PRO14 chief talks up American expansion

THE Guinness PRO14 will be expanding with a team from the east coast of America set to join the competition, according to chief executive Martin Anayi.

And the competition could be bolstered further with a side coming in from Germany after the introduction of South African teams the Super Kings and Cheetahs this summer.

But it’s the American side, thought to be based in Washington, that is set to turn the crosshemisphere clubs tournament into a transatlantic competition.

News of a American side joining the PRO14 comes in a week when Newcastle and Saracens take their Aviva Premiership clash to Philadelphia next weekend.

The English competition already has a foothold in the States having struck a broadcast deal with NBC.

The Guinness PRO14 though plan to make permanent ties with the States by including an east coast side.

Anayi told The Times: “We have had more than expressions of interest (in the USA), we have had real solid business cases that would make it work on the east coast, so it is a question of when, not if.

“We are thinking about what is next.

“The two teams in South Africa can change our game and change our tournament and if we get that right we shouldn’t stop there.

“We would be looking to expand again at some stage.

“We have got to do things differently. (When it comes to) taking the game to America, we have to be innovative.

“The English have got a great thing going in Philadelphia and it will go really well.

“How do we play to our strengths as Celtic nations with huge diaspora, Italian and South Africa, around the world? What are the key markets to become global (as a competition)?”