Report: URC expansion mooted with sixth nation involved

Telegraph Sport are reporting that the United Rugby Championship could widen its geographical reach by taking in America.

Currently, the URC is played in five nations – Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Italy and South Africa, but two US teams could enter the fray in the future, it is claimed.

URC chiefs are said to be in discussions about how best to mitigate against a reduction in clubs if the Welsh Rugby Union opts to cut the number of regional teams from four to two.

Recognising that Stateside interest in rugby is only going to grow ahead of the USA hosting back-to-back World Cups in 2031 and 2033, it is thought that two East Coast franchise teams might be invited to join even if the professional rugby status quo in Wales does not change.

In June, URC chief executive Martin Anayi spoke extensively about the merits and pitfalls of expansion.

He said: “As the URC, we have always had expansion in DNA. We have been the Celtic League, and we moved, and we have tried to grow each time. And we have done that. I think we have genuinely made it a better league.

“I think it is important that we continue to look outwards. But also, the bar is very high because, for every game you add, there is a player welfare issue to engage with. And that is something you have to make sure you aren’t compromising.

“You have logistics, especially when we are transcontinental, and then you have the sporting element, and we want it to be as competitive as ever. So I would never say never, but I think the bar is very high to do that.

“We play less rugby with the URC model and format. We don’t have home and away games in every match. And it also allows us to not play across international weekends.

“We have almost 320 internationals playing in the league, which is almost double what you have in the Premiership or Super Rugby.

“If we do expand in the future, it has to be in the right way, and we don’t fall into the traps of those who have done it in the past, and it hasn’t been successful.”

Wales’ four regions – Cardiff Rugby, Dragons RFC, Ospreys and the Scarlets – are currently in discussions with the WRU about the future. Any decision to cut teams will not come into effect until the start of the 2027/28 season.