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At the conclusion of 2023, in just over a week’s time, the Major League Rugby experienced the departure of two teams. The first was the Toronto Arrows, the only Canadian team, and then the New York Ironworkers, who were the 2022 champions, were unable to continue due to financial restraints and limited choices.

According to former US Eagles player and current co-founder and CEO of the New England Free Jacks, Alex Magleby, the removal of Toronto and New York from the MLR was a difficult experience.

“There will be major changes in the league,” states Magleby. “They are inevitable, as we have seen in other sports leagues throughout history. It is a risky investment for the future, correct?”

Yes, there may be debate over World Rugby’s choice to host the 2031 men’s World Cup in the US. However, from Dublin to Dallas, it has been recognized that popularizing rugby union in an already crowded US market would not be simple.

In Major League Rugby, wages are modest, amenities can be simplistic, and away matches are often held at a considerable distance. This is considered pioneering rugby. The league has successfully completed six seasons, with three since 2020 being cancelled due to Covid. The Seattle Seawolves, previous champions in 2018 and 2019, are still contenders. However, the reigning champions for 2021 (Los Angeles Giltinis) and 2022 (New York) have disbanded; teams in Glendale, Colorado and Austin, Texas have also ceased operations; and a third team located in the east, formerly based in Atlanta, was relocated to Los Angeles after losing its owner.

According to Magleby, running an MLR team requires a long-term commitment. In his partnership with biotech investor Errik Anderson, they both understand the expensive nature of keeping fans engaged. Building enthusiastic communities around the experience, brand, and game takes time.

“We lack a strong foundation of engagement to rely on, so we are trying to take quick action. This does require financial resources and circumstances can change, including people’s families and how they choose to use their money. Unfortunately, crises can occur and we hope to prevent that in the future, although it is impossible to predict.”

I am pleased that the league addressed the situation and many of the players from Toronto and New York were able to continue playing in the league with other teams.

“That must have been a difficult experience, as it was unfamiliar for everyone involved. The league put in a lot of effort to ensure both parties continued to progress, and they were completely drained.”

During this weekend, 12 teams will begin a 16-game regular season leading up to the play-offs and a championship game in July. Some well-known players will be participating, such as 41-year-old Matt Giteau from Australia, who is still playing with the San Diego Legion. Another 41-year-old, Ma’a Nonu, a former All Black centre, is also with the same club. The Free Jacks, led by Magleby, defeated the Legion in last year’s championship game, but they will start their title defense on Sunday in Charlotte, North Carolina against a new opponent – Anthem RC. This team is a collaborative project between MLR, USA Rugby, and World Rugby, making them a very interesting addition to the league.

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Developing talent in lower-ranked nations through investments is not a novel concept. Although the specifics and systems may differ, Super Rugby has incorporated teams like the Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika, while the Rugby Europe Super Cup has provided opportunities for countries such as Georgia and Portugal to cultivate professional players domestically. The United States has experienced the benefits of this strategy, but also the consequences of neglecting it: the majority of the Portuguese team that eliminated the Eagles in the previous World Cup had previously played for Lusitanos in the Super Cup.

The announcement of the Anthem project came very late into the MLR season, which consisted of 11 teams and a single ladder. However, the league has now expanded to 12 teams with eastern and western conferences, adding the Miami Sharks as a new team in the east. The majority of Anthem’s roster is made up of American players drafted from other teams.

Magleby states that despite the team’s late arrival, it is crucial that the success of the Anthem concept – which involved collaboration between USA Rugby, World Rugby, and a professional entrepreneurial league – is recognized.

Time will reveal whether the team will produce future Eagles. We are aware that some players on the field may not have had immediate opportunities in Major League Rugby, but now they will. As long as we are patient with these athletes and provide them with chances to play, we can expect consistent production of American-eligible players that will contribute to the growth of MLR and ultimately aid the development of the national team. All the elements are in place for this to occur.

On Sunday, Anthem’s young Americans will take on New England’s mix of domestic talent and imports, a squad led by the fly-half Jayson Potroz, last year’s MLR player of the year from Taranaki in New Zealand. Young Free Jacks are among US talent with Anthem.

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The looming presence of the 2031 World Cup is on everyone’s minds. Magleby believes that hosting it in the United States will be a huge success, requiring at least 3 million fans to make it financially profitable. He expects that over 50% of those attendees will come from other countries. The 1994 soccer World Cup is a prime example of American success in hosting major sporting events, and World Rugby has a strong track record in managing and promoting their tournaments.

I am completely confident that the World Cup will be a triumph, no matter what occurs in the US within the next seven years. The focus currently is on investing a substantial amount of money into developing a strong American following. We are experiencing continuous growth, with numbers doubling from the previous year, which is extremely exciting.

A few other teams have larger stadiums – San Diego’s Snapdragon Stadium has a capacity of 35,000, while the Dallas Jackals’ Choctaw can hold 48,000 people. The Free Jacks, based in Quincy, Massachusetts, can only accommodate 5,000 fans at Veterans Memorial. However, they are committed to putting in just as much effort as any other team in organizing fan festivals, themed events, youth games, and other initiatives to create a sustainable business.

Source: theguardian.com