Major League Rugby on Saturday began its first season with three games, and the league has "attracted the best talent from across North America," according to Antonio Olivero of the SUMMIT DAILY NEWS. MLR also has recruited "some of the best overseas talent" via its five international players-per-club rule. The seven-team league also "has a television agreement" with CBS Sports Network, which will televise 13 matches (SUMMIT DAILY NEWS, 4/22). CNN's George Ramsay wrote the U.S. has "long been viewed as rugby's sleeping giant -- a country with the facilities, athletes and audience to become a global asset to the game." The MLR could be a "step in that direction." Teams in N.Y. and Dallas "will be added to the competition" in '19, bringing the total to nine teams. MLR Commissioner Dean Howes said that he would "like to see 16 to 20 franchises in the league in the next 10 years" (CNN.com, 4/21). In Sydney, Georgina Robinson wrote MLR, using the example of MLS, "required each team to take a stake in the parent entity at a reported cost of $650,000, hold player wages in escrow, make mandatory marketing spends and invest in juniors" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 4/21).
KICKING THINGS OFF: In Seattle, John Saul noted the Seawolves brought pro rugby to Seattle "in a winning fashion, putting away the San Diego Legion 39-23 at Starfire Stadium" on Sunday before a sold-out crowd. The stadium's website lists capacity at 4,500 (SEATTLETIMES.com, 4/22). THE GUARDIAN's Tom Dart noted the Houston SaberCats lost to the NOLA Gold 35-26, and the 6,000-capacity Dyer Stadium in Houston was "less than a third full" for the game. Attendance was "not helped by the unsettled weather and spartan facilities." The SaberCats have started construction on a 3,500-seat purpose-built stadium that is "scheduled to be finished in time for next season" (THEGUARDIAN.com, 4/21).
