Rams test out unusual travel strategy for London NFL trip

The Los Angeles Rams will be travelling to Wembley Stadium for the NFL London game on Sunday. But for now, the team is still in the United States.

It’s part of a bold new plan to arrive in England on Saturday morning, just one day before they will take on the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Rams are the first NFL team to leave such little time for players and staff to get acclimatized before a European game but the team is hoping that it will minimize the disruption.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Rams head coach Sean McVay outlined the plans for the trip to England: “We’ll travel to London tonight and get there tomorrow morning, have a walk-through, and then let guys be able to relax and get some rest.”

“Then we’ll be ready to kick off at 2:30 p.m. [London time]. Guys are excited about this business trip that we have but I think it’s been a good week for a team camaraderie that’s organically unfolded. It’s been about the week of preparation and guys have done a great job.”

It’s now 18 years since the NFL first held a London game, back in 2007, and there have been various attempts to overcome the long flight and eight-hour time difference to the western United States. Teams generally leave the U.S. on a Thursday, arriving in the U.K. on Friday morning. Some teams head out even earlier, giving themselves extra time to adapt.

The Jaguars have opted for more time in London, leaving Jacksonville on Monday night and arriving early on Tuesday. Jags head coach Liam Coen was asked about the travel arrangements and he admitted that he wasn’t sure if there was any definitive evidence in favor of either tactic.

“Is it an advantage? I don’t know, there’s sports science that supports both,” Coen told the Associated Press. “I just thought it was a great opportunity for our guys to get here, be able to be together a little bit more, have a little bit more continuity.”

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