By: Ian Curtis February 9, 2019

With the major success of the MLS, more and more sports leagues are being founded to bring in less popular sports to the mainstream population of the U.S. Rugby might just be the most successful.

Having played its first season in 2018, Major League Rugby is seeking to become the next big thing in North America . Eight U.S. based teams currently play in the league with one Canadian squad (Toronto Arrows). Three more teams are set to begin play in 2020: Old Glory D.C., the New England Free Jacks, and an unnamed Atlanta addition.

MLR is learning from the mistakes of previous leagues, such as the PRO rugby league and the early days of the MLS. Similarly to the MLS, the league is a single entity, with each team being owned by the league and the owners holding a minority stake in MLR itself. This protects against overexpansion and mis-management of the clubs themselves, factors which have been the downfall of other leagues in the past.

In addition, the league is also focused on growing rugby itself and the youth that play the game. Each club is required to have a camp and connections with local high school and collegiate programs. With the recent success of the U.S. national rugby team and their youth programs, this is a great time to spread the sport across the continent.

MLR already has a strong following from the rugby community in the U.S., but they are also trying to attract a mainstream audience. A TV deal with CBS to televise several games a season is one way to attract new fans. Each team has an involvement in the community where they are located. MLR is trying to make games a “gathering place for rugby fans and local communities to come together around the game”. Through camps, charities, and participating in local events, each team looks to become a staple in their area.

Some worries are that the new spring football and popular soccer leagues might hurt MLR’s ticket sales and revenue. Although each league may take a few potential fans, most people dismiss these worries. The two football leagues (the AAF playing in 2019 and the XFL in 2020) would likely hurt each other’s revenue far more than MLR’s. With a main goal of focusing on rugby, the league hopes to differentiate itself from other sports leagues that may seek to take its’ fans.

Overall, only time will tell whether MLR succeeds. But the future certainly looks bright for rugby in the U.S. and Canada.