Rugby United New York Announces Expanded Television Coverage on NBC Sports Regional Networks

NBC Sports Philadelphia+ and NBC Sports Washington to Televise Matches from New York City’s First Professional Rugby Franchise

New York, February 13, 2019 – Rugby United New York (RUNY) announced today that NBC Sports Washington and NBC Sports Philadelphia+ will join SNY in televising match coverage of eight remaining games this season, beginning Sat., Feb. 16 at 3 p.m. EST when RUNY travels to face the NOLA Gold. The partnership with the NBC Sports Regional Networks expands RUNY’s TV market into two key East Coast markets.

All matches will be broadcast LIVE, subject to schedule availability.

Growth into the Washington, D.C., market comes at an important time for MLR as an expansion team is set to join the league for the 2020 season. RUNY matches will introduce the professional league in the area before D.C. MLR kicks off play next year.

“This opportunity is only possible from our great partnership with SNY and wonderful response we have received from RUNY and MLR fans,” said James Kennedy, Owner, Rugby United New York. “We can’t wait to work with NBC Sports Regional Networks to bring expanded rugby coverage into millions of more homes.”

“We are thrilled that our coverage is expanding to DC and Philadelphia,” added Dean Howes, Commissioner, Major League Rugby. “With our East Coast expansion in 2019 and 2020, including the addition of a DC expansion team in 2020, this is an important step as we grow our footprint, and the MLR brand.”

“The USA is an important market for rugby and this exciting deal is a potential game-changer, projecting the sport to more than 17.5 million homes week-in-week-out,” said Brett Gosper, CEO of World Rugby. “It reinforces our firm belief that rugby is rapidly on the rise in the U.S., attracting and inspiring new fans and participants in record numbers.”

RUNY kicked off their inaugural Major League Rugby season with a historic win, 25-23, at the San Diego Legion. The expansion franchise, under the leadership of head coach Mike Tolkin, played an exhibition schedule last season as an affiliate member, finishing with an undefeated record. MLR’s second season of play has kicked off with nine teams with the inclusion of two of the largest media markets in North America in RUNY and the Toronto Arrows.

2019 RUNY Remaining Programming Schedule on SNY, NBC Sports Washington and NBC Sports Philadelphia+

Opponent SNY Date & Time * NBC Sports Philadelphia+ Date & Time * NBC Sports Washington Date & Time * NOLA Sat., Feb. 16, 3 PM N/A Sun., Feb. 24, 9 PM Houston Sat., March 2, 8 PM Wed., March 6, 7 PM Tues., March 5, 12 PM Utah Fri., March 8, 9 PM Sun., March 10, 3 PM Sun., March 10, 12 PM Toronto Fri., March 15, 7 PM Sun., March 17, 2:30 PM Sun., March 17, 6 PM San Diego Sun., April 14, 1 PM Sun., April 14, 1 PM Sun., April 14, 1 PM Seattle Sat., May 11, 4:30 PM Sat., May 11, 4:30 PM Sat., May 11, 4:30 PM Austin Sun., May 19, 1 PM Sun., May 19, 1 PM Sun., May 19, 1 PM NOLA Sun., May 26, 1 PM Sun., May 26, 1 PM Sun., May 26, 1 PM

*All times are EST

Bold indicates LIVE

Programming schedule is subject to change

All RUNY home games will be played at MCU Park in Coney Island. Tickets for RUNY’s 2019 campaign are now on sale and available at http://www.rugbyunitedny.com/tickets/.

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ABOUT SNY

SNY is an Emmy Award winning, multiplatform regional sports network serving approximately eight million homes in the New York Metropolitan area and 11 million homes across the country through unparalleled coverage of the New York Mets, Jets and all things New York sports. SNY is the official television home of the New York Mets, televising more than 125 live games each season with exclusive pre- and post-game programs, plus additional Mets entertainment programming airing throughout the calendar year. As the official television home of the New York Jets, SNY delivers more than 300 hours of exclusive year-round content devoted to Gang Green. SNY is also the official television home of the UConn Huskies men’s and women’s basketball programs, broadcasting approximately 350 hours of UConn programming annually, including more than 20 live games. As New York’s leader in local sports television coverage, SNY delivers the most comprehensive access to all of the Tri-State area’s professional and collegiate sports teams through five nightly sports and entertainment programs from SNY’s state-of-the-art studio located high above the city at 4 World Trade Center in downtown Manhattan. SNY’s programming roster also includes classic sports programming, critically acclaimed original entertainment shows, and exclusive interview and magazine programs. Online, SNY.tv is the “go-to” digital communal home for New York sports fans to get succinct, easy-to-read updates, video highlights and features, recaps, news, opinion, rumors, insight and fan reaction on their favorite New York sports teams. Owned by Sterling Entertainment Enterprises, Charter Communications and Comcast, SNY is available to viewers throughout New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, and northeastern Pennsylvania, and nationally on DIRECTV, Verizon FiOS and AT&T U-Verse.

ABOUT NBC SPORTS REGIONAL NETWORKS

NBC Sports Regional Networks is NBC Sports Group’s portfolio of nine regional networks that delivers more than 2,200 live sporting events and original content to more than 35 million homes. Aligned within Eastern and Western Divisions, the NBC Sports Regional Networks are: NBC Sports Boston, NBC Sports Philadelphia, NBC Sports Philadelphia +, NBC Sports Washington, NBC Sports Washington + and SNY; and NBC Sports Bay Area, NBC Sports California, NBC Sports Chicago and NBC Sports Northwest. For more information on NBC Sports Group properties, including press releases, photos, talent and executive bios, headshots and logos, please visit www.NBCSportsGroupPressBox.com.

ABOUT RUGBY UNITED NEW YORK

Rugby United New York is a professional rugby team who joined Major League Rugby as an associate member in 2018, playing a brief, but successful exhibition season. Their first full MLR schedule will take place in 2019. When they officially join the league, RUNY’s vision is to bring the excitement of professional rugby to the New York sports landscape. The use of rugby’s core values of teamwork, respect, and discipline will help to educate, inspire and connect with the New York Community. Rugby United New York, the city’s first professional rugby franchise, strives to unite the entire rugby community and enrich it at every level throughout the region. The team was founded by James Kennedy of the Murphy Kennedy Group, who is an active supporter of grassroots rugby.

ABOUT MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY

MLR is a professional rugby league that launched in April of 2018. It’s an initiative of the American rugby community, in partnership with private investors, who believe that 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 is the pinnacle of the American rugby, and provides a rallying point for local communities, a focal point for American rugby fans, and an aspirational destination for young athletes. MLR features nine teams in Austin, Glendale (Colorado), Houston, New Orleans, New York, San Diego, Seattle, Toronto and Utah.