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International Rugby Match At PPL Park Hopes To Generate Interest In The Sport

By Hadas Kuznits

PHILADELPHIA (CBS)--A high-profile international rugby match takes place this evening at PPL Park.

USA rugby Eagles Head Coach Mike Tolkin says the match-up with the New Zealand Maori All Blacks rugby team is considered a test match.

"A test match is to get international rankings so to move up or move down you play test matches. So that establishes world rankings among teams. This one isn't a ranking test itself, but it's important for our team and the profile of the game in the country and with our fans."

Mike Scannlon, General Manager at PPL Park says this rugby game sparked an exceptional amount of interest.

"We always say the public will decide, and they decided fast by the way they bought tickets… A sold out game! It's great and we look for more to come!"

He says it's important that rugby takes off in Philadelphia because, "many of our ticket buyers are traveling from outside the area so it's flights, it's hotels, it's restaurants."

He says not only will the rugby match bring revenue in terms of visitors to the area, but also awareness about this sport.

"It gives a chance to let people see a level of rugby that they haven't seen before."

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