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Wallabies great Matt Giteau has thrown his support behind Super Rugby expanding into the United States, saying it would be “game over” and “scary” if the North American nation took rugby seriously.
“I don’t think it’s ridiculous at all,” Giteau told The Roar. “If they can get it logistically making sense and fair for everyone, I think it’s a great move.”
Los Angeles and San Diego both feature in the Major League Rugby competition and are being discussed as cities that could feature in an expanded Super Rugby Pacific competition. Hawaii has long been thrown up as a possible destination, too.
While no one is speaking of the MLR falling over, some believe having US representation in a top-tier domestic competition could help speed up the progress of rugby union in the country in a similar way to the Drua, who have provided a pathway into the Flying Fijians.
After World Rugby announced that the USA would host the men’s (2031) and women’s (2033) World Cups in 2022, the governing body decided recently to go ahead with the showpiece events despite concerns over whether the nation could host a successful tournament.
It comes after the US men’s team missed World Cup qualification for the first time in 2023 – five years after the MLR began.
Although it’s unlikely the USA would miss qualification again, given World Rugby expanded the 2027 World Cup to 24 teams, the governing body has begun to realise the enormity of getting the Eagles humming.
World Rugby has already invested millions of dollars into MLR side Anthem Rugby Carolina – but the predominantly homegrown side hasn’t won a game in three years and are winless across 11 games in 2025.
New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson told The Roar Rugby podcast that they were “open-minded” to the possibilities of US expansion, saying the markets and possibilities in on the other side of the Pacific Ocean were endless but difficult to crack.
“It feels like there’s an opportunity now with everyone having a real keen interest in making those World Cups work that people might come together for those discussions,” Robinson said.
“So as it relates to Super Rugby, I think an open mind, continuing conversations, exploring what different models could look like are all possibilities, but it’s not going to happen overnight. I think it’s going to take a little bit more time to work through that.”
New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson (C) said he was “open-minded” to a US side joining Super Rugby Pacific. (Photo by Dave Rowland/Getty Images for Rugby Australia)
Although sources have told The Roar it’s unlikely a new franchise would be included in the 11-team Super Rugby competition in the next year or two, it’s believed some are interested in striking while the iron is hot.
The Roar also understands that any US bid would be privately owned and cost-neutral for RA and NZR.
Giteau, who played 103 Tests for the Wallabies and won a title with Los Angeles towards the end of his decorated career, said he was excited by the prospect of US representation in Super Rugby, particularly for what it could do for the national side.
“I think there could be huge potential,” Giteau told The Roar.
“Look at the Drua, no one can beat them at home. They’re super competitive.
“You can see each year that they’re growing. They’re another team that you can just see the benefits of playing consistent, tough rugby against the best players in the world, where you might get a bit of pain early on, you may lose by plenty early on, but each year, the more that you can stick at it and be consistent, you’re going to see these players grow.
“Because the biggest thing is in losses or the tough times, that’s when you learn the most. No one really learns anything just from winning all the time, because you gloss over any issues or any areas where you can improve. So it could be a great pathway.
“And in the States, the amount of players that they’ve got, if they can see a pathway, then you may get these younger kids in colleges playing, and the athletes that they’ve got over there are incredible.
“I think if it was a sport that they took serious, it could be scary.”
Former Wallaby and LA playmaker Matt Giteau believes rugby could catch fire in the USA like in Japan if they get the 2031 World Cup right. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images for LA Giltinis)
Before moving to Los Angeles, Giteau played in Japan after a successful stint at Toulon either side of the nation hosting the 2019 World Cup.
The former inside back was blown away by what making the finals of the World Cup could do for a nation and believed the US could have a similarly watershed moment for rugby in the nation if it got the 2031 campaign right.
“Japan’s a great example,” he said.
“ I mean, it’s different, because they had that competition up and running for such a long time. But the impact that that World Cup had, and especially when they hosted it, and they made it to the quarterfinals, the crowds that we would get off the back of that was massive. The sport became huge.
“Before that World Cup, you’ve got like 2-3,000 people at the stadium and you’ve got to try and find your own motivation in those ones. But after the World Cup, it was packed. Every game was sell-outs. And you could just feel the impact that having a successful World Cup had on the country.
“And if they’re able to replicate that and do the same thing with the States, it’s game over. That would be huge, not just for American rugby, but for world rugby, if America started to take rugby serious.”
Giteau said he had no doubt a Super Rugby side on the US coast would be attractive for players given he was inundated with Test-capped players reaching out to him about life and rugby in LA.
“When I was over there, I got lots of private messages off big players that were in UK just asking about it,” he said.
Matt Giteau during his time playing in the Major League Rugby competition in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for LA Giltinis )
He did, however, say he thought it would be tough logistically, especially if there was just one US side included initially.
“I just don’t know how it would work with just one team,” the three-time World Cup Wallaby said.
“With Super Rugby, when we would travel to South Africa, you’d go and you’d stay there for two or three weeks. I just don’t know how it would work logistically for them. It’d be a long time away. That’d be my only query, is how that would work.”
As for living and playing in LA, Giteau said it was “the best”.
“As far as living there, it’s unreal,” he said.
“Your beachfront, it’s just a cruisy city. You see the Hollywood sign. All the stuff that you see in the movies, it’s there.
“My kids loved it because you’re seeing it in real life. Like it’s just a really cool city where plenty is happening. And when we were there, we were winning. So they love to support winners.
“When we hit the final, which was hosted in LA, I think we may have got 8-10,000 people to do that final, which in America is huge. Even Super Rugby now doesn’t regularly get those numbers in some cities.
“And the weather, mate, was always good. A kid from Canberra to be able to live beachside in LA, it was a dream.”
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.