EAST Essex Sabres head coach Lee Joseph believes it is unlikely that the Super Bowl will ever take place in London despite persistent rumours in recent years.

Super Bowl LII saw the Philadelphia Eagles claim their first ever Vince Lombardi Trophy after overcoming the New England Patriots 41-33 in a thrilling encounter in the early hours of Monday morning.

London-born Jay Ajayi, who joined the Eagles from the Miami Dolphins midway through the NFL season, played a key role in the underdogs’ victory.

Ajayi’s success in the United States underlines the growing popularity of American Football in Britain and, following more than a decade of International Series clashes being played in London, there have been calls for the sport’s showpiece to be played on British shores.

But Joseph is certain that the NFL will not allow the Super Bowl to be contested in London.

Joseph said: “I don’t think that there is a possibility that the Super Bowl will take place in London in the future.

“It would be like the UK allowing the FA Cup final to be played in another country.

“The only way a Super Bowl could be played outside of the United States is if a world league was set up.

“If that was done then it would allow for the Super Bowl to be played in different countries each year.

“But even if that were to happen, I think it is a long way off.

“The Super Bowl is much more than just a game now. It’s a two-week festival with a huge budget and entertainment.”

Due to the growing popularity of the sport in Britain, a new franchise being established in London has been rumoured.

Tottenham Hotspur’s new White Hart Lane stadium will even boast NFL facilities and leading NFL officials have confirmed that a team in London is a possibility thanks to the leading attendance figures at the International Series matches since it first began at Wembley Stadium in 2007.

Mark Waller, the NFL’s executive vice-president of international and events, told The Guardian: “I said this was a 15-year project when we started in 2007 - that was the sort of timeframe that seemed to work.

“The next four or five years should be very doable.”

And Joseph feels that a London-based franchise would prove to be a hit.

The East Essex Sabres head coach added: “A franchise in this country would be amazing.

“If it were done right, it could be huge.”