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Sports Business Journal: Fox Sports To Nationally Broadcast Four MLR Games in Four Days

Fox Sports is set to nationally broadcast four regular season Major League Rugby matches over four consecutive days, a first for the league.

It will air matches over Father’s Day Weekend, with the first match on Friday, June 14, at 8:30pm on FS2 (Old Glory DC vs. Dallas). Saturday’s game (Seattle vs. Houston) airs at 7pm on FS1, and Sunday’s (Utah at New England) at 3pm on FS2. MLR will also feature its first Monday night rugby matchup in league history, with San Diego at Chicago at 8pm on FS2.

Fox Sports is set to nationally broadcast 29 MLR matches this season, compared to 23 national broadcasts in 2023.

“The more opportunities we have to showcase our teams, our players and feature Major League Rugby on a national broadcast, the more chances we have to bring new fans into the fold,” said Harry Hardy, the chief commercial officer of MLR.

The playoffs, sponsored by sports travel company SportsBreaks, begin on July 21 with matches on FS2, and the championship will take place at San Diego’s Snapdragon Stadium on Aug. 4, with a broadcast on Fox.

“In a month, our playoffs will start, and being able to have eight teams — all of whom are in playoff contention — highlighted on national TV across four straight days represents a massive opportunity for our fanbase to grow and continue MLR’s momentum into the playoffs and MLR championship,” said Hardy.

Growth cycle

MLR began its first season in 2018 with seven teams and has since expanded to 12 teams in 2024.

With the U.S. hosting the Rugby World Cup in 2031, the league has been intentional about investing to grow the sport in North America, including a new tech partnership with Globant aimed at overhauling its OTT streaming network, The Rugby Network, and a new partnership with Sportable.

“With the Rugby World Cup coming to our shores at the end of the decade, MLR is the primary vehicle that will push fandom for the sport in the United States,” said Hardy.

Written by Mollie Cahillane for Sports Business Journal