MLR adds expansion team in Chicago
NEWS: Major League Rugby will add an expansion team in Chicago for the 2023 season, giving the circuit 12 clubs for next year, one fewer than last year.
In a video posted on its Twitter feed, MLR posted rugby highlights and city scenes of Chicago with the closing tagline of “Major League Rugby Chicago 2023.”
MLR dropped teams in Los Angeles and Austin, Texas, last week after having fielded a record-high 13-club lineup last season.
Adding Chicago brings the North American league its first club in the American Midwest to join Toronto in Canada and US teams in New York, Washington, Atlanta, New England, New Orleans, Dallas, Houston, Utah, San Diego and Seattle.
New York defeated two-time champion Seattle in last season’s championship match.
Dispersal drafts of players from each folding team will be conducted.
Next season will mark the league’s fifth, the 2020 campaign wiped out by Covid-19, as the sport works to establish a top-tier foothold in the American sports realm.
Teams will each play a 16-game schedule with six-team East and West conferences.
Are you ready? pic.twitter.com/4mT0bcVab4
— Major League Rugby (@usmlr) November 2, 2022
