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Major League Rugby on Friday confirmed that franchises in Boston and Atlanta will officially begin regular season play in the 2020 season. The announcement comes as a surprise with the 2019 schedule still to be released and the ninth team – widely presumed to be the Ontario Arrows – yet to receive public confirmation by league officials.
The Boston franchise has been heavily rumored for several months and Americas Rugby News can reveal that the team will play an exhibition fixture in Eastern Canada next month. Online media platforms have already been secured and the team will be known as the New England Free Jacks.
Little is known about the Atlanta franchise at this point. Their President and Chief Operating Officer is Bob Taylor, currently Chief Executive Officer of the Atlanta Rhinos, a rugby league side that plays in the USARL.
Both cities are considered rugby strongholds in the country and will join a rapidly expanding presence on the East Coast. MLR commissioner Dean Howes issued a brief statement in an official release:
“We are excited to expand the league to Atlanta and Boston, giving millions of rugby fans a front row seat to the action of the game on a professional level. Rugby is the fastest growing sport in America, and with these additions will now be represented in 11 major media markets across the US.”
If the Arrows are confirmed in the coming days as expected it would bring the league to 11 full members with Washington DC also aiming for Season Three. Though the are not official members yet, DC MLR recently surpassed 1,000 season ticket deposits and appear on track to meet their 2020 target.
