
MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY GROWTH CONTINUES WITH SEASON 3 EXPANSION
Salt Lake City, Utah; April 11, 2019: Major League Rugby today announced a revamped, expanded format for its 2020 season, with three new big market teams, a two-conference system and 101 elite matches set to give North American sports fans unprecedented access to professional rugby in MLR Season 3.
Bringing the total number of MLR teams to 12, the three new teams are the New England Free Jacks; Old Glory DC, in Washington D.C.; and Atlanta’s Rugby ATL. For Season 3 the 12 teams will be divided into the Western Conference and the Eastern Conference. The Western Conference comprises Austin, Houston, Glendale, San Diego, Seattle and Utah. The Eastern Conference will feature Atlanta, Boston, Washington D.C., New Orleans, New York and Toronto.
The 96-match regular season kicks off on February 15, 2020. Each team will play the other teams in their conference home and away, for a total of 10 games, plus six cross-conference games, three home and three away. Season 3 will conclude with a dramatic five-match Championship Series across three consecutive weekends from June 13, 2020. The 2nd and 3rd placed teams in each conference will face off for a place in the Conference Final, where they will play the top team in their conference. The MLR Final will then pit the Western Conference Champions against the Eastern Conference Champions in the winner-takes-all climax on June 28, 2020.
Season 3 continues MLR’s relentless progress since its 2018 inauguration, growing from seven teams and 31 matches in Season 1 and nine teams and 75 matches in Season 2. North American fans are enjoying more access to domestic professional rugby than ever before this year, with 22 games broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network and others available on ESPN+ and via teams’ regional broadcast deals. The Season 2 MLR Final will air on CBS network television.
“Professional rugby is here to stay in North America,” said Major League Rugby Commissioner Dean Howes. “MLR is the first time the North American sports model has been applied to the global game of rugby. That model is now laying the foundations for the long-term success of this league and the sport. For everyone involved in MLR, from our team operators to our players, fans and media partners, our ultimate goal is to see North American rugby thrive. Rugby means business here, and MLR is right at the forefront.”
ABOUT MLR
MLR is a professional rugby league launched in April of 2018. It’s an initiative of the North American rugby community, in partnership with private investors, who believe that North American rugby can thrive at the highest levels: as a commercial enterprise; as an influential player on the international scene; and as a participation sport at the youth and senior level. MLR will be the pinnacle of North American rugby, and provide a rallying point for local communities, a focal point for North American rugby fans, and an aspirational destination for young athletes. There are already over 40 internationals and players from more than 15 countries playing in the MLR. Twenty-two MLR stars represented the USA Eagles and Canada national teams in the opening round of the 2019 Americas Rugby Championship, with more than 30 called up over the course of the tournament.
The teams competing in MLR Season 2 are Austin Elite, Glendale Raptors, Houston SaberCats, New Orleans Gold, San Diego Legion, Seattle Seawolves, Utah Warriors plus new additions Rugby United New York and Toronto Arrows. In 2020, New England Free Jacks, Old Glory DC and Rugby ATL will bring the total to 12 teams for MLR Season 3.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Major League Rugby: Press Office, 323-476-0016, [email protected]
Recent Posts
SaberCats Defeat Hounds, Snap Losing Streak on van Wyk’s game-winner
Gideon van Wyk's late try seals the game over Chicago By Aaron
Final Score – May 27 vs. Chicago Hounds
The SaberCats rallied and defeated the Hounds 40-33 Saturday night at SaberCats
Game Program – May 27
Get all the details for today's game vs. the Chicago Hounds including
The Next Try: Episode 5
Week 13 at home vs. the Seattle Seawolves
SaberCats Host Chicago Hounds: ‘We are ready for the game’
SaberCats have lost three matches in a row following 6-1 start By
News Tags
Archives
- May 2023 (19)
- April 2023 (26)
- March 2023 (16)
- February 2023 (19)
- January 2023 (9)
- December 2022 (1)
- November 2022 (1)
- August 2022 (1)
- July 2022 (3)
- June 2022 (3)
- May 2022 (15)
- April 2022 (17)
- March 2022 (13)
- February 2022 (16)
- January 2022 (3)
- December 2021 (3)
- November 2021 (2)
- October 2021 (2)
- September 2021 (2)
- August 2021 (4)
- July 2021 (7)
- June 2021 (9)
- May 2021 (11)
- April 2021 (11)
- March 2021 (10)
- February 2021 (3)
- November 2020 (3)
- October 2020 (1)
- September 2020 (2)
- August 2020 (2)
- July 2020 (2)
- May 2020 (1)
- March 2020 (8)
- February 2020 (14)
- January 2020 (4)
- December 2019 (4)
- November 2019 (1)
- October 2019 (1)
- September 2019 (1)
- August 2019 (3)
- July 2019 (1)
- June 2019 (3)
- May 2019 (12)
- April 2019 (9)
- March 2019 (10)
- February 2019 (7)
- January 2019 (9)
- December 2018 (1)
- November 2018 (2)
- August 2018 (2)
- July 2018 (5)
- June 2018 (4)
- May 2018 (5)
- April 2018 (19)
- March 2018 (9)
- February 2018 (14)
- January 2018 (16)
- December 2017 (9)
- November 2017 (3)
- October 2017 (1)