USA Rugby Crowd Record set in Baltimore
American rugby reached another significant milestone over the weekend, with a record crowd of 68,173 packing Baltimore’s M&T Bank Stadium for the international showdown between the Springboks and All Blacks.
The attendance was the largest ever recorded for a rugby international played in the United States, surpassing the previous benchmark set when Ireland defeated New Zealand at Soldier Field in Chicago in 2016.
Fans travelled from across the United States and around the world to Baltimore for one of international rugby’s greatest rivalries, creating an atmosphere more commonly associated with the sport’s traditional strongholds.
On the field, South Africa defeated New Zealand 43–28, completing a 3–1 series victory in the four-Test Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series.
But the significance of the occasion stretched well beyond the result.
With the United States preparing to host the Men’s Rugby World Cup in 2031 and Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2033, attracting almost 70,000 spectators to a rugby match represents another important demonstration of the potential of the American market.
The Baltimore fixture follows a growing list of major international rugby events staged successfully in the United States, including All Blacks matches in Chicago, Washington D.C. and San Diego. More than 33,000 fans attended New Zealand’s Test against Fiji at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego in 2024.
USA Rugby has set ambitious targets for the years ahead, with CEO Bill Goren outlining plans to grow participation from more than 100,000 active members toward 500,000 as the country builds towards its home Rugby World Cups.
Baltimore’s record crowd provided another clear signal: there is a significant audience for world-class rugby in the United States, and the opportunity ahead of 2031 continues to grow.
