That said, cheering on Wigan with Cameron Diaz does have a certain appeal

Obviously not heard of UNLV then.

I can see it now :

Touchdown Richards. (and the points after are good)
Referee Ganson throwing a flag.
James Graham has been 'ejected' for arguing with the referees.
The Sam Tomkins shuffle.
Timeout called by Maguire.
Roberts leads the league in rushing yards.

Any more anyone?

(Big NFL fan BTW, go Chiefs!)

Should be some good interest in the first ever game on UK soil by an AMRL team!

Thursday 21st April 2011
Wigan Riversiders RLC v Philadelphia Fight
Robin Park Areana
Kick Off 19:00

I'm a massive NFL fan, so much so I spent a fair bit of money at the beginning of november, to go and watch the packers at the Jets and then the weekend later the Miami at the Ravens......For the americans sport is an event for the day. They basically use it as a social event, half the time they are down stairs drinking beer while watching the game on a TV, or outside still enjoying their tailgate party and only come in about 20 mins into the game, which seems mad, when the cheapest tickets were $135!!

Its a completely different culture to Europe, where you literally come for the sport and the other stuff is just an added extra. Its a family day out hence why there are so many intervals and times to eat and socialise etc. If we were to crack america I feel we would have to change the format of the game a bit, either, have 20 mins quaters or back to back games at the same venue, e.g. millenium magic type.

However I do think its fesible, there are many elements simlar the american football, e.g. we stop the clock when the ball is dead, we have a video ref, 6 tackles were they have 4 to go 10 yards. If you really want to crack america though us traditional fans would have to put up with the american language. I have a feeling they would call it a "down" instead of a tackle, they would possible called it a touchdown rather than a try and they would have a booth rather than a video ref, we would have to resist rolling our eyes and moaning under our breath.

I agree with others too, to really crack america you have to get into the collages, this is where all american sports start and were football (soccer) has failed. Soccer is the highest participated sport for under 18s in the US but once they go to collage they always choose a traditional american sport. We would need the coaches to work in the collages picking up the students who don't make the american football team or are athletes struggling for scholarships. We would then have to form a league systemm, sponsors and television deal, as the universities simply wouldn't pay for all that without these. We also need americans involved at all levels, nothing means more the americans than america!

Hard work and alot of organising and money has to be poured into it. But it is possible.