Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
The New Year begins with plenty to look forward to and also plenty to wish for. This article has a quick look into different areas of rugby involving the Americas that would be desirable in 2025. Are they possible or simply wishful thinking? Perhaps a mixture. So, the Seven Americas Rugby Wishes for 2025: Enjoy!
| A NEW MLR CHAMPION |
Can the New England Free Jacks reign as Major League Rugby (MLR) champions end this year? Can a team other than the Free Jacks and the Seattle Seawolves lift the MLR Shield? The two sides account for four of the prior six MLR champions. The others were the defunct Rugby New York in 2022 and LA Giltinis in 2001. Could 2025 see a champion in the form of the San Diego Legion, RFC Los Angeles, Utah Warriors, Houston SaberCats, Chicago Hounds, Miami Sharks, NOLA Gold, Old Glory DC, or Anthem Rugby Carolina?
| CANADIAN MLR REBIRTH |
The Toronto Arrows’ pulled-out of MLR in November 2023. This left Canada without a professional rugby team for MLR 2024. 2025 begins with the status quo unchanged. Canada needs professional rugby and the MLR and Canada happen to be a great fit. A rebirth of the Toronto Arrows is a wish and there are others such as MLR expanding to other parts of North Americas. It would be a dream come true to have Canada East and Canada West in the form of Toronto and Vancouver.
| NEW SUPER RUGBY AMERICAS FRANCHISES |
Los Tarucas will debut in Super Rugby Americas 2025. The new team is Argentina’s third franchise and the Tucumán-based franchise will not be the last. Expansion is well advanced for Litoral to enter in 2026 and play home matches in Rosario. Additional expansion within Argentina is plausible. Elsewhere, it would be ideal for Uruguay’s original plans of two franchises to come to fruition and also for Chile to follow through with a franchise based in Concepción. Could 2025 see advancements for such teams to join in future seasons?
| ARGENTINA VS ALL BLACKS EN EL ESTADIO MONUMENTAL |
Argentina’s largest stadium is no stranger to rugby. Los Pumas faced South Africa, New Zealand and Australia in end of year internationals in 2000, 2001, 2002 at the Estadio Monumental. The venue has a capacity of 84,567. Argentina could play host to the All Blacks at the stadium in the 2025 Rugby Championship. The Rugby Championship record attendance, since Argentina joined in 2011, is 83,944 in Melbourne for Australia vs New Zealand in 2023. A full-house for Argentina vs New Zealand would be a huge occasion with Buenos Aires being placed in the spot-light and furthering the case for Argentina to host a Rugby World Cup.
| SIX FROM AMERICAS MAKE IT TO RUGBY WORLD CUP 2027 |
Argentina have qualified for Rugby World Cup 2007. Los Pumas and eleven other teams qualified based on finishing in first, second or third in their pools at France 2003. 2025 will finalize with the other participants all confirmed. Uruguay are favorites for the South America 1 spot meaning Chile await the bottom side from the Pacific Nations Cup (PNC). If Tonga’s woes continue then the USA and Canada could qualify via the PNC with Chile then beating Tonga to qualify while Brazil could make history by qualifying via repechage. It may not be the most likely scenario but it could happen.
| AN AMERICAS COUNTRY LIFTS THE WOMEN’S WORLD CUP |
The 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup will be the tenth edition of the Women’s Rugby World Cup. England will host the tournament from August 22 to September 27. The USA won the inaugural Women’s World Cup in 1991. The Women’s Eagles are currently 9th in the World Rankings, newcomers to the World Cup, Brazil are ranked 40th and Canada are second. Could an Americas country be engraved into the Women’s World Cup trophy in 2025?
| PAN AMERICAN CUP |
Back in August of 2019, Mexico made history by defeating Paraguay 35-27. Since 2019, however, Mexico has only played four test matches; all four have been against the Cayman Islands. This is not good enough. World Rugby failed horribly with the Rugby World Cup 2027 Qualifiers. The 39th ranked Mexico were simply excluded with Canada and the USA put in the PNC. Costa Rica (99th), Colombia (45th), Peru (80th) and Venezuela (75th) competed in South American qualifiers. With this in mind, a Pan American Cup would benefit Mexico tremendously. It is a wish worth making for 2025.
