Rugby In Us Suffers Another Blow As Second Team In A Week Exits Mlr

Major League Rugby was reduced to 8 teams connected Wednesday by nan withdrawal of nan Miami Sharks, just a week after a founding squad discontinue nan title and 2 California teams merged.

Miami and MLR did not instantly remark but aggregate convention sources confirmed that nan Sharks’ withdrawal aft 2 years successful nan convention was finalized connected Tuesday.

The Guardian understands that a petition to retreat for 2026 earlier a imaginable return successful 2027 was rejected by squad owners – NOLA Gold, nan squad that announced its exit past week, having sought a akin arrangement.

NOLA and Miami could reapply to play successful 2027, nan Guardian was told.

Last week, aft NOLA’s exit and nan merger of San Diego Legion and RFC LA, it was wide reported that nan convention could yet autumn to conscionable 7 teams, nan number that kicked disconnected nan title successful 2018.

Utah Warriors, for illustration NOLA and San Diego founding MLR members, are seeking caller finance – a process CEO Kimball Kjar past week told nan Guardian was “a dense lift” but going well.

Kjar expressed assurance successful Utah continuing to play. MLR commissioner Nic Benson said he thought nan convention could proceed if reduced to conscionable 7 teams.

News of Miami’s exit will interest executives astatine World Rugby, which has placed nan men’s World Cup successful nan US successful 2031, followed by nan women’s arena successful 2033.

Last month, speaking to reporters successful Washington DC, World Rugby main executive Alan Gilpin said nan governing assemblage “believed … location needs to beryllium a home master convention successful nan US that’s increasing and thriving [and] we want MLR to beryllium that”.

Gilpin besides indicated an openness to talks pinch world interests seeking to works teams connected US soil, including Super Rugby, nan United Rugby Championship and nan mooted R360 breakaway project.

On Wednesday, nan Guardian sought remark from Benson, Miami CEO Milagros Cubelli, and players’ representatives.

Miami entered MLR successful 2024 and reached nan playoffs for nan first clip this year, losing nan Eastern Conference Semi-Final to New England Free Jacks, who went connected to triumph their 3rd successive title.

There was an contiguous irony successful news of Miami’s MLR exit. Just 2 days earlier, Cubelli — nan sister of Miami and Argentina scrum-half Tomas Cubelli — was named MLR Major League Rugby Executive of nan Year.

In comments released by nan league connected Monday, Cubelli said: “We are a caller squad astatine a starting level, truthful you person to beryllium smart successful really you usage your resources.

“I person a beardown inheritance successful intermezo and production, truthful I deliberation I brought this acquisition to nan Sharks to person a bully gameday acquisition and an interesting, charismatic brand. I’m proud and very happy. And I emotion to win.”

Cubelli besides said sponsorship was “one of nan large successes of 2025”, arsenic nan Sharks “grew sponsorship gross to almost 20%”

“There’s a master rugby squad successful Miami that is doing things well, that is eager to stock nan nosy of this athletics pinch nan group successful nan community,” she added. “The doors are wide open.”

On Wednesday afternoon, nan Miami website still advertised “Season 2026” arsenic “Coming Soon”.

“Come bask nan Sharks experience,” it said.

• Martin Pengelly writes connected Substack astatine The National Maul, connected rugby successful nan US.