In the US, rugby is now ready to converge with the American passion for sports to produce a major new sport – that’s what USA head coach Jack Clark told an International Rugby Board conference in Vancouver, on October 13, 1998, adding: “And when you break into the US market, it is a very big break indeed.’’
Exactly how big could be gauged by the numbers at close of business on Friday for a glitzy football match in New Orleans this evening. The most expensive seats had ballooned in price to $56,409 each, as near £40,000 as makes no difference.
Forking out that much for the best view would hav...