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Rugby News from unexpected places

WorkingClassRugger

WorkingClassRugger

David Codey (61)
In Major League Rugby news. San Diego have activated their social media accounts under the name the San Diego Legion. The MLR site ( https://www.usmlr.com/ ) has updated their teams to match. So expecting something more official from them pretty soon.

Seattle have launched their season tickets option. Pretty good value. The first iteration will only have a 10 week regular season (not including a number of preseason fixture in which most of these teams have around 6) so for 5 games it will set fans back $99. Which translates into under $20 a game. Pretty good value.

The league will launch with 7 teams but expect that to grow by at least 3 in 2019.

Oh, and they've signed a multi-year broadcast deal with CBS Sports. Offers access to 57m homes via existing cable packages plus access via a range of streaming services such as Hulu etc. as well as the CBS Sports OTT service. So plenty of reach.

Will start off with a game of the week, the finals and Championship game. But has room to expand as the league does and if demand is there. It's actually a pretty big deal.
 
WorkingClassRugger

WorkingClassRugger

David Codey (61)
p.Tah said:
With CBS now owning channel TEN wouldn't it be nice if they took a wider interest in Rugby
Click to expand...

I'd be lying if I didn't say that had crossed my mind. They've been investing a lot of time and money in establishing the OTT offerings across a number of broadcast content mediums. Including sport. In fact, their OTT app will be one of the platforms the MLR games will be broadcast as part of the multi-platform deal. Would be something if they choose to doubled down in the near future and start picking up extra content.
 
WorkingClassRugger

WorkingClassRugger

David Codey (61)
WorkingClassRugger said:
Interesting happenings in Brazil http://www.t2rugby.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1366&sid=cb837866bbe5b8a03a4e2e72b9a5ae3a
The last post on the page. The poster is connected within the Brazilian game.
Click to expand...

Thanks to an Argentine poster over on T2 we have a few more details on this development.


"I listened to the interview with the Pro Series founders in Portal do Rugby. My Portuguese isn’t good so can you confirm the details. This is what I understood: - One month competition in September/October. - At least 4 sides in 2018. Could be more. They are talking with existing clubs. Mentioned Jacarei (SP), Sao Jose (SP), Band Saracens (SP) and Desterro (SC). - Franchise model. The founders own 51% of the league. Bankrolled by corporate sponsors. - They don't want to play in stadiums. Brought up C.A.S.I. of Argentina as an example. - Minimum of 5 foreign players in every squad. Maximum of 15 foreign players. - This is what I didn’t understand. They said that the inaugural season will be played exclusively in Sao Paulo, even if teams from other cities make the cut. My speculation is that all of the games will be played in the same location one after another. Maybe it is some sort of rugby festival in each round."

Seems to me that this will be more of a proof of concept edition. a beta if you will.
 
WorkingClassRugger

WorkingClassRugger

David Codey (61)
More on MLR. Specifically in terms of future potential teams. Apparently the group behind bringing Pro14 to the US are now engaging with the MLR. In addition, evidently there's a group in Atlanta working away and still some rumblings in Florida.

There's literally another league of teams and organisations looking to get involved in the near future.
 
T

TOCC

Guest
What happened to the other rugby tournament that was in the US?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
WorkingClassRugger

WorkingClassRugger

David Codey (61)
TOCC said:
What happened to the other rugby tournament that was in the US?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Click to expand...

You're referring to PRO. Well, it's a long story. The short of it is, they owner of the league didn't like paying his bills. Be it players, coaches, facilities, insurances etc. The USAR threaten not to renew his sanction unless he paid. So he fired everyone. And now has been trying to engage with counsel for over a year in order to sue USARugby for something like $150m.

The fact that he has been fired by half a dozen or so lawyers suggest that his claims are likely going to fall a fair way short of what he thinks. PRO's original sanction will end in April next year. Right before league play in the MLR commences. So I suspect we'll see sanctioning for MLR occur then.
 
Slim 293

Slim 293

Stirling Mortlock (74)
Pandaram picked up a Walkley award for his coverage on the Force saga........

DPynNUNUIAA0HuW.jpg


http://www.walkleys.com/all-media-sports-journalism-2017/
 
WorkingClassRugger

WorkingClassRugger

David Codey (61)
So, more news on MLR. New York are in for 2019. Will officially launch in the new year. The Arrows (Ontario/Toronto) are also expected to launch soon into 2018.

And Vancouver are in as soon as they see the league in action. Supposedly backed by the billionaire owner of the Vancouver Canucks in the NHL.

There are also persistent rumours about Boston with the development of a $25m facility and an upgraded stadium plan from 5000 to 15000 seats added on. Apparently the Boston RFC alum who is paying for this could also be tempted into MLR. Worth a motzah himself.

There is some serious money entering the game in the States at the moment. Dallas is back in the mix thanks to backing of a 'promenient Dallas sports enthusiast'. If that turns out to be a certain Indiana University Rugby alum come tech Titan and NBA team owner that would be amazing.
 
WorkingClassRugger

WorkingClassRugger

David Codey (61)
MLR have just announced that their official kit providers including boots is XBlades.

https://www.usmlr.com/news/major-league-rugby-announces-xblades-as-official-apparel-partner

A look at all the kits.

https://www.facebook.com/pg/usmlr/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1542011225894742

There are alternate away kits as well. With San Diego and New Orleans away kits being comfortably the best in my opinion.
New Orleans away kit: https://scontent.fman2-2.fna.fbcdn....=2374a3fa78a6d4b3e418bf8ea4b1a2c1&oe=5AB76CD3
Cannot find the SD away kit at the moment but it's pretty good.
 
stoff

stoff

Bill McLean (32)
WorkingClassRugger said:
MLR have just announced that their official kit providers including boots is XBlades.

https://www.usmlr.com/news/major-league-rugby-announces-xblades-as-official-apparel-partner

A look at all the kits.

https://www.facebook.com/pg/usmlr/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1542011225894742

There are alternate away kits as well. With San Diego and New Orleans away kits being comfortably the best in my opinion.
New Orleans away kit: https://scontent.fman2-2.fna.fbcdn....=2374a3fa78a6d4b3e418bf8ea4b1a2c1&oe=5AB76CD3
Cannot find the SD away kit at the moment but it's pretty good.
Click to expand...

I really like the Seattle one. What is a sea wolf? I assume related to a sun wolf?

I was genuinely shocked to find out XBlades still existed. Looks like they have homogenised themselves with more conventional boots since the original designs.


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WorkingClassRugger

WorkingClassRugger

David Codey (61)
stoff said:
I really like the Seattle one. What is a sea wolf? I assume related to a sun wolf?

I was genuinely shocked to find out XBlades still existed. Looks like they have homogenised themselves with more conventional boots since the original designs.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Apparently a Seawolf is a native American colloquial name for an Orca. Hence, the Orca on the logo.
 
WorkingClassRugger

WorkingClassRugger

David Codey (61)
p.Tah said:
I really hope this Comp works. Lots of false starts in the US
Click to expand...

Certainly a lot more work into the foundations of the league and the teams have gone into this effort than any previous attempt. A significant buy in plus the proven ability to fund teams for what I've learned is in fact 5 seasons instead of the 3 I had first seen.
 
WorkingClassRugger

WorkingClassRugger

David Codey (61)
Okay. Houston hosted their first official exhibition home game over the weekend(the first of nine). They went into the event with a heavy emphasis on fan experience including a tailgating event, entertainment, kids skills, first 1000 fans receiving a swag bag and 'Rugby Geniuses' floating about to help the uninitiated with the finer points of the game. They also had different viewing areas etc. Finished off by fireworks.

In all just under 5300 in total with a lot of very positive reviews. They were only designated 4500 seats initially but the demand had the open extra seating. They seem quietly confident on a bigger this weekend against the Vancouver Ravens (a composite side of some kind not an MLR outfit).

On Vancouver. They officially looking to enter a team in 2019. They expect to finish their negotiations by the end of the month. So we're looking at two Canadian sides in MLR with them joining the likely named Toronto Arrows.
 
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