Yes, rugby is a thing in the United States. In fact, it's a pretty popular thing. Rugby is currently the fastest growing sport in the USA, outpacing other rising sports like football. Attendance in particular has been growing at breakneck speeds: the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens had an attendance of well over 100,000 fans. Not all of them were domestic fans. Foreign fans can use an ESTA to travel to the USA to witness some vintage American rugby.
Big sport, bigger stadiums
If there is one thing the USA is known for, it's having everything be as big as possible. From food to drink to cars, the country's motto might as well be “big, bigger, biggest”. While the biggest rugby stadiums are found in country's with a more established heritage such as Twickenham in England or the Stade de France in Saint Denis, the USA is certainly no slouch in that regard. The Sam Boyd stadium regularly sees close to 50,000 visitors for major matches, and The Soldier Field stadium can hold up to 61,500 fans, almost equaling legendary Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
In fact, rugby has grown so popular in the USA that the country is a likely candidate to host the 2027 Rugby World Cup, a clear sign that World Rugby recognises the passion of rugby fans throughout the USA.
Foreign visitors: get an ESTA!
Unsurprisingly, more and more foreign rugby fans have shown increased interest in how the sport develops in the USA. Having the United States as a prominent rugby country is only beneficial to the sports as a whole, since the country has a commercial market unrivaled in the world. More viewers means more exposure and money, which in turn leads to more games!
Another reason why the USA is most likely going to host the 2027 World Cup is its easy visa system. Rugby is particularly popular in countries like England, France and New Zealand, and it just so happens that citizens from these countries don't need a visa to enter the USA. They, and many other countries such as South Africa and Australia, are included in America's Visa Waiver Program.
This system, also known as the ESTA system, was set up after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, in order to better screen incoming travellers. While this may sound daunting, it has in fact made travelling to the USA a lot easier for people from these countries. This is because submitting an ESTA application is far cheaper than applying for a US visa. In addition, US visa applications can take weeks if not months to go through, while an ESTA is approved often the same day.
Since an ESTA allows you to stay in the USA for up to 90 days, the only reason to apply for a US visa is if you plan to stay longer, or if you are from a country that is not included in the ESTA system.
Submitting an ESTA application is easily done by filling out the online application form. It asks some basic information as well as a number of safety questions to make sure each traveller does not pose a threat to the country's citizens. Once approved, an ESTA is electronically linked to your passport. All you need to do at the airport is have your passport scanned. The ESTA is therefore not a paper document like the visa.
