Premiership Rugby hopes to attract USA fans with New Jersey clash

Premiership Rugby is hoping to attract a new audience. Credit: PA

Shane Geraghty has described London Irish's clash against Saracens in New Jersey on Saturday and its build-up as "massive" for the club and Aviva Premiership rugby.

The 25,000-seater Red Bull Arena - home of MLS side New York Red Bulls - will host the Premiership's first overseas fixture.

And it comes with Irish currently propping up the Premiership table, eight points behind 11th-placed Newcastle, while Saracens - despite losing at home to Northampton last weekend - remain top by three points from closest challengers Exeter.

"New Jersey is a pretty amazing place, and of course, we are only a stone's throw away from Manhattan, but at the same time we are not forgetting what we are here to do, and that is to win at the weekend," Irish back Geraghty said.

"Obviously this is a massive week for the club and a massive week for Aviva Premiership Rugby, hosting a game outside of the UK for the first time.

"The welcome has been fantastic. To be training down at the New York Jets facility has been pretty amazing. too. It's an incredible set-up down there, and we are very lucky they have let us share in that.

"Everyone has been wishing us luck, asking us about rugby - both XVs and sevens - and telling us about how the game is growing in America.

"The public seem really knowledgeable about the game, actually, which is great to see, and hopefully we can give them a great game to watch this weekend."