By signing a multi-year broadcast rights arrangement, ESPN and Major League Rugby (MLR) have increased rugby’s visibility in the US. All regular season and postseason games will be streamed live on ESPN+ beginning February 15, 2025, with certain games being televised on ESPN2.
The Rugby Network offers live programming as well as 72-hour-delayed match replays, highlights, and other rugby content. Additionally, the agreement expands Major League Rugby’s global reach by bringing the sport to Sub-Saharan Africa.
Tim Bunnell, ESPN’s SVP of Programming and Acquisition, said, “Major League Rugby has built a strong foundation as the premier professional rugby league in North America, and we’re thrilled to be part of its next phase of growth. As MLR continues to establish itself in the North American sports landscape, we look forward to bringing the league’s dynamic competition to an even wider audience.”
The 2025 MLR season kicks off over President’s Day weekend with 18 weeks of regular-season action, followed by two weeks of playoffs. The season concludes on June 28 with the MLR Championship, where the league’s top teams will compete for the MLR Shield.
Nic Benson, Major League Rugby Commissioner, said, “During our 2024 campaign, we grew our viewership by more than 25 percent year over year. We are hyper-focused on increasing our audience and introducing rugby to more American sports fans every year. This relationship with ESPN will give us an opportunity to supercharge that growth.” And added, “With the talent across the league, I’m confident we’re headed toward our most exciting season yet. This strategic agreement will enable more fans to experience top-tier rugby action.”
William Mao, SVP of Media Rights Consulting at Octagon, said, “We are tremendously excited to work with ESPN on behalf of Major League Rugby.” Adding, “Already the most-watched professional rugby league in the United States, MLR is the driving force pushing the sport forward in our market. With a presence across ESPN platforms, the league will be even better positioned to fuel rugby fandom in the US ahead of the 2031 Rugby World Cup.”
This season, 11 teams will battle for the title, including Anthem RC, Chicago Hounds, Houston SaberCats, Miami Sharks, New England Free Jacks, NOLA Gold, Old Glory DC, Rugby LA, San Diego Legion, Seattle Seawolves, and Utah Warriors. With this partnership, MLR continues to expand its reach, making rugby more accessible to fans in the U.S. and beyond.