Drop In Rugby Show: Bringing the Global Game to a Growing American Audience

Rugby in America is entering one of the most important periods in its history.

With the United States preparing to host the 2031 Men’s Rugby World Cup and the 2033 Women’s Rugby World Cup, there is a tremendous opportunity to introduce the sport to a new generation of American fans, players, families, and commercial partners.

That opportunity is one of the driving forces behind Drop In with Naas Botha & Ryan Grobler.

A Rugby Show Built Around Conversation

Drop In was created with a simple idea: bring rugby people together and talk about the game in a way that is knowledgeable, entertaining, honest, and accessible.

Hosted by Springbok legend Naas Botha and former professional rugby player Ryan Grobler, the show combines decades of experience in the game with a relaxed conversational format.

Rather than simply reporting scores, Drop In looks deeper into the sport.

Why did a team win?

What tactical decisions changed the game?

How is international rugby evolving?

What needs to happen for rugby to grow in the United States?

And how can the global rugby community help build excitement as America moves toward 2031?

From the Springboks and All Blacks to USA Rugby and the development of the game domestically, Drop In provides a place where rugby supporters can enjoy the sport while new fans can learn more about it.

Connecting South Africa and the United States

One of the unique aspects of Drop In is the connection between two very different rugby markets.

South Africa is a country where rugby is deeply embedded in the sporting culture. The United States, meanwhile, represents one of rugby’s largest potential growth markets.

Drop In brings those worlds together.

The show has already attracted a significant South African audience, with more than 65% of viewers coming from South Africa. Individual shows and social media posts have generated between 30,000 and 70,000 views, demonstrating the appetite for rugby conversation that crosses borders.

But the long-term vision extends far beyond an online rugby show.

It is about helping connect one of rugby’s most passionate established audiences with one of its most exciting emerging markets.

Rugby's American Opportunity

American sports fans already understand many of the characteristics that make rugby compelling: physicality, speed, strategy, teamwork, rivalry, and athleticism.

The challenge is exposure.

Millions of Americans have never had the opportunity to experience rugby in the right environment or have someone explain the game in a way that makes it easy to follow.

That is beginning to change.

Professional rugby, college rugby, youth programs, international matches, streaming platforms, social media, and major rugby events are creating more opportunities for Americans to discover the sport.

The Rugby World Cups coming to the United States provide an even bigger catalyst.

2031 should not simply be viewed as a tournament arriving in America. It represents years of opportunity leading up to the event.

The work needs to happen now.

Growing Rugby From the Ground Up

For rugby to achieve sustainable growth in America, the game needs more than major international events.

• It needs young players.

• It needs coaches.

• It needs schools and clubs.

• It needs parents who understand the sport.

• It needs businesses willing to support it.

• And it needs media that tells rugby stories consistently.

That grassroots development is especially important.

When young athletes are introduced to rugby, they discover a sport that has opportunities for different body types, personalities, and athletic abilities. Rugby also brings with it a culture built around teamwork, respect, resilience, and community.

The goal should be to make rugby visible enough that an American child can watch an international match, discover a local rugby club, start playing the game and dream about representing the United States one day.

Building Toward 2031

Drop In intends to be part of that journey.

As the show grows, the vision is to expand beyond weekly match discussion into interviews, live events, watch parties, grassroots rugby initiatives, youth development, and conversations with the people shaping the future of the sport.

Kansas City can play an important role in that vision.

Located in the heart of America with a passionate sporting culture, Kansas City provides an exciting base from which to connect international rugby with American sports fans.

The ambition is not simply to talk about rugby.

It is to help build a rugby community.

More Than a Show

The early response to Drop In demonstrates something important: rugby supporters want conversation, personality, analysis, and community around the sport.

But perhaps the greatest opportunity lies with the people who are not rugby supporters yet.

Over the next five years, thousands of young American athletes will pick up a rugby ball for the first time. New supporters will attend their first international match. Businesses will discover rugby audiences. Communities will establish new clubs and programs.

By the time the world arrives in America in 2031, the goal should be for rugby to have a significantly larger footprint than it has today.

That is the journey Drop In wants to document, and help support.

From South Africa to the USA, from established rugby nations to emerging rugby communities, Drop In is about bringing people together through the game.

The countdown to 2031 has already started.

And American rugby's next chapter is being written now.