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If you were hoping for a second season of PRO Rugby: the skies are very, very dark.

PRO owner Doug Schoninger wrote to the league’s players on Tuesday, informing them that their contracts were set to be terminated if differences with USA Rugby weren’t resolved.

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“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,” Schoninger wrote in the letter.

Via email, Schoninger told The Province he was “sad that we are in this position.”

“After months and months of trying, I finally realized that USA Rugby would not honour its commitments to us,” he said. “It is sad that the players are stuck in the middle but that was USA Rugby’s choice. 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.”

PRO Rugby’s official Twitter account remained defiant Tuesday afternoon, insisting they weren’t done.