Most Americans don't even know that there are two codes of rugby, so a new name wouldn't matter, you could just call it rugby. I think the best chance for American exposure would be to air it on Fox (not Fox Sports World or Net, but the free-to-air channel). I believe Rupert Murdoch's son runs Fox, and is a Broncos supporter. Maybe they should do it like Star Sports in Asia, have one team for people to support (they show the Storm in Asia, but I'd show the Broncos, Warriors, or Roosters to America, because they are the strongest teams.)
The Aussie Rules clubs were mostly started by ex-pats, and then had Americans who had seen the sport on TV come join.
In the thread "Open Rugby's History of the USRL Part 1," it says that the reason that RL wasn't shown on ESPN is that the ARL wouldn't let them use Aussie game films, and the British productions were just of too poor quality.
So, really, blame the ARL that Aussie rules is more popular than league in America.
By the way, is there any league played in Canada?
The Aussie Rules clubs were mostly started by ex-pats, and then had Americans who had seen the sport on TV come join.
In the thread "Open Rugby's History of the USRL Part 1," it says that the reason that RL wasn't shown on ESPN is that the ARL wouldn't let them use Aussie game films, and the British productions were just of too poor quality.
So, really, blame the ARL that Aussie rules is more popular than league in America.
By the way, is there any league played in Canada?