This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

PRO Rugby, the US professional rugby union competition that completed its first season in July and employed internationals including Mils Muliaina, Mirco Bergamasco and Pedrie Wannenburg, could be set to close.

He has built it – will they come? Doug Schoninger and the US pro rugby dream Read more

On Tuesday, league owner Doug Schoninger said in a letter to players first reported by Rugby Today that contracts will be terminated if agreement cannot be reached with USA Rugby, the governing body of the sport in America.

He insisted however that his project was not closing down. Statements posted to PRO Rugby’s social media accounts said it planned future competition and quoted a line attributed to Mark Twain, saying: “Reports of our death have been greatly exaggerated.”

In the letter to players, Schoninger wrote: “We have been having serious issues with the cooperation and the enforcement of our agreement with USA Rugby.

“We have been actively trying to resolve our issues with USA Rugby for over four months and, unfortunately, it appears that USA Rugby will not honor the commitments they made to us.”

He added: “We are hopeful, but with no assurances, that we will be able to resolve all issues with USA Rugby prior to end of the termination clause period.”

That period is 30 days, Rugby Today reported, adding that as the league year ends in mid-March, players will lose two months’ pay. Schoninger wrote that pay due on 15 December had been delayed but would be paid this week.

In a statement, the governing body said: “USA Rugby categorically denies any and all allegations purported by PRO Rugby Tuesday 20 December, and is saddened to hear of the planned termination of all valid contracts signed by athletes that have fulfilled their playing duties for season one and were scheduled to be paid through the duration of their 12-month contracts.”

Schoninger met USA Rugby chief executive Dan Payne in New York City last week. Issues discussed were reported to include the PRO Rugby sanctioning agreement; the Celtic and Italian Pro12 competition’s expressed interest in operating franchises in North America; and reported moves by Schoninger to buy the financially stricken Southern Kings South African Super Rugby team.



Schoninger reached his sanctioning agreement with then USA Rugby chief executive Nigel Melville in 2015, to run until 2019. Its exclusivity or otherwise has been contested.

In September, Schoninger reacted strongly to reports regarding the Pro12, telling the Guardian they were “a distraction I don’t need”.

He added: “Unfortunately what I’m going to have to do if [the Pro12 plan] continues is I’m going to have to be a better version of them, not a better version of me … We all know how to get a good rugby competition in this world. You pull out a big chequebook. And that’s easy.”

In response, USA chief executive Payne expressed support for PRO Rugby but did not disavow interest from overseas, saying: “Any outside competition would have to align within the strategy and plan we are developing that is focused on growing the game within our borders.”

Following reports of Schoninger’s interest in the Southern Kings, SA Rugby, the South African governing body, told media USA Rugby had given “a clear indication” it did not support the move.

PRO Rugby (@ProRugbyUSA) @Rugby_Today @MartinPengelly Sorry RT. We are neither down or out. We are reacting to actions of @USARugby. Stay tuned grave dancers.

On Tuesday, Schoninger responded to reports of his competition’s demise with defiance. The PRO Rugby Twitter account published a series of emotive tweets, starting with the message: “We are neither down nor out. We are reacting to actions of USA Rugby. Stay tuned grave dancers.”



US union voices support for PRO Rugby league in light of foreign interest Read more

Subsequent tweets included the contention that “at this point @USARugby could use some of @realDonaldTrump[’s] can do attitude”. Statements posted to Facebook said the league planned to continue and, over a picture of Twain, said: “As everyone seems to be reporting our death we feel the need to comment that: ‘The reports of our death have been greatly exaggerated.’

PRO Rugby’s first season was contested by five teams and won by the Denver Stampede. Last week, it was announced that the San Francisco team would be disbanded. The other teams affected by Tuesday’s news are the Ohio Aviators, the Sacramento Express and the San Diego Breakers.

Expansion to Chicago, New York and Boston had been mooted; attempts to establish teams in Canada fell through. The competition’s director of rugby, Stephen Lewis, left in October and has not yet been replaced.

Schoninger told The Province, a Canadian newspaper: “I still believe, more strongly than ever, that rugby can be a huge sport in North America and I will passionately pursue the growth of the game which will benefit our fans, players and coaches.



“The hurdles that have inhibited the growth of the game for years in the USA are the same ones that I am navigating my way through now.”