US club rugby competition given go ahead for 2016

Six teams will compete professionally in the USA’s Pro Rugby division which will launch in April 2016.
Efforts led by World Rugby to develop the sport stateside have duly been achieved with touring sides including the All Blacks, Australia and Ireland selling out stadiums.
Rugby represents the fastest growing team sport in the US and with the men’s 7s team qualifying for Rio and a historic World Series victory in London this year, the only remaining concern is where will the six teams be based.
Professional Rugby Organisation (Pro Rugby), the governing body for the league, said in a statement: “The teams will come from major metropolitan areas in the north-east, the Rocky Mountains and California. Venues and coaches will be announced starting this week with playing rosters to follow.”
Chief executive, David Schnoninger, added at a press conference in New York: “Rugby is a natural fit for our country. Participation and interest in the sport is at an all-time high and the demand for a professional competition is clear.”
The move follows the Americas equivalent of the Europe’s Six Nations being formed, consisting of USA, Canada, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil and Chile.
Plans have seemingly been fast-tracked in the wake of the Eagles’ World Cup woe where they lost all four pool matches, including a 64-0 thrashing by the Springboks.
World Rugby chief executive, Brett Gosper, said with an err of understatement, “we welcome North American teams into the international rugby family.”