James Patterson: Former Rugby Union player and Kansas City Blues coach ahead of the All Blacks v Fiji in San Diego
The Mike Hosking Breakfast - A podcast by Newstalk ZB
The All Blacks are set to play their next match at a bit of an unexpected location. San Diego is set to get a taste of Tier 1 international rugby with this weekend’s match between Fiji and the All Blacks. Normally a home fixture would be played in New Zealand, but NZR CEO Mark Robinson has been upfront about the commercial opportunities provided by taking the game stateside. Former NZ Rugby Union player and Kansas City Blues Coach James Patterson told Mike Hosking that in the States, the love of rugby is more regional. He said that anyone who loves the game knows it's on, but with the high volume of sports America has on offer, rugby falls pretty far down the list. Patterson said there’s a shift happening with the introduction of professional rugby, and people seeing that there is a career in the sport. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
