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[AnotherDayAnotherDollar]

It's a first go at a professional league in North America. They are being very conservative in their approach, with players only making between 25 and 40K per year and only 5 teams for the first year.

Denver
Columbus
Sacramento
San Diego
San Francisco

Teams still don't have names as that will be decided by fans in the first year. If the first season is successful, expect teams in the east coast and north of the border in the second season. They have signed some international players and some national US team players.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PRO_Rugby
http://www.prorugby.org/
https://www.facebook.com/prorugby/
https://twitter.com/ProRugbyUSA

AOL will stream the games live
http://www.aol.com/article/2016/04/...s-sacramento-caps-pro-rugby-opening/21340670/

I really enjoy watching Rugby VII and have taken a liking to XV as well. I'm hoping this will work out

 

[bigkrev]

Why is the only east coast team in Ohio of all places :/

 

[AlteredBeast]

At least they could pick up Jarryd Hayne on the cheap right now, right?

 

[CCS]

At least they could pick up Jarryd Hayne on the cheap right now, right?

Wrong code

Hopefully with Sevens being in the Olympics too this might get some traction. Would be great to see rugby take off a bit in the US.

 

[TheSecondSpitter]

Teams don't even have nicknames........how unAmerican

 

[Squirrel Killer]

Teams don't even have nicknames........how unAmerican

From that AOL video, it looks like they're all nicknamed "Fly Emirates."

 

[turtle553]

Why is the only east coast team in Ohio of all places :/

Probably because Columbus has a very successful MLS team and they want to piggyback off of that.

 

[Lan Dong Mik]

I wonder if Americans will use some of the more outside of the box "goon" tactics seen in the overseas leagues

 

[AnotherDayAnotherDollar]

Season wrapped up yesterday. Caught some games on youtube. Decent first season effort, the level is probably that of a D2/D3 team in the permiership, if I had to guess.

We'll see how next season will play out, but more teams would be nice (Utah, Philadelphia, Boston, New York, Seattle, Vancouver, Houston, etc.. all have good rugby pockets).

I would also want a championship game. The league is too small right now for a playoff system, but a championship game is a must. This year was a home/away round robin system and it just so happen that the two top teams met for the final game. Funny thing is the winning team of that game still lost the championship on points.

So more teams, a championship game, and better coverage/media presence (social and otherwise) is what I would ask for season 2.

For those curious, this is the final game, which decided the champion:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRFIWosstKY

 

[PayOffWizard]

How i picture Americans playing rugby...

 

[zorlaczerohero]

Wrong code

Hayne could play union, lots of Rugby players switch codes, he was touted for going to the Waratahs RUFC here in Sydney but they have Israel Folau so had no need of him. Having seen both play live I reckon Folau is the better player anyway.

Season wrapped up yesterday. Caught some games on youtube. Decent first season effort, the level is probably that of a D2/D3 team in the permiership, if I had to guess.

We'll see how next season will play out, but more teams would be nice (Utah, Philadelphia, Boston, New York, Seattle, Vancouver, Houston, etc.. all have good rugby pockets).

I would also want a championship game. The league is too small right now for a playoff system, but a championship game is a must. This year was a home/away round robin system and it just so happen that the two top teams met for the final game. Funny thing is the winning team of that game still lost the championship on points.

So more teams, a championship game, and better coverage/media presence (social and otherwise) is what I would ask for season 2.

For those curious, this is the final game, which decided the champion:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRFIWosstKY

Glad it's making inroads into the US, it's my favourite spectator sport, my son plays in under 10's whilst all his mates play League, gave him a choice but he prefers Union. Could be nice if some Aus, UK etc. teams get some tours going on over in the US, give it a bit more exposure. I'll give the game a watch tomorrow, too late here in Sydney to get drawn into that!