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New World Rugby backed MLR club to boost USA's World Cup competitiveness
USA Rugby, Major League Rugby (MLR), and World Rugby have announced the establishment of a new MLR expansion club, Anthem Rugby Carolina (RC), based in Charlotte, North Carolina.
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Set to join the MLR in the 2024 season, Anthem RC will play its matches at the American Legion Memorial Stadium, marking a significant step in the development of rugby in the United States.
The collaboration between the key governing bodies of global and American rugby, along with North America’s leading professional rugby league, is a robust investment aimed at nurturing the sport in the US ahead of the country’s hosting of the men’s and women’s Rugby World Cups in 2031 and 2033, respectively. The US Eagles failed to qualify for Rugby World Cup 2023, just the second time they didn’t make the flagship tournament.
The addition of Anthem RC is a timely leg-up for the league which suffered the withdrawal of the Toronto Arrows and the New York Ironworkers in the lead-up to the season due to financial difficulties.
Anthem RC is an evolution of MLR and USA Rugby’s existing partnership, which includes the USA Hawks program. This initiative has been instrumental in developing young American and USA-qualified rugby talents. The aim is for Anthem RC to accelerate these efforts, with a particular focus on the USA men’s national team’s long-term progress and preparation for the Rugby World Cup 2027 and their eventual hosting duties in 2031.
“The launch of Anthem RC is a transformative step in our joint efforts to expand rugby in the US, offering a coherent path for player development and bolstering USA Rugby’s prospects as we approach the Rugby World Cup,” said MLR CEO Nic Benson.
Ross Young, CEO of USA Rugby, emphasized the collaboration’s significance. “This extraordinary partnership signifies a new trajectory for rugby in America. Anthem RC not only accelerates player development but also strengthens MLR as a pivotal pathway for the USA Men’s Eagles.”
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World Rugby Chief Executive Alan Gilpin viewed the announcement as a critical component of a broader strategy to enhance rugby’s competitiveness and appeal in the USA. “This plan aims to make rugby more relevant and accessible in the US. It includes fostering women’s rugby, embedding sevens in the American sports culture, and growing the elite men’s game. Anthem RC is a cornerstone in this strategy, offering a robust high-performance pathway and contributing to MLR’s long-term success.”
Anthem RC’s initial lineup features players from various MLR teams eligible for international competition for the USA. The club’s introduction reinstates the two-conference format in the league, promising an exciting new chapter in North American rugby.
Comments on RugbyPass
Where’s this people's champion come from? Irish people yes….other people? Their arrogance has become breathtaking. Not tested? Oh dear.
153 Go to commentsIf a coach having Crusaders heritage is so sacrosanct, why did the Crusaders not pursue Vern Cotter as Scott Robertson’s replacement?
16 Go to commentsFinau is definitely operating on razor thin margins. He hasn’t done anything wrong… yet. But a player going into contact 6 inches lower than he is expecting, without him even knowing, will end in disaster. You can imagine a situation where the pass dies on Edmed and he has to bend down a little lower to catch it at the last second. Finau’s hit would have been catastrophic. The margins are just too fine. He needs to study how PSDT, at 6’7”, manages to drop his tackle height and exert just as much force with close zero danger of taking someone’s head off. Given how poorly NZ has adapted to lower their tackle height, and that this issue which has plagued the ABs for years and played a big part in them not winning the World Cup, I thought NZR and all SR coaches would be prioritising sorting this issue out. If I was Razor I would be on the phone to Clayton MacMillan and Samipeni Finau saying exactly that. Finau is a monster and shaping up to be the closest thing to Kaino since Kaino, but I wouldn’t risk selecting him for the ABs at the moment.
18 Go to commentsThe surprising stat I saw in the Blues game when showing Sotutu equaling the Blues forwards record was that Akira has not scored a try since 2019. Now my memory is pretty bad when it comes to those sorts of the things, I can remember his AB try though, but anyway I can’t see I can remember his last blues touchdown or any in recent years. Surely that still has to be a bogus stat. Maybe excludes SRA games?
3 Go to commentsDude to me looks pretty fast for a big man, nearly 2m and 130kg, in his workout vid he was signed off. Possibly a bit slow on his reads movement wise though, but I’ve not got anything to compare him to. Hope the dude nails it and finds his sport, could have been a devastating lock in rugby if he wasn’t a footballer growing up.
4 Go to commentsWell, does that make it every year Moana has lost it’s best player the following year? Normally it’s more immediate I guess, at least there best player had a follow up year this time.
1 Go to commentsFinally, an answer to Dan Carter.
1 Go to commentsNever read such tripe. He was hit just as he passed the ball which was reviewed and deemed legal by yes the Australian TMO and referee
18 Go to commentsTerrible idea…will be too hot, no one will travel, fan zones will be promised nice cold guinness and last minute will get water. Also how do you squeeze this into the already busy battle rhythm, Prem, summer series, 6 nations & world cup….if, and its a big IF you’re going to do this, do it in a rugby nation.
2 Go to commentsWell let’s hope world rugby doesn't read some of this nonsense, because next on the agenda will be…“players will only tackle other players deemed to be in their weight class, and only with moderate velocity”.
18 Go to commentsI was never allowed to adjust boots, or ever replaced, while I was playing and staying on the field. If I had issues, I had to go to the sideline and fix them myself. Then I would ask the ref to get back in. That would really make you deal with it FAST!
4 Go to commentsGreat point. It would be terrible to have a card for poor tackling cost the all blacks a world cup. Oh hi all blacks captain Sam Cane, how you going?
18 Go to commentsI like Andy’s critical approach to all hot issues especially when it comes to the rugby big “bosses”. However, sorry Andy, I don’t support your “we shouldn’t be questioning the integrity of Karl Dickson or any other official”. May I ask why? They do have a lot of responsibility, but they are people like us with all their sins and weaknesses. We have to respect their decision during the games, but why they became untouchable afterwards and people cannot even criticize them and the ones, who does express their concerns, got punished for publicly analyzing their mistakes and asking questions. If they believe they did right, there shouldn’t be a problem for any of the refs to answer these “questions” publicly. I don’t really remember such cases. However, I do remember how Craig Joubert shown his running skills in 2015 or Pascal Gauzere shined in Cardiff in 2021. I do believe that Rassie, as anybody else, had a full right to share his vision of Nic Berry’s performance the same year. I do not support the hate in any form especially in public one, but creating the cast of untouchable refs and rugby bosses is not for me. As for Karl, he had all means to question his appointment for the game and since I don’t now whether he did it, blaming just RFU wouldn’t be quite correct at this moment. I love the game of rugby and almost every time I watch it I don’t support any team, I just wanna see the good game and fair referring. Sorry, Karl. last Saturday you got my Craig Joubert”s award of the round. It is up to Karl to prove that I am wrong, not to Andy or RFU’s corporate bla-bla-bla. Something like that…
1 Go to commentswell remember the blues had a guy called jed rowlands for a season. remember scott took his coaching team with him give him time
16 Go to commentswell maybe he needs to be introduced to darcy swain then who never got anything much and put a cheifs ands allblack player out injured and made him miss a season recovering
18 Go to commentswell maybe the match offficals should sort it out if they are worried about it and stop the clock
4 Go to commentsI totally agree. I also believe that minor injuries unless dangerous must be treared OFF the field of play and the game continue with a temp replacement if necessary.
4 Go to commentsSend the bill to McLennan.
3 Go to comments2 out of 3 were perfect. TMOs love jumping in on anything outside the law. The fact they saw nothing wrong speaks volumes. You want to see what a late blindside hit looks like, watch Kepu take out Carter in the 2015 World Cup final. Completely different to the Tah’s tackle.
18 Go to commentsverkeerde kant van die gereg lol
5 Go to comments