Major League Rugby is reinventing itself for 2026. Fans who were hoping to do GGBet betting on it will now have six teams to bet on instead of eleven. Supporters can focus on their favorite teams and hope to make the right predictions.
But these new changes will shift the league’s competitive balance and finances while affecting its reputation. There’s no doubt we can all expect a different experience with Major League Rugby in 2026.
Major League Rugby will look different next year. While fans expected eleven teams, the number is now down to six. The latest to pull out is the Utah Warriors.
Thus, the rugby pro club competition goes into the 2026 season with Old Glory DC, Seattle Seawolves, New England Freejacks, Chicago Hounds, Anthem Rugby California, and California Legion.
Historically, the Utah Warriors have been one of the top teams in MLR. They were the best in the Western Conference in 2025. Besides, they had the support of many fans, which is why the crowds were so big when they played.
“Up until just days ago, the Utah Warriors were committed and on track to participate in the 2026 Major League Rugby season. Unfortunately, things changed quickly in the past week,” said Kimball Kjar, the Utah co-founder and chief executive officer.
According to him, the club will not only be absent from MLR in 2026, but it will also suspend operations.
This is happening after LA and San Diego merged, while Houston and Miami left the MLR for 2026. NOLA Gold has also announced that it will not participate.
According to the US rugby competition, the team departures will not stop the event from taking place. Even though three teams left and two announced that they would merge, MLR decided to keep going. However, the league is aware that it needs to reflect and make some important choices before the competition.
“This off-season has been a time of reflection and tough choices for Major League Rugby,” said MLR. “Running a professional league is complex, and while the departure of teams was not something we anticipated, it has provided an opportunity to reset and strengthen our foundation.”
The problem with the recent departures is that they affect the reputation of rugby in the United States. It’s especially damaging considering the country is supposed to host the 2031 men’s Rugby World Cup, as well as the women’s event in 2033.
That being said, the MLR will have to talk to new partners, USRPA, and ownership groups to establish some stability that will keep the league going.
MLR is making various changes, and some issues should be addressed when it comes to the league’s vision and leadership.
For instance, the league must address loopholes. There must be some control over how it pays its star players with transportation, accommodation, and work outside the rugby team.
There should also be some changes regarding how the league’s ownership spends money. Various owners used money to win the league, but they did not invest it to help increase the following. Not being careful with spending or caring about the teams’ spirit also led to some of the groups dropping out.
MLR should start looking into the importance of fan engagement and why it helps the league grow. The ownership should understand that it’s not international players or franchise fees that help MLR rise.
Moreover, the league should consider using local players to drive more fan engagement. They can bring a larger fan base and improve a team’s marketing.
Major League Rugby has announced its full schedule for the 2026 season. There will be a 10-game regular season, with California Legion, New England Free Jacks, Seattle Seawolves, Old Glory DC, Chicago Hounds, and Anthem Rugby Carolina.
Once the regular season concludes, the top four teams will go to the 2026 MLR Playoffs. The No. 1 seed will host the No. 4 seed in the playoffs. Naturally, the No.2 seed will host the No. 3 seed as a result. On the first Day of Rugby of the MLR, the semifinal games will be broadcast on ESPN2.
Then, the winners of the semifinals will meet in the 2026 MLR Championship. The location and other details have not been announced yet.
MLR CRO Lucas Reid spoke about the event. According to him, the offseason has been filled with several challenges. However, there are many great opportunities moving forward.
“The support from our six member franchises and rugby fans from around the world have driven us to adapt, and we’re thrilled to bring a world-class rugby product this year as we look towards the future and the number of opportunities that lie ahead,” Reid said.
The league is returning to a single table. This will make sure that the teams will have enough strength to deal with the schedule. Moreover, they will be able to play previous inter-conference opponents more regularly.
For a long time, MLR wanted to launch the Sunday Night Rugby broadcast. This is the very first U.S. primetime rugby production. This broadcast will have a schedule with nine regular-season games and one playoff semifinal.
Furthermore, every broadcast will have a pre-match and post-match show.
Will Hooley, who will be the one hosting the pre-match and post-match parts of the Sunday Night Rugby, spoke about how much the MLR desired the Sunday Night Rugby schedule. This show will give fans a closer connection to the games through unique content, storytelling, and analysis.
The roster looks very different for 2026. Only one of the team’s seven founders remains after Utah’s departure, and that's the Seattle Seawolves. Fans are now waiting to see what the league will be like next year and whether things will improve for the league despite the changes.
