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George Killebrew is no longer Commissioner of Major League Rugby. After weeks of speculation that his time with the league was coming to an end, a formal announcement today indicated that Killebrew has stepped down from the position he has held for the past three years.
A former executive with the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, Killebrew worked to establish the MLR Collegiate Draft, helped secure a TV deal with Fox Sports, and most notably launched MLR’s streaming platform called The Rugby Network. His tenure also coincided with the failed Kanaloa Hawai’i bid and the controversial suspension of Austin and LA from the 2022 Championship Series, which ultimately led to the disbandment of the two franchises.
Killebrew succeeded MLR’s first commissioner, Dean Howes, in December of 2019. Former Deputy Commissioner Nic Benson has now been appointed CEO, with the league seemingly abandoning the Commissioner title entirely. Benson was also Chief Operating Officer of the Utah Warriors and most recently was serving as an advisor to the MLR Board of Directors, which is currently Chaired by San Diego Legion co-owner Ryan Patterson.
