The full New Zealand team follows on from the Maori All Blacks successful tour of North America last year, and also follows on from the NZRU reporting a "surprising" $850,000 profit from the All Blacks test in Tokyo last year in another fixture that was so well received by the public it sold out in 90 minutes (and possibly in hindsight could have made even more had it been played in bigger stadia).

USA Rugby has reportedly guaranteed the NZRU a fee of $1m which will cover all costs, so like the Japan game even in a very worst case scenario they won't make a loss. It is hoped that the All Blacks first visit to the USA in the professional era will entice a crowd of about 40,000 which would double the record crowd for a game in the States, and it certainly looks likely that USA Rugby will break their all time attendance record for the 3rd year in a row. If the game is well received and hits that 40,000 target or even possibly exceeds it and sells out, then both Unions will walk away very happy from their profits.

The move to bring over the past 2 years to Japan and now the USA has been a strategic move by the NZRU that has been brought on by a couple of factors. With increasing money from TV deals in Europe and money there is expected to be a further increase soon with a more commercially effective European tournament, the NZRU are making moves to try and increase their profits targeting strong commercial markets and increasing their brand worldwide. The other factor is their headline sponsor AIG (also sponsoring the game itself) who are thought to be keen players behind this and keen to get exposure to the US market.

However there is still a major unresolved catch about the game. Initially the All Blacks planned to bring their brand to the USA to face a "World XV" side, a plan which USA Rugby simply said they would not accept. The reasoning behind that idea, which obviously isn't as marketable to fans especially casual fans as seeing their home side play, is because of concerns that over the strength of the USA team in a match outside the release window.

Unlike Japan who had all their team based in Japan and no problems getting a full team, most of the USA's leading players are based in Europe including the likes of Samu Manoa and Chris Wyles in the Aviva Premiership. There are at least 8 players from that league, plus a few more from the Top 14 and Championship who would expect to be selected.

Nigel Melville will have to negotiate
a deal with PRL for USA's leading
players like Samu Manoa to feature

PRL in particular are an issue for the game. They have a £110m deal with the RFU for player release arrangements, and as a result out of respect to the RFU are very strict on sticking to the clearly stated boundaries of the release window. It would be poor form from PRL if they allowed another Union player access for free, whilst the RFU have paid millions of pounds for it. If a club ignores the contract signed then they face a £60,000 fine.

Ideally Unions in general should stick to the IRB's release window unless they have plans to pay for out of window release, but since that hasn't happened yet USA Rugby needs to strike a deal with PRL. Rumours are that USA Rugby offered for players to be released back a week early, in return for getting them a week early from the release window, but more likely USA Rugby would have to part with some money to agree a deal, possibly a share of the profits.

From a glass half full point of view, PRL also want to expand to the US and have been in discussions so possibly that could help a deal be arranged as they look to get positive relations with USA Rugby, maybe Nigel Melville's English connection will also help as a weak USA side would lessen the occasion. The match is being televised on NBC, the first 15 a side rugby match on a main TV channel in the States since the World Cup which was shown on delay. So this is a big opportunity for both the All Blacks brand to get exposure, but also there is a lot in it for the USA to gain exposure and increase interest.