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Major League Rugby

MLR down to six teams as Utah shuts down operations

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA - MARCH 15: Zion Going #9 of Utah Warriors passes the ball in the first half during a MLR game between Miami Sharks and Utah Warriors at Florida Blue Training Center on March 15, 2025 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by Chris Arjoon/Getty Images)

The Utah Warriors have dramatically pulled out of Major League Rugby, leaving the United States’ flapship pro club competition with just six teams heading into the 2026 season.

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One of the league’s original franchises, the Utah Warriors topped the Western Conference in 2025, and historically have been one of the best supported teams. They are one of only three franchises to have attracted a five-figure crowd, along with San Diego Legion and Seattle Seawolves.

Major League Rugby featured 11 teams last season but is now reduced to six: the reigning champions, New England Freejacks, Old Glory DC, Seattle Seawolves, Chicago Hounds, Charlotte-based Anthem RC and California Legion, who were born out of a merger between Rugby Football Club Los Angeles and San Diego Legion in July.

The Salt Lake City-based Warriors join the Houston SaberCats, Miami Sharks and NOLA Gold in suspending operations ahead of the 2026 season.

The news is a further hammer blow to the MLR and the Warriors’ loyal band of supporters, who will now receive refunds on their season tickets.

“Up until just days ago, the Utah Warriors were committed and on track to participate in the 2026 Major League Rugby season. Unfortunately things changes quickly in the past week,” Utah chief executive officer and co-founder Kimball Kjar said in an open letter Tuesday.

“As of this morning, we have informed Major League Rugby that we will not participate in 2026 and are suspending club operations.”

None of the current Eagles squad touring Europe are on the Saints’ roster, which last year included the likes of Samoan playmaker, D’Angelo Leuila, and English fly-half Joel Hodgson, once of Leeds, Newcastle and Northampton.

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Comments

1 Comment
M
MT 33 days ago

Terrible announcement. Throws whole competition into jeapordy. I thought it was an established rugby heartland community in Utah, obviously thats not enough. Still, if rugby has any future in America, it needs to be in rugby based communities, like Denver, Glendale, not big cities with no rugby interest. Ask the black lion of Georgia, they are looking for competition , its not the answer though, Hawaii, Mexico, Alaska or Canada, might have a team. It looks bleak for MLR which had great potential. Im sure World Rugby will help.

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Comments on RugbyPass

c
ck 17 minutes ago
What Tony Johnson is hearing about the vacant All Blacks assistant role

Don’t need a highball coach ,get a NRL/AFL pro to come in for a couple workshops here and there ,if razor isn’t getting sacked then sack Hansen and Ellison

2 Go to comments
L
Lerumo 47 minutes ago
Sharks player ratings vs Toulouse | Investec Champions Cup 2026/26

Sharks continue to be the most frustrating SA side to watch, with or without star players. Rarely play as a team, more like a bunch of self-interested sportsmen forced to compete in a team sport.

1 Go to comments
P
PMcD 2 hours ago
Late George Hendy try sees Northampton nick win in France

I agree, the 1st round has some good games but whoever loses R1, it falls off pretty quickly and then comes back from the QF’s onwards.

SF’s are great, as are finals, so it ends in the right place but how they get there is not great.



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11 Go to comments
D
Dave Didley 2 hours ago
Experienced commentator weighs in on Eben Etzebeth's verdict

Deregistered by his club too.

Totally unrelated, but if a player in a similar position was to take some ’testosterone supplements’ that could be a great chance to cycle, out of competition and regular testing.



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7 Go to comments
D
Dave Didley 2 hours ago
Experienced commentator weighs in on Eben Etzebeth's verdict

Test level crime should equal test level time.

7 Go to comments
E
Ed the Duck 3 hours ago
Experienced commentator weighs in on Eben Etzebeth's verdict

So they’re saying that either the ban should be arbitrarily extended beyond the time decided by the disciplinary panel in order to include Test matches, or that the player should be able to play for his club immediately but sit out Test matches to serve the ban?

Sounds like a poorly thought through position!



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7 Go to comments
E
Ed the Duck 3 hours ago
Late George Hendy try sees Northampton nick win in France

They already have that qualifying method, more or less, with the league splits, it’s a balance between how much they can push the limits to generate revenue vs keeping the format tight and engaging for fans. As things stand, engagement is losing.

11 Go to comments
G
Gary C 3 hours ago
What Tony Johnson is hearing about the vacant All Blacks assistant role

Agree with Tony, the attack coach is critical and the AB's have not had one this year.

Also need 3 new number 10's to direct the team.



...

2 Go to comments
J
JJ 3 hours ago
Experienced commentator weighs in on Eben Etzebeth's verdict

But it’s more than 12 weeks, it’s 12 matches which takes us in to April. It’s actually 18 weeks that he’s out for.

7 Go to comments
T
Tommy B 4 hours ago
How England are building the foundations for World Cup success in 2027

Much quicker, apparently. According to Van Graan one of the quickest at Bath - back or forward (obviously excluding Arundell).

262 Go to comments
P
PMcD 4 hours ago
Late George Hendy try sees Northampton nick win in France

When it was the Heineken Cup there was a contracted requirement to field your strongest team to maintain the integrity of the Home & Away formats. Since it became the Investec and this strange qualifying, they have damaged the integrity of the competition.

If they want the SA teams in there, they should go to regional qualifying (English teams, URC (ex SA), French Teams & SA and then the winners can do a straight play off.



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11 Go to comments
P
PickOllieMathisYeowRazorYouCoward 4 hours ago
Experienced commentator weighs in on Eben Etzebeth's verdict

Way too harsh. Bit of a thumb rub, welsh dude was just a Hollywood.

7 Go to comments
P
PickOllieMathisYeowRazorYouCoward 4 hours ago
Departing NZR CEO reflects on his near six-year tenure at the helm

Won’t miss the guy. I’m sure he’s good at what he does, but his corporate wishy washy say nothing language was punishing.

8 Go to comments
O
Over the sideline 4 hours ago
Alex Mann won't face citing for part in Wales-South Africa incident

Last word man eh. Just block away

66 Go to comments
L
LEWY 5 hours ago
Experienced commentator weighs in on Eben Etzebeth's verdict

Comment feed on the app is really helpful. Good update

7 Go to comments
B
BH 5 hours ago
Experienced commentator weighs in on Eben Etzebeth's verdict

Great to see more media commentators and presenters with some harsh feedback about a disgusting and terrible incident! I agree with their point about players serving their time with missing domestic/club games and then coming back roaring for the test arena.

7 Go to comments
P
PMcD 6 hours ago
How England are building the foundations for World Cup success in 2027

It was interesting to watch the Investec games this weekend having discussed all the various players in this article.

Obviously the WILL STUART injury looks a bad one and I expect he will be out for the rest of the season but was good to see Fasogbon put in a strong showing for Gloucester vs Castre, who will likely be the beneficiary, as did SEB ATKINSON in the same game.



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262 Go to comments
E
Ed the Duck 7 hours ago
'Don’t quote me': Leinster count injury toll of 'S-fight' win over Harlequins

Ofc it does…😂

10 Go to comments
E
Eric Elwood 8 hours ago
Stuart Lancaster's Connacht throw away 21-0 Challenge Cup lead

This is classic Connacht. When they were 21-0 up with a scrum 5m from 14 man Ospreys line a try would have finished it. A desperate scrum from Ospreys where Murphy inexplicably did not get the ball out of resulted in a penalty to Ospreys.

I should have bet the house on the Welsh team then. Anyway 5 mistakes in a row later and 14 man Ospreys were over for a red zone try the desperately needed and sure enough they used the wind to good effect. Connaught were not helped by injuries to two props which flipped a dominant scrum. Raging for not putting €100 on Ospreys once Connacht failed to score the 4th try.



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1 Go to comments
C
Cantab 8 hours ago
Australia make statement in Cape Town decider against Black Ferns Sevens

Tough to be on top all the time. I have no doubt that the Ferns will repay the compliment when they next meet the Aussies. More concerned with the men’s team who appear to have slipped back again.

1 Go to comments
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