Leicester Tigers to play in Philadelphia to launch professional rugby in United States
Tuesday 14 April 2015 13:50, UK
Leicester Tigers will take on combined American side - Rough Riders - in Philadelphia in a historic fixture that will be the first elite rugby match played in the United States.
Billed as the Independence Cup, the August 8 game will mark the formation of the National Rugby Football League which will officially commence in 2016 with between six and 12 sides spread across the continent.
The Rough Riders will be made up of former NFL athletes, college football players and collegiate, club and international rugby players
Despite the gulf in experience, Leicester chief executive Simon Cohen said it was an opportunity to take the Tigers brand to a wider audience.
"The name of Leicester Tigers travels across the world and we're delighted to have been invited to witness the appetite for the game in the USA at first hand," Cohen said.
"Rugby is making massive strides there and the fixture against a team selected from the National Rugby Football League will provide an excellent platform for the home-based players and also for our squad as they prepare for a new season."
