Major League Rugby (MLR), the highest level of rugby in North America, has signed a media rights deal with ESPN.
As part of the agreement, every regular season and playoff game will be streamed live on ESPN+, with some matches also airing on ESPN2. MLR has stated that fans can also watch replays, highlights and other rugby content on The Rugby Network, which was launched in 2021.
Additionally, the deal will see coverage expand to new markets, including Sub-Saharan Africa. Live broadcasts will start on 15 February, with the kickoff of the 2025 season featuring five matches.
Nic Benson, MLR Commissioner, commented: “During our 2024 campaign we grew our viewership by more than 25% year over year. We are hyperfocused on increasing our audience and introducing rugby to more American sports fans every year. This relationship with ESPN will give us an opportunity to supercharge that growth.
“Given the depth of talent across the league, I’m confident we’re headed toward our most exciting season yet. This strategic agreement will enable more of our fans to tune-in for some best-in-class rugby action.”
Teams that compete in the league from across the country are: Anthem RC, Chicago Hounds, Houston SaberCats, Miami Sharks, New England Free Jacks, NOLA Gold, Old Glory DC, Rugby LA, San Diego Legion, Seattle Seawolves and Utah Warriors.
Rugby has been steadily growing in popularity across North America, and this deal is viewed as a significant move to further accelerate the sport’s expansion.
In 2024, MLR recorded growth in media coverage, ticket sales and social media engagement. A standout moment was the 2024 MLR Championship, which saw a record crowd of over 12,000.
Tim Bunnell, ESPN SVP of Programming and Acquisitions, said: “MLR has built a strong foundation as the premier professional rugby league in North America, and we’re thrilled to be part of its next phase of growth.
“As MLR continues to establish itself on the North American sports landscape, we look forward to bringing the league’s dynamic competition to an even wider audience.”
The US is scheduled to host the Rugby World Cup in 2031, making this agreement especially timely as the country works to strengthen its involvement in the sport and prepare for the tournament.
Pointing to the importance of the deal was William Mao, SVP of Media Rights Consulting at Octagon, a sports and entertainment agency which will work with ESPN on behalf of MLR.
“We are tremendously excited to work with ESPN on behalf of Major League Rugby,” Mao added.
“Already the most-watched professional rugby league in the US, MLR is the primary vehicle pushing the sport forward in our market. And now with a presence across ESPN platforms, the league will be even better positioned to fuel rugby fandom in the US ahead of the 2031 Rugby World Cup.”
