Austin, Los Angeles MLR Teams Suspending Operation For 2023 Season
Oct 25, 2022, 11:27 AM | Updated: 11:29 am
(Courtesy of Utah Warriors)
(Courtesy of Utah Warriors)
SALT LAKE CITY – Major League Rugby (MLR) announced that two teams in the league will suspend operation for the upcoming 2023 season.
For the upcoming 2023 season, Major League Ruby will have 12 teams in a two-conference format with 11 of the 12 teams that competed in 2022 returning for 2023. Austin Gilgronis and Los Angeles Giltinis will not participate this season. The 12th team will be an expansion franchise in a new market, with details being announced at a later date.
Austin and Los Angeles are suspending operations due to uncertainties surrounding the ownership and was determined to suspend operations of the two teams to ensure a successful 2023 season for MLR.
The Austin Gilgronis and Los Angeles Giltinis will not participate in the 2023 MLR Season. Click the link to read more: https://t.co/pZr7MYXlV9 pic.twitter.com/G2TE8Abb8m
— Major League Rugby (@usmlr) October 25, 2022
“While we understand that this news is disappointing for the fans, players, and stakeholders of these two teams, this decision was made after much deliberation and counsel, and with the best interests of the league in mind,” said MLR Commissioner George Killebrew. “Our league is invested in long-term success. It is vital for us to give our teams and their loyal fanbases the best chance of succeeding both on and off the field in 2023.”
The upcoming season will feature a 16-game regular season schedule and playoffs. The Eastern and Western Conferences will have six teams in each conference in 2023. FOX will broadcast 18 matches on FS1 and FS2, with the championship game on FOX Sports.
MLR will offer all Austin and Los Angeles players the opportunity to continue playing in the league by holding a dispersal draft in the upcoming weeks.
“MLR is committed to continuing to grow the sport of rugby in Austin, Los Angeles, and the surrounding areas. These markets and their fans demonstrated their support for the game and proved to be cities in which the league intends to have a long-term presence. With that in mind, MLR, with USA Youth & High School, will work with Rugby Texas and SoCal Youth Rugby on the imminent relaunch of Rookie Rugby as well as the expansion of rugby in community colleges,” the league said in their release.
