Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
As expected Major League Rugby have formally announced the addition of the Arrows for the 2019 season but it comes with a twist – the team has officially re-branded to the Toronto Arrows, unveiling their new logo along with a change in color scheme for their kit still to be unveiled. Also announced by the league is the confirmation of a team in Washington DC for the 2020 season, formally advancing their position as rights holders to associate members.
The change in name is not entirely unexpected from the Arrows. A fan survey was done several weeks ago to determine preference between the name ‘Ontario’ and ‘Toronto’. The former was preferred initially to build on the brand momentum built by the highly successful Ontario Blues in the Canadian Rugby Championship, the amateur team that built the foundations of the new professional franchise. Based in Toronto, however, the team has opted to switch the name in line with other professional franchises.
DC will now join Boston and Atlanta in the 2020 season, bringing the league’s total to 12 teams. While numerous suitors have emerged for further franchise additions, it’s expected the league may hold at 12 for at least two seasons before further expansion to ensure sufficient talent is available to populate each team. While this appears to put the idea of a second Canadian team on ice, a Vancouver franchise remains highly desirable and given the likelihood it would be largely populated by Canadian players, it’s possible an exception could be made.
The changes complete a dramatic expansion in the northeast, with major markets Toronto, New York, Boston, and DC all ensured franchises. Atlanta finds its closest rivals in the south with New Orleans, Houston, and Austin already established. Glendale and Utah are further west with Seattle and San Diego along the coast. Future targets in the USA, geographically speaking, look to be the northern California – San Francisco or Sacramento – and the midwest – Chicago looming large.
Major League Rugby is set to release their 2019 schedule on Monday.
