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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Sport
Martin Pengelly in Washington

World Rugby backs North Carolina team in US MLR with eye on 2031 World Cup

MLR Rugby World Rugby World Cup North Carolina Charlotte Alan Gilpin America Los Angeles United States
The former All Blacks centre Ma’s Nonu, playing for San Diego Legion, passes against New England Free Jacks in the 2023 MLR final.
The former All Blacks centre Ma’s Nonu, playing for San Diego Legion, passes against New England Free Jacks in the 2023 MLR final. Photograph: Jamie Sabau/USA Today Sports

Major League Rugby, the US men’s professional rugby union competition, will this year include a team predominantly featuring young American players, based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and backed by World Rugby in an attempt to boost the US game in the run-up to the 2031 and 2033 World Cups.

The introduction of Anthem Rugby Carolina will restore the league to 12 teams and two conferences, after the recent collapses of the Toronto Arrows and New York Ironworkers, the latter MLR champions in 2022. The announcement of the new team, widely reported before being confirmed on Friday, comes a little over a month before the season seven kick-off, on the first weekend in March.

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