SRU should get onboard the NFL’s gravy train

THE American NFL brings its razzmatazz and showmanship to Twickenham today.

The LA Rams will be taking on the New York Giants for the very first time in London at rugby’s headquarters and spiritual home, the first time that a sport other than rugby has ever been staged at Twickenham in more than 100 years.

This isn’t the first time that the NFL has staged matches outside of the United States, nor indeed in the UK.

In previous years, NFL franchises have battled it out in front of sell-out crowds at Wembley, and as recently as three weeks ago, the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Indianapolis Colts staged at game in North London at the home of football.

There is a third game due to be played there next weekend.

When the NFL comes to town, it is not only about the game on the Sunday afternoon. A huge marketing machine rumbles into action and, unlike the Six Nations, when it is hard to tell that there is an international match on in London, the centre of the city is transformed.

Regent Street is bedecked with banners advertising the NFL’s presence in England’s capital, and no stone is left unturned to ensure the hype around the game grows to a crescendo for the match on Sunday afternoon.

If the NFL are looking for alternative venues to take matches to, then I wonder whether they have been in discussions with Scottish Rugby to stage a match at Murrayfield?

Previously home to the Scottish Claymores – a team that Gavin Hastings played for – American Football would not be a new sport to Edinburgh.

What’s more, given Scottish Rugby’s increasingly urgent desire for new sources of cash, this would be an obvious ‘quick win’ for the governing body.

Increasing the use of an expensive, under-utilised capital asset like Murrayfield, especially as Edinburgh move away to Myreside, must be a strategic imperative for Dodson and Co.

Bringing the NFL to Scotland could be an interesting and cash-positive exercise and one to be explored further.

THE rugby world has been mourning the passing of Anthony ‘Axel’ Foley this week, the Munsterman and Irish internationalist.

The outpouring of grief and sadness following his sudden death has been extraordinary, and symptomatic of the regard in which he was held in the sport.

It has been impossible to find anyone who knew or met Foley to have anything other than glowing praise and admiration for him.

Tough and uncompromising on the field, gentle and generous off it – the true qualities of a real rugby man.

He will be sadly missed from the game.