NEWS

MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY REFLECTS ON ACCOMPLISHMENTS FROM THE 2020 SEASON
The 2020 Major League Rugby season was viewed as an important growth year, and a crucial time to cement stability. There’s no doubt that the 2020 MLR season will always represent unfinished business, from San Diego Legion’s unbeaten record but missed opportunity to prove their reign, to the New England Free Jacks that were unable to host their inaugural home match in front of a sold-out crowd. While the season coming to an end put a brake on the building momentum, it’s important to note the many milestones that were reached in 2020.
The biggest goal for MLR was expanding television coverage for the 2020 season and making all matches more accessible for wider audiences. MLR grew the existing national television partnership with CBS and added new national partners in Fox Sports and ESPNews. The highest regular season match reached 88,000 household viewers, showing significant growth in MLR’s reach.
Commissioner George Killebrew was especially proud of the broadcast improvements. “When I joined the League in 2019 my top priority was ensuring we had strong broadcast partnerships,” said Killebrew, “It was a disappointment with the season coming to an end that we had to halt the energy that was ramping up, but from the achievements we were able to reach, it makes me confident that we can continue to raise the bar for 2021 and I’m excited for what MLR has ahead.”
Streaming capabilities were also improved greatly with more matches available on ESPN+ and the addition of For the Fans. International viewers were still able to stream all matches on Facebook Live. The significant rise in top overseas talent coming to MLR in 2020 drew larger international audiences into the North American league and marked a turning point in the competition level on the pitch. 2020 solidified that rugby was here to stay in North America and was stepping up to the global stage.
Of important note were the three expansion teams who exemplified success both on the pitch and off it. The New England Free Jacks, Old Glory DC, and Rugby ATL all found firm footholds in the standings and metrics across the league. The added pressure from the new expansions were also a driving force in rising attendance numbers across the board. The new expansions already earned the backing of sold out crowds, and the returning teams had the experience and resources to excel further. One MLR team was even able to report more tickets sold in the first five weeks of the third season, than the entirety of 2019.
In line with the growth in the league, MLR was devoted to limiting the uncertainty around the cancellation of the season, particularly for the athletes. The Board of Governors voted to pay all contracted athletes their full salary amounts for the entirety of the 2020 season. “When the COVID-19 Crisis began, player wellbeing was at the center of all decision making,” said Killebrew, “When the season was ultimately cancelled to protect the players safety, and to allow our international players to return home to their families, the Board of Governors made the correct decision to pay all of our contracted athletes their full salaries.”
With the remainder of matches cancelled for the 2020 season, MLR continued to create content for the fan base. Previous matches will re-air with “MLR Rewind” on For the Fans and Eleven Sports with new commentary added from some of MLR’s biggest names, including Tendai “The Beast” Mtawarira.
Amidst the global pandemic crisis, MLR was also the first professional sports league to begin a virtual gaming competition among the professional athletes with MLR 2020: Virtual. The virtual matches are live streamed on MLR’s Twitch channel with athletes from the MLR teams competing against one another in banter-driven match ups. The Twitch streams are also utilized to raise money for Feeding America’s COVID-19 Response Fund, where fans are further incentivized to donate with prize giveaways during the streams. Round four of MLR 2020: Virtual wraps up tonight, April 2, at 8:00 PM ET at Twitch.tv/MajorLeagueRugby. Round five takes place Saturday, April 4 with a lineup of all MLR teams competing from 6:00 to 9:00 PM ET. The playoff schedule begins Tuesday, April 6.
The long lead-in for the fourth season is proving to be beneficial for growth opportunities which fans will begin to see with another significant milestone to be announced very soon. This next project is all about ensuring there are pathways built for future generations of North American rugby players.
While the 2020 season may always have an asterisk that follows with it, MLR is determined to develop the expanded offseason into a runway for 2021 and beyond. As the first three seasons were comprised of building a solid foundation, MLR now has the ability to rise as a prominent sports league. Exciting times lie ahead for rugby in North America.
Recent Posts

Catching Up with the Rookie of the Year: Dallas Jackals’ Sam Golla
Written by Joe Harvey First overall pick in the 2022 Major League

Gallagher Premiership Rugby Rights Acquired by Major League Rugby’s OTT Platform The Rugby Network
DALLAS (August 20, 2023) – Major League Rugby (MLR) today announced a

Inter Miami CF’s Florida Blue Training Center and the Miami Sharks Rugby Club Strike Landmark Deal
The Professional Rugby Team Secures the AutoNation Sports Field at the Florida

Rugby World Cup France 2023 | Watch Parties
For seven consecutive Fridays, NOLA Gold is making an event of every

Meet The 2023 MLR Draft’s First Overall Pick, Ricky Rose
Written by Joe Harvey | Photos Provided by Rick Rose Ricky Rose
Categories
- Chicago Hounds
- Dallas Jackals
- Expansion
- Games
- Headlines
- Highlights
- Houston SaberCats
- In the News
- League Announcements
- Miami Sharks
- MLR Collegiate Draft
- MLR News
- New England Free Jacks
- New York Ironworkers
- NOLA Gold
- Old Glory DC
- Press Releases
- Rugby ATL
- San Diego Legion
- Seattle Seawolves
- Team News
- Toronto Arrows
- Trades
- Utah Warriors
- Videos
Archives
- September 2023 (5)
- August 2023 (7)
- July 2023 (19)
- June 2023 (43)
- May 2023 (41)
- April 2023 (46)
- March 2023 (28)
- February 2023 (17)
- January 2023 (4)
- December 2022 (4)
- November 2022 (7)
- October 2022 (7)
- September 2022 (4)
- August 2022 (3)
- July 2022 (8)
- June 2022 (46)
- May 2022 (71)
- April 2022 (56)
- March 2022 (58)
- February 2022 (55)
- January 2022 (13)
- December 2021 (8)
- November 2021 (10)
- October 2021 (15)
- September 2021 (11)
- August 2021 (17)
- July 2021 (60)
- June 2021 (63)
- May 2021 (67)
- April 2021 (49)
- March 2021 (35)
- February 2021 (14)
- January 2021 (15)
- December 2020 (14)
- November 2020 (7)
- October 2020 (13)
- September 2020 (13)
- August 2020 (11)
- July 2020 (17)
- June 2020 (14)
- May 2020 (8)
- April 2020 (3)
- March 2020 (24)
- February 2020 (42)
- January 2020 (13)
- December 2019 (7)
- November 2019 (7)
- October 2019 (9)
- September 2019 (7)
- August 2019 (5)
- July 2019 (11)
- June 2019 (51)
- May 2019 (75)
- April 2019 (88)
- March 2019 (77)
- February 2019 (76)
- January 2019 (51)
- December 2018 (7)
- November 2018 (10)
- October 2018 (8)
- September 2018 (12)
- August 2018 (14)
- July 2018 (10)
- June 2018 (46)
- May 2018 (43)
- April 2018 (34)
- March 2018 (25)
- February 2018 (31)
- January 2018 (37)
- December 2017 (10)
- November 2017 (25)
- October 2017 (25)
- July 2017 (1)
- March 2017 (2)