Major League Rugby

History and Founding

The concept for Major League Rugby emerged in 2016 from discussions among several amateur rugby clubs across the United States. Dean Howes, a former executive with Major League Soccer's Real Salt Lake and the NHL's St. Louis Blues, became involved as a senior strategic advisor for Rugby Utah to help develop a professional pathway. By February 2017, nine amateur organizations had announced their intent to form a professional league to begin play the following year. The league was officially founded in 2017 as the successor to the short-lived PRO Rugby and various amateur competitions like the Rugby Super League and the USA Rugby Elite Cup.

The inaugural 2018 season launched with seven teams after some original organizations rebranded or were replaced. Key founding entities included the Austin Huns, Dallas Griffins, Glendale Raptors, Houston Strikers, and Seattle Saracens, many of which transformed into new professional identities. A major milestone was achieved prior to launch when MLR secured a multi-year television partnership with CBS Sports Network in November 2017, marking the first time a new American sports league had a national TV deal before its first game. The first regular-season match was played on April 21, 2018, between the Houston SaberCats and New Orleans Gold. The Seattle Seawolves won the first championship, defeating the Colorado Raptors in the final by a score of 23-19.

Expansion, Contraction, and Financial Challenges

MLR expanded rapidly from its seven founding teams, reaching a peak of thirteen teams for the 2022 season, which included the Toronto Arrows as its first Canadian team. The league added the New England Free Jacks, Old Glory DC, and Rugby ATL in 2020, the LA Giltinis in 2021, and the Dallas Jackals in 2022. However, significant financial and operational challenges led to a wave of team departures beginning in the mid-2020s. The LA Giltinis and Austin Gilgronis, both owned by Adam Gilchrist, were disqualified from the 2022 playoffs and later expelled from the league in October 2022 following ownership disputes and alleged violations of league rules including salary cap issues.

The contraction accelerated after the 2023 season. The Toronto Arrows ceased operations in November 2023 following the death of founder Bill Webb and an inability to secure new investors. The New York Ironworkers also folded ahead of the 2024 season. In a major 2025 consolidation, the San Diego Legion and Rugby FC Los Angeles merged to form the California Legion for the 2026 season. Subsequently, the New Orleans Gold, Miami Sharks, Houston SaberCats, and Utah Warriors all announced they would not participate in the 2026 campaign. The Dallas Jackals had also withdrawn ahead of the 2025 season. This series of exits reduced the league to six teams for 2026. Anthem Rugby Carolina, a development team funded by World Rugby, operated from 2024 until its three-year funding agreement expired in July 2026, forcing it to disband.

Despite the financial headwinds, league commissioner Nic Benson and team executives were confident that the league would continue to function with a strong core of teams. In December 2025, the league announced that CEO Benson would step down. League leadership was reorganized with two co-presidents: Alex Magleby and Graeme Bradbury. Prior to their selection as co-presidents, Magleby was Co-Founder and CEO of the Free Jacks and Bradbury was COO of Major League Rugby. The expansion franchise fee is US$4 million as of 2019.

Competition Format and League Structure

The Major League Rugby season typically runs from late February to early July. From 2018 to 2019, the league used a full double round-robin format where every team played each other home and away, resulting in a sixteen-game regular season. Beginning with the 2020 season, MLR adopted a conference system, dividing teams into Eastern and Western Conferences. Teams play a double round-robin within their own conference and a selection of six inter-conference matches for a total of 16 regular-season games. The postseason involves the top three teams from each conference, featuring a wildcard game and a conference final.

MLR is structured as a single-entity, closed league similar to Major League Soccer, with no promotion or relegation. Each team is a franchise owned by the league, with franchise operators holding a share in the overall league. This model is common in North American professional sports. The league has experimented with rules to increase the game's pace, announcing several trial rules for the 2025 season designed to reduce the number of scrums, a move that drew criticism from some fans and commentators who felt it could hinder player development for international competition.

Teams and Championship History

The composition of teams in MLR has changed frequently. The Seattle Seawolves are the only founding team from 2018 that remained active for the 2026 season. Other long-standing teams include the New England Free Jacks and Old Glory DC, which joined in 2020, and the Chicago Hounds, which joined in 2023. The champion for the 2026 season was the Chicago Hounds. The New England Free Jacks won four consecutive championships from 2022 to 2025. The Seattle Seawolves won the inaugural title in 2018 and again in 2019, while the Utah Warriors were champions in 2021. No champion was crowned in 2020 due to the season's cancellation after five rounds because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Several notable teams have left the league. The Colorado Raptors were the first to withdraw in 2020, citing a desire to focus on developing American players for the World Cup, and criticizing MLR's increase in foreign player limits. The Toronto Arrows, the league's sole Canadian franchise, folded after the 2023 season. The merger that created the California Legion ended the individual tenures of the San Diego Legion, a founding team, and Rugby FC Los Angeles, which had relocated from Atlanta. The league has also featured secondary rivalry cups between teams in the same region, though some became inactive due to team withdrawals.

Player Composition, Development, and Notable Signings

MLR rosters are composed of North American players and international signings. The league's original concept aimed to limit foreign players to three per team to prioritize domestic development, but this limit was raised to five before the first season and later increased to ten. This policy shift drew criticism from some, including the departing Colorado Raptors, who felt it reduced opportunities for American players. The league has attracted several high-profile international stars, which brought global attention and experience. Notable signings included New Zealand's Ma'a Nonu with the San Diego Legion, South Africa's Tendai Mtawarira with Old Glory DC, and France's Mathieu Bastareaud on loan to Rugby United New York.

To foster local talent, MLR implemented its first collegiate draft in 2020, and teams have established youth academies. The unique Anthem Rugby Carolina franchise operated from 2024 to 2026 with the explicit goal of developing players eligible for the USA Eagles national team ahead of the 2027 and 2031 Rugby World Cups. The league presents annual awards, including the Major League Rugby Player of the Year, which has been awarded every season since 2019 except for the cancelled 2020 season. The draft continues to provide a pathway for players from American and Canadian universities into the professional league.

Media Coverage, Broadcasting, and Viewership

Major League Rugby has secured television deals with several major sports networks throughout its history. National broadcast rights have been held by CBS Sports Network, Fox Sports (on FS1 and FS2), and, as of 2025, ESPN2. The league's championship final has been broadcast on free-to-air CBS, with the 2019 final attracting a 0.32 rating which equated to 510,000 households. Viewership figures have varied in later years, with the 2022 final on Fox averaging 281,000 viewers and the 2025 final drawing 75,000 viewers on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes. Regular season broadcasts on FS1 in 2023 drew between 53,000 and 147,000 viewers.

In 2021, MLR launched The Rugby Network, a free streaming platform in partnership with RugbyPass. By 2024, the platform reported over 271,000 subscribers with 55 percent year-on-year growth. The league also has an official mobile app for news and content. Several teams have historically held separate local broadcast agreements with regional sports networks such as SNY in New York, TSN in Canada for the Toronto Arrows, Marquee Sports Network in Chicago, and various AT&T SportsNet regional channels. The San Diego Legion had a local deal with Channel 4 YurView California, and Austin Elite Rugby once partnered with Facebook Watch for Texas-based viewers.

Strategic Importance and Future Outlook

MLR's ongoing role in developing players for the United States and Canadian national teams remains a key part of its mission, especially with the United States set to host the Rugby World Cup in 2031. The pathway provided by the MLR College Draft and team academies continues to be central to its long-term vision for North American rugby. The creation of Anthem Rugby Carolina, directly funded by World Rugby, underscored the international governing body's interest in using the league to improve the competitiveness of the USA Eagles. The league's experimental rule changes also reflect an ongoing effort to shape a product that is engaging for North American audiences while developing players for the international game.

The future of the league hinges on the financial sustainability and stability of its remaining six franchises. The leadership transition to co-presidents Magleby and Bradbury in late 2025 signalled a new phase focused on consolidation and managed growth. While the reduction in teams represents a significant contraction, the league maintains its position as the premier professional rugby union competition in North America. Its ability to maintain broadcast partnerships and grow its digital streaming audience through The Rugby Network will be critical for its long-term viability and its continued contribution to the sport's profile in Canada and the United States.

Questions about Major League Rugby

How many Canadian teams are in Major League Rugby?

As of the 2026 season, there are no Canadian teams in Major League Rugby. The Toronto Arrows, based in Ontario, were the first and only Canadian franchise, joining the league for the 2019 season. The Arrows ceased all operations in November 2023 following the death of founder Bill Webb and a failure to secure new investors. The league's current six teams are all based in the United States. Canadian players, however, remain eligible for the MLR College Draft and can sign with any of the American teams.

Which team has won the most MLR championships?

The New England Free Jacks have won the most Major League Rugby championships, with four titles. They won four consecutive championships from 2022 through 2025. The Seattle Seawolves have won two championships (2018 and 2019), and the Utah Warriors (2021) and Chicago Hounds (2026) have each won one title. The league did not crown a champion in 2020 due to the season's cancellation after five rounds because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The championship final is the culmination of a playoff tournament involving the top teams from each conference.

Where can I watch Major League Rugby games in Canada?

Canadian viewers can watch select Major League Rugby games on ESPN2, which holds national broadcast rights in the United States and is available in Canada through various cable and satellite providers. Many other MLR matches are available for streaming on ESPN+. Additionally, the league's own free streaming service, The Rugby Network, is accessible in Canada and broadcasts matches, highlights, and other rugby content. When the Toronto Arrows were active, their games were broadcast on TSN and prior to that on GameTV.

What happened to the Toronto Arrows?

The Toronto Arrows ceased all operations in November 2023 and did not compete in the 2024 season. The team's closure followed the death of its founder and CEO, Bill Webb. The organization sought new investors to ensure its future but was unable to secure the necessary financial backing in time to continue. Their departure left MLR without a Canadian team, ending a five-season tenure that provided a vital professional outlet for Canadian players and a local point of interest for Canadian rugby fans.

How does the MLR draft work for Canadian players?

The Major League Rugby College Draft provides a pathway for men's rugby players from university to the professional league. Canadian players at universities in both the United States and Canada are eligible for the draft. The draft aims to identify and develop talent for MLR teams. Selected players are chosen by existing franchises, though with the contraction of the league and the absence of a Canadian franchise, opportunities for drafted Canadian players now depend on signing with one of the six remaining U.S.-based teams, such as the New England Free Jacks or Seattle Seawolves.

What is the future of Major League Rugby?

Following a period of significant team contraction, Major League Rugby planned to continue with a core of six teams for the 2026 season. League leadership was reorganized in late 2025 with new co-presidents aiming to ensure stability and focus on financial sustainability. The league's future relies on the success of its remaining franchises, its broadcast and streaming partnerships, and its continued role in developing players for the USA Eagles national team ahead of the 2031 Rugby World Cup hosted by the United States. The development pathway via the collegiate draft and academies remains a central part of its long-term strategy.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Garbutt Disposal desk. Last updated 2026-10-23.