US tycoons plan switch into rugby
THE American owners of Swansea City have signalled their readiness to consider diversifying into Rugby Union on either side of the Atlantic, writes Peter Jackson.
Steve Kaplan and Jason Levien, the tycoons who bought the club last month for £110 million, have taken two significant steps towards declaring their interest in the Ospreys and in attempts by the Pro12 to spread their wings to North America.
The Rugby Paper can reveal that they have been in touch with the Celtic League at their Dublin headquarters, registering their interest in ambitious moves to add two American franchises.
Kaplan and Levien followed that by meeting a five-man Ospreys’ delegation for several hours before yesterday’s home match against Hull.
“These are going to be exciting times for Ospreys’ fans,’’ sources told TRP last night. “We’re at an exploratory stage and it will take time but we are lucky to have found these guys and we’ve started serious discussions and we hope to be collaborating
jointly on a number of initiatives. They are very keen to invest in the social fabric of Swansea and the surrounding area. They want to find out everything not just about what makes the city tick but the region around it as well.
“They have a genuine desire to be part of the wider community. In cultural terms, they will be a good fit for the Ospreys. They are fascinated by the fact that we grow so many of our own players and so many international players. In that respect we provide more to the national team than any of the other three regions.’’
The American pair have also been given an outline on the Pro 12’s aim under managing director Martin Anayi to bridge part of the gulf in television funding that puts the Celtic teams at a disadvantage to their counterparts in the Premiership and Top 14.
Kaplan and Levien are in the business of sports ownership. Kaplan, a 57-year-old billionaire Californian venture capitalist, belongs to a consortium that runs the Memphis Grizzlies basketball team.
Levien, a 43-year-old New Yorker, is managing director of the Washington Major Soccer League franchise, DC United as well as being involved in three basketball franchises.