JERSEY CITY, N.J. (AP) A London rugby club preparing for a regular season game this week in New Jersey is spending some of its time in the United States trying to attract Americans to the sport.
The club spent Wednesday at a clinic with a high school rugby club in New Jersey, helping the students to learn the sport.
''If America can get serious about rugby, I think it would be important in terms of significantly improving our game,'' said Glenn Delaney, head of rugby operations for the British Premier club. ''I think events like this are fundamental to what we do.''
Delaney said it's important for rugby to establish a fan base in the United States, like the Beatles did by playing in New York.
''You have to build from the ground up,'' Delaney said. ''We want young kids to pick up the ball and play.''
London Irish (6-18) faces rival Saracens in a Premiership regular season contest at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey on Saturday night.
About 40 kids attended the clinic, which was sponsored by the British Council.
''There's a lot of energy,'' said Geoff Cross, of Edinburgh, Scotland, who has played for one year with London Irish. Cross put a career as a family doctor on hold to pursue pro rugby.
''It reminds me of the novelty of the sport when I started playing,'' he said.
