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Anthem Rugby Carolina has ended after three years as World Rugby has pulled its funding. This leaves Major League Rugby (MLR) in jeopardy as the league is now down to five teams. Anthem RC folded because the multi-year joint funding agreement between World Rugby, USA Rugby, and MLR reached the end of its planned operational cycle.
With World Rugby officially pulling its financial backing after the 2026 season, the developmental franchise had no choice but to dissolve and release its roster. This impacts the USA Eagles as the Anthem RC roster includes Luke Carty, Sam Golla, Conner Mooneyham, Julian Roberts, Alex Maughan, Makeen Alikhan, Erich Storti, Payton Telea-Ilalio, Tom Pittman, Moni Tonga’uiha, and Dominic Akina.
The five remaining franchises still standing in MLR are the California Legion, Chicago Hounds, New England Free Jacks, Old Glory DC, and the Seattle Seawolves. This core group represents the absolute survival line of the league as executives scramble to secure a sixth team to ensure a viable 2027 season structure.
Since the USA failed to qualify for the 2023 World Cup, Major League Rugby has lost eight franchises—including foundational teams like Houston, Utah, and New Orleans—due to financial strain and operational withdrawals.
MLR reached its peak size during the 2022 season, expanding to an all-time high of 13 teams across North America. This height featured the league’s broadest geographic footprint, including its first Canadian franchise, before financial challenges and franchise liquidations forced a heavy contraction.
To restore MLR to a viable six-team format for the 2027 season, league officials are actively working on various expansion locations and vetting two legitimate ownership groups. Rumors persist that a new Canadian franchise could eventually step in to replace the much-missed Toronto Arrows, while former markets like Houston and Miami have also been linked to potential new operations.
New teams for MLR 2027 are not expected. Alex Magleby notes that most external groups looking to launch a brand-new franchise are realistically aiming for 2028 based on their current planning cycles. Consequently, the race to secure that crucial sixth spot for 2027 hinges on finalizing one of the immediate, unannounced groups currently in negotiations.
