The Hemisphere Cup presented by RugbyLaw, LLC.



The Saracens are from London, England and are out of the Aviva Premiership Rugby League and The Crusaders are out of Christ Church, New Zealand and the SANZAR League (South Africa, New Zealand, Australia)

Tickets can be purchased HERE

Update (May 19, 2015): RugbyLaw, LLC, Sarecens and Crusaders have launched a press release confirming the match.

Two of the best rugby clubs in the world, the Saracens from England and the Crusaders Knights from New Zealand

will play a historic match, meeting in contest for the first time in either clubs’ history. This will truly be the very

best rugby every played in the USA.

RugbyLaw, the founders of the NRFL, is proud to present this historic game to the American sports fan. Whether

one already loves elite rugby union, or those new to rugby and passionate about professional sports, will be

thrilled to witness this contest.

The inaugural Hemispheres Cup will be played on August 1st at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu said, “We are happy to announce that New Orleans will host NRFL’s premiere

event right here in the Dome on August 1, 2015. This will be an unbelievable experience for New Orleans residents

and visitors alike. We are a perfect city for world-class sports entertainment and the Superdome is the ideal venue.

New Orleans stands ready to host some of the world’s best events. NRFL and New Orleans are going to be a great

match.”

“The Mercedes-Benz Superdome is thrilled to host the inaugural Hemispheres Cup, which will introduce the sport

of rugby to many local sports fans on a grand international level” notes Alan Freeman, SMG’s General Manager at

the Superdome. “In our role as venue managers, SMG is constantly searching for events that will add variety to our

event calendars, and will serve as a draw for our tourism business partners. To have an event of this stature

choose New Orleans as the host city speaks very highly on what we have to offer as a tourist destination.”

Hamish Riach, Crusaders CEO: “The Crusaders are thrilled to be sending a team to New Orleans to play

Saracens. This is an exciting opportunity for us, firstly to play in an amazing international venue like the Mercedes

Benz Superdome in New Orleans, and secondly to play a team like Saracens who we would never usually get the

opportunity to play. Saracens and the Crusaders are two teams from opposite ends of the globe, but with similarly

proud histories. It is not often that non-international teams from the southern and northern hemispheres have

the chance to pit themselves against each other, and we are honoured to be involved in this inaugural

hemispheres clash. I have no doubt that this will be an incredible spectacle and a historic occasion.”

Mark McCall, Director of Rugby of the Saracens, added: “It’s a privilege to be able to play against one of the best

teams in the world in a fantastic city and to be able to give the people of New Orleans a chance to experience

professional rugby. The City of New Orleans is famed for its welcome, vibrancy, history and culture and we are

looking forward to being part of what will be a very special occasion. The Superdome is recognized all over the

world and our players are already excited about playing at the home of the New Orleans Saints and in front of a

City that loves its sport.

The Crusaders are one of the most successful sides in world rugby and as we very rarely get the chance to face

teams from the Southern Hemisphere. We can’t wait to test ourselves in what will be a very hard-fought contest.”

Premiership rugby union – the most exciting challenging game in the world – has finally arrived in the United States

of America. The best rugby to have been ever shown in the USA, presented by RugbyLaw.

“RugbyLaw, LLC will make rugby a major league sport, alongside the NFL, NHL, NBA, and MLB. This August the first

ever professional rugby of major league standards occurs at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The following week,

August 8th, The USA’s first premiership rugby team, the NRFL Rough Riders, takes on ten-time Premiership

championship team Leicester Tigers, in Philadelphia at Lincoln Financial Field. 2015 is the year the USA enters

premiership rugby.”