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The Aviva Premiership fixtures are set to be released this Friday, with the season scheduled to begin on the 2nd of September.
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There is however, one fixture already set in stone for the 16th of September, when the Newcastle Falcons take on Saracens in the second ever Aviva Premiership fixture to take place on American soil.
The match will be played in Philadelphia’s Talen Stadium, with Newcastle acting as the ‘home’ side, hosting the two time European Champions. This will be Saracens’ second visit after London Irish hosted them at the Red Bull Arena in New Jersey on March 12, 2016. The match is part of a deal between global sports and live entertainment company AEG and NBC Sports that will run for four years in an attempt to grow the sport in the States.
Whilst northern hemisphere fans will undoubtedly be excited for the innovative fixture, the players also seem to be enthusiastic about the change of scenery.
Speaking to Premiership Rugby, new signing for the Newcastle Falcons and former England international Toby Flood said: “Everyone will be busting a gut to get on this trip because it is a chance to experience something completely different.
“That is why we play the game, to experience these unique events, and hopefully it is something we will grasp with both hands.” Alluding to the fact that it will be an opportunity for the squad to bond he said “We will be there from Monday onwards and spend a lot of time on the training pitch, then in the hotel, we will have all our meals together, we will probably go to one or two museums.”
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Saracens CEO, Heath Harvey, is hoping for a sell out crowd at The Talen Energy Stadium, home to the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer.
“Last year was a terrific start,” Harvey told the Aviva Premiership website earlier this year. “I thought the crowd was a decent size for the first game and I expect we will sell 18,500 tickets and fill the stadium”,
Philadelphia is perhaps not the easiest of locations for rugby to break ground, with the city already having such a strong affinity with its local sports teams, from the NFL’s Eagles to the 76ers and Phillies. Their fans are known for their robust, verging on hostile approach to following their sides, having on one particular occasion both booed and thrown snowballs at Santa Claus.
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If rugby were to take hold in the city in any meaningful way it would no doubt be an interesting atmosphere.
The picturesque stadium in Philadelphia where Newcastle Falcons will take on @Saracens in September #AvivaPrem pic.twitter.com/4u9HqAcA6k
— Falcons News (@falcons_news16) May 19, 2017
The US itself has made massive progress in recent years. This past weekend the Eagles qualified for the first time in the “America’s One” slot for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, beating Canada by 52 points to 16, itself a record winning margin. It was something of a changing of the guard moment, as conversely it was also the first time Canada did not qualify in the top spot.
