NFL to play two exhibition games in New Zealand

[mvcg66b3r]

New Zealand is set to get its first taste of the NFL early next year, with former rugby league superstar Jarryd Hayne touted as one of the headline acts.

Confirmation is expected this week of two NFL matches to be played in New Zealand – one at Eden Park in Auckland and the other at Wellington Regional Stadium.

The ground-breaking concept, which has been nearly four years in the making and is likely to be called the Southern Bowl, will involve six NFL franchises – including the Dallas Cowboys, the San Francisco 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals.

Once the final 53-man rosters for the 2015-16 season for those franchises are confirmed in late July, two high-profile coaches will select squads from those players who miss the cut. The coaches will likely announce their squads towards the end of September.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/68991114/nfl-set-for-historic-pair-of-matches-in-nz

 

[Oscar Madison]

What a joke! Kiwis have Rugby Union. Why should they have any interest in a degraded and bastardized form of the game? Typical US arrogance.

 

[DavidEduardo]

What a joke! Kiwis have Rugby Union. Why should they have any interest in a degraded and bastardized form of the game? Typical US arrogance.

There have been some very successful NFL team games played outside the US. The "futból americano" game played in Mexico City in 2005 broke the NFL attendance record at the time.

Just because a nation has a primary sport does not mean they would not like to see other sports, particularly if the game is a novelty to the venue.