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Major League Rugby

Miami Sharks statement: Florida club become latest MLR casualty

From (L-R) Shane O'Leary #15, Tomas Casares #4, Matias Orlando #13, Martin Elias #10, and Federico Guitierrez #5 of Miami Sharks all look on during the game between Miami Sharks and San Diego Legion played at the Florida Blue Training Center on May 30, 2025 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by Chris Arjoon/Getty Images)

Major League Rugby’s turbulent history has claimed another casualty with the Miami Sharks announcing they will not participate in the competition in 2026.

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The expansion side only joined the league in 2024 but confirmed the decision in a statement on social media: “After much reflection, we’ve made the difficult decision not to participate in MLR in 2026.

“To our sponsors and partners: Thank you for believing in us and walking this journey by our side. To our fans: Your passion and support have meant everything. Being part of this community has been an honor, and the Sharks family will forever cherish the moments we shared together.

“2026 will be a year of reassessment and exploration of new opportunities. Whatever the future holds, we will always carry the pride of being part of this incredible community. The Miami Sharks”

The Sharks’ withdrawal is a fresh blow for MLR, which has struggled with sustainability since its inception in 2018.

Despite high-profile ambitions, including partnerships with Roc Nation Sports and promotional visits from players such as England fly-half Marcus Smith earlier this year, the South Florida franchise will now step away after just a short stint in the competition.

Miami had attracted international talent such as Argentina’s Tomás Cubelli and Matías Orlando but their announcement follows a familiar pattern in a league that has repeatedly seen clubs collapse or exit.

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Founding franchise Glendale Raptors withdrew in 2020, citing a refocus on grassroots rugby, while the Austin Gilgronis and LA Giltinis were both ejected in 2022 before folding. Toronto Arrows, the competition’s lone Canadian side, pulled out in 2023 citing financial strain.

New York’s franchise also underwent a major rebrand under new ownership in order to survive.

The Dallas Jackals informed the league ahead of the 2025 campaign that they would not participate in that season, while NOLA Gold recently announced it would suspend operations for the 2026 season.

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Comments on RugbyPass

J
John Breslin 14 minutes ago
Things get worse for France as ugly Oscar Jegou incident caught on camera

He went again for sure.

Most animals don't even do that to each other



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18 Go to comments
J
John Breslin 15 minutes ago
Things get worse for France as ugly Oscar Jegou incident caught on camera

Double dip. Went for them twice.

Optic nerve damage is irreversible.



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18 Go to comments
J
John Breslin 18 minutes ago
Darcy Graham: 'It'd be nice to go to Ireland and get that win'

France could play badly and still have the bonus PT by half time.

Scotland were sensational. France got battered and still scored 40 which is basically ridiculous



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4 Go to comments
H
Hellhound 46 minutes ago
Darcy Graham: 'It'd be nice to go to Ireland and get that win'

If France lose, and Scotland win, then they are Champs. However, it's a massive mountain to climb, and France will most likely not lose.

4 Go to comments
c
cnw 50 minutes ago
Steve Borthwick quizzed on his England future at tense press conference

As CM says, the yellow cards made a huge difference in all the losses. May seem an excuse, but the structure they have built over the last 12 months depends on all 15 on the paddock, and especially their flankers. Lose a man and they cannot maintain the intensity they need across the field. And they need a proper general to control the pace of the game. They have that in Ford - I know he is much maligned because of the Ireland game - but the system does not work without him or someone like him. Look at how he won the game against the ABs. That’s what you need. Conversely, what is the go to? What game can England turn to in 18 months?

23 Go to comments
c
cnw 1 hour ago
Steve Borthwick quizzed on his England future at tense press conference

Agree CM - both teams had moments of brilliance in a tough rugged encounter. The back to back yellows made a huge difference, as did the yellows / red in the Scotland and Irish games. For me this has been key to all their loses because they rely so heavily on their contact intensity. They must sort this. Yes parts of the English game are very stodgy. Their transition between forwards and backs is probably the worst in the 6N. They really need to decide how they want to play the game. But as noted their intensity in the contact is good and when all their men on the field, the best in the 6N. Their set piece is overall solid (though they must have a hooker who can reliably hit his targets). If it clicks again next week, they are a good chance against France who have been over estimated on the back of their win against Ireland. Scotland showed that today. So agree, hold the line England. And I would not use the ABs as a template. They can shift back to the all of field attacking game reasonably easily because of how the game is played in the SR. But what is England’s go to if not building on what is already there?

23 Go to comments
J
John Breslin 1 hour ago
Steve Borthwick quizzed on his England future at tense press conference

Now, now. Sir G-gate’s legacy is secure.

The ONLY manager to lose back-to-back major finals!



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23 Go to comments
J
Jon 1 hour ago
Steve Borthwick quizzed on his England future at tense press conference

Agree with you CM, but most keyboard warriors and pundits love to talk up a coach sacking. Many managers have gone through rough waters and come back with great success….however the recent Michael Carrick Man Utd appointment does back up the new broom sweeps clean theory!

23 Go to comments
u
unknown 1 hour ago
The challenge that awaits new All Blacks coach Dave Rennie

It seems like things have been unravelling in NZR as much as the ABs culture for quite some time. There are doubtless many reasons for that; but it’s clear that a “not-for-fit-purpose” NZR was having something of a domino effect on AB performance. The problem was less Ian Foster or Scott Robertson per se; whatever weaknesses each might have had, both have shown that, with the right support personnel and leadership structures, their teams — whether the ABs in IF’s case or the Crusaders in SR’s — can excel. In the absence of these structures, communication becomes murky, and the players feel confused and demoralised. I salute David Kirk for recognising this, and for making sure that the search process for a new coach was not about finding the “messiah” that many keyboard pundits crave but, rather, about embodying a new culture of due diligence, consultation, and transparency. Rennie as an individual seems to embody these values, but that’s less the point: the structures around the new coach also need to change radically. People here often kvetch about what they see as too much “player power.” But the players were clearly unhappy for a reason, and that reason wasn’t their outsized egos but something wrong in the ecosystem NZR had created, which included the processes by which previous coaches were appointed and the structures in which they operated. It will take time for this rebuild to take effect. But Gregor Paul does a great job of explaining why it had to happen.

5 Go to comments
S
SB 1 hour ago
The challenge that awaits new All Blacks coach Dave Rennie



Robertson also appeared to have a licence to spend. His total coaching, management and support staff grew to 24 people, which was more than the 21 of his predecessor Ian Foster, and in late 2024, he was able to take an additional seven players to Japan – to provide training opposition – at a cost of around $500,000 in wages, flights and accommodation, all in a year in which NZR posted a $19m loss.

Wow.



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S
SB 1 hour ago
Steve Borthwick quizzed on his England future at tense press conference

Reminds me of when Sir Gareth Southgate lost to Hungary at home, 0-4.

23 Go to comments
S
SB 1 hour ago
'He's a wizard': Blues captain on 144-Test playmaker’s performance

He showed his quality. He wants that 10 jersey that he won off McKenzie in 2024.

1 Go to comments
S
SB 1 hour ago
Rob Penney: 'We looked as though we were a bit flat'

Flat and badly coached.

1 Go to comments
S
SB 1 hour ago
Vern Cotter on Cody Vai’s unique impact in the Blues environment

He was impressive. A lot of potential, just like Tangitau.

1 Go to comments
S
SB 1 hour ago
Antoine Dupont and Ben White had afters following in-game spat

Wonder what that was about. Toulouse vs Toulon will be a good watch when it occurs next.

1 Go to comments
J
John Breslin 1 hour ago
England player ratings vs Italy | 2026 Guinness Six Nations

They - the team, media and about 70% of the fans who drive the discourse on this site - just need to lay off the hype machine

That predates even borthwick



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57 Go to comments
J
JW 1 hour ago
The challenge that awaits new All Blacks coach Dave Rennie



“That is the accountability we have. We talked to a whole range of people and there was virtually no difference between which island they came from [North or South], no difference between which ethnicity they were, virtually no difference whether they were an old player or a young player, the trends and the themes were very consistent.”

What do we think Kirk meant by this? Is he trying to let us not Razors incompetence wasn’t by any discriminatory bias?



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5 Go to comments
J
John Breslin 1 hour ago
Dave Rennie's simple outlook on where the All Blacks can improve

Bro, what the flying f*uck are you even talking about?

I try to follow your line of thought, but it's like a GoPro camera strapped to a pig, running riot in a supermarket. And I'm trying to see what shoes it's wearing. I've no idea! I can't see!



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24 Go to comments
J
John Breslin 2 hours ago
95-cap veteran says 'mixed bag' against Wales was the 'true Ireland'

I think we will see where Ireland are really at on the final day. Either way

It's a proper game with silverware on the line. And we still have nothing even resembling a scrum or a functioning lineout



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2 Go to comments
C
CM 2 hours ago
Title contending Scotland shock France to shake established Six Nations order

I think what you mean is that they aren’t the same when they are favourites. Good thing they won’t be in Dublin 🤩

7 Go to comments
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