Major League Rugby Announce Telecast Agreement with AT&T Sports Networks

Major League Rugby (MLR) has announced a broadcast agreement with AT&T Sports Networks for MLR’s inaugural season, launching April 2018.

The deal completes MLR's comprehensive distribution package, providing American rugby fans access to all matches. AT&T Sports Networks will carry a 17-game package with rights to six MLR teams including Austin, Houston and NOLA on AT&T SportsNet -Southwest region. ROOT SPORTS in the Northwest will carry Seattle matches and AT&T SportsNet -Rocky Mountain region will host Glendale and Utah games. San Diego will have a separate local rights agreement for their market.

The networks will televise home and away broadcasts of all games except the MLR Game of the Week, playoffs and championship match, which will air on CBS Sports Network. MLR programming will run in prime weekend time slots on Saturday afternoons and Sunday evenings on the networks. 

Major League Rugby will launch with seven teams in 2018 including Austin, Houston, Glendale (Colorado), New Orleans, San Diego, Seattle and Salt Lake City (Utah). Additionally, New York has joined as an associate member for 2018 commencing regular season play in 2019. Each market has a long history of support for the game of rugby.