Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France
19 - 24
FT
40 - 19
FT
15 - 32
FT
18 - 25
FT
Tomorrow
12:00
Tomorrow
12:30
Tomorrow
12:30
Tomorrow
12:30
Tomorrow
12:30
Tomorrow
14:00
Tomorrow
14:10
Saturday
07:30
Saturday
09:10
Saturday
09:30
Saturday
11:40
Saturday
14:10
Sunday
07:40
Sunday
10:10
Gallagher PremiershipBristol

'We need to be part of it' - Bristol exploring MLR market

Steve Luatua leads out the Bristol Bears team in their August 2018 return to Premiership rugby - the same clubs will kick off the 2019/20 Premiership season (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Bristol Bears are looking to follow the lead of Scottish Rugby and buy into one of the new Major League Rugby franchises in America.

ADVERTISEMENT

The SRU recently became the first tier one national governing body to link with an MRL club, acquiring a minority stake in Washington-based Old Glory DC, who will play in an expanded 12-team MLR competition from February 2020.

“The US market has long been a strategic target for us and the potential and passion for rugby will undoubtedly grow in the years to come,” said the Scottish chief operating officer, Dominic McKay, who will sit on the franchise board.

That is a situation Bristol majority shareholder Steve Lansdown could soon find himself in as well if the Bears’ exploration of investment in a sister club in the new USA league comes to fruition. 

In an interview with The Rugby Paper, Lansdown said: “The future of rugby is on a world-wide basis and we need to be a part of it. Interest is being raised and we’re exploring what might be out there.

“The reality is that as a business there are opportunities in America that we’re looking at, not just in New York but right across the country with what’s happening in MLR.

“There’s two aspects to this: one, from a player recruitment aspect it provides an opportunity to give your own developing players opportunities to play in competitive leagues while tapping into their growing pool of players and two, you can develop your brand because American clubs will become significant players in the market in coming years.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Nine teams are taking part in this season’s American league and its profile is set to grow with the recruitment by the New York-based Rugby United of French international Mathieu Bastareaud, who will link up with the club on a temporary basis following the end of the 2019 World Cup in Japan. 

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

1

Munster confirm the signing of an Irish rugby legend's son

2

Four Ireland talking points as Aki axed and two rookies make bench

3

New scrumhalf rule among 4 global Law trials as others shot down

4

Veterans return for All Blacks as team to play France named

5

Tournée des Bleus en Nouvelle-Zélande : « Ils sont mécontents ? Je suis d'accord avec eux », reconnaît Galthié

6

‘Not a huge surprise’: Michael Hooper on All Blacks’ win over Ireland

7

Four talking points as England name team to host the Springboks

8

Felix Jones' England situation has taken another awkward twist

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

LONG READ

'Two groups of dancing bears': The cross-code clash making a comeback for charity

For the first time in 21 years, rugby union and rugby league go head to head to raise money for motor neurone disease charities.

LONG READ

Wales 'in one of their deepest holes for a long time'

With no evidence of progress and 400 days since Wales' last win, Warren Gatland is under intense scrutiny.

LONG READ

England and their Chief problem

Steve Borthwick needs to trust his star fly-half, find a scrum and sort out a disjointed defence if he is to beat the World Champs

Comments on RugbyPass

J
JW 20 minutes ago
Why Australia won't see the best of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii at centre

That's the definition of duping.

148 Go to comments
A
AT 20 minutes ago
Scott Robertson explains the new halves pairing for the All Blacks ahead of France

Good to read Scott Robinson taking charge of ABs selevtion..

9 Go to comments
J
JW 22 minutes ago
Why Australia won't see the best of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii at centre

Will was talking about needing to get upto speed, literally, for the game Joe wants. I wondered then if he was talking about his prep for this week or his outlook for refocusing his whole prep for the Lions next year.

148 Go to comments
S
SS 1 hour ago
Springboks make 12 changes and move away from 7/1 bench split

Don't get too excited about your victories over the ABs. 1 point in the RWC, then 4 and 6 in the RC, with an SA try that should never have been given. And they scored 4 tries in one game through your much vaunted defense.

60 Go to comments
J
JW 1 hour ago
Why Australia won't see the best of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii at centre

Was Jordie Barretts the first test against B&I Lions? He was outstanding in that and showed the same raw instinct and skills JAS did. He, like Wright, did go on to show he didn't have the experience or the temperament to know when to use them after that of course, I'm not sure that JAS looks like he'll have that same problem.

148 Go to comments
S
SS 1 hour ago
Springboks make 12 changes and move away from 7/1 bench split

I remember the good old days of the All Blacks being able to do that. On our way again, but slowly

60 Go to comments
J
JW 1 hour ago
Why Australia won't see the best of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii at centre

I don't think you necessarily want to do that Francisco. Coaching the "gift" out of Jordan Petaia was one of the main reasons for his decline, and no doubt his decision to look to another sport.


Then on top of that you have the picture of three games before you first lions test, so you don't have enough to time to "bed in a more friendly interface" really. You could lean on it by moving the pieces around, and possibly different personal around it, but think it would be more wise to let it play out. It will be hard for Schmidt to hold himself back though.

148 Go to comments
B
Bruiser 1 hour ago
Veterans return for All Blacks as team to play France named

Canes well past his best. Ardie will shine. He has played 7 all season in Japan

13 Go to comments
N
NH 2 hours ago
Battle of the breakdown to determine Wallabies’ grand slam future

Nice one John. I agree that defence (along with backfield kick receipt/positioning) remains their biggest issue, but that I did see some small improvements in it despite the scoreline like the additional jackal attempts from guys like tupou and the better linespeed in tight. But, I still see two issues - 1) yes they are jackaling, but as you point out they aren't slowing the ball down. I think some dark arts around committing an extra tackler, choke tackles, or a slower roll away etc could help at times as at the moment its too easy for oppo teams to get quick ball (they miss L wright). Do you have average ruck speed? I feel like teams are pretty happy these days to cop a tackle behind the ad line if they still get quick ball... and 2) I still think the defence wide of the 3-4th forward man out looks leaky and disconnected and if sua'ali'i is going to stay at 13 I think we could see some real pressure through that channel from other teams. The wallabies discipline has improved and so they are giving away less 3 pt opportunities and kicks into their 22 via penalty. Now, they need to be able to force teams to turnover the ball and hold them out. They scramble quite well once a break is made, but they seem to need the break to happen first... Hunter, marika and daugunu were other handy players to put ruck pressure on. Under rennie, they used to counter ruck quite effectively to put pressure on at the b/down as well.

3 Go to comments
S
SS 2 hours ago
Ex-Ireland legend slam players' 'showboating' against the All Blacks

Yes, probably why he still annoys me even now

4 Go to comments
G
GS 2 hours ago
Why Finn Russell 'edges' Marcus Smith in race for the Lions 10 shirt

"Edges" it? Really? Marcus Smith is a great stand off, but he isn't fit to lace Russell's boots. That is no slur on Smith, but in every aspect of the game, Russell is better. Put it this way, if Russell was English they would have beaten the All Blacks and Australia comfortably.

2 Go to comments
H
Head high tackle 2 hours ago
Regardless of the France result Razor's All Blacks have proved something

Graham, if you cant celebrate the wins whats the point of playing the game? I think most would have happily taken 3 from 4 on this tour and winning would be icing but losing just 1 test is still Cake. Its been a season of lost opportunity no matter the result. 3 tests and no real gains from a experience for the newbies perspective. I do get that winning is everything but a few more squad members getting bigger minutes would have been great. Either way, providing the B side doesnt lose to Italy it will be a OK year.

5 Go to comments
B
BH 2 hours ago
Four changes for France as Galthie names team to host All Blacks

No mention of Matthieu Jalibert refusing to play against New Zealand because he would've been on the reserves list. What a sooky cry baby. That is utterly embarrassing and shows he has a poor, selfish attitude.

4 Go to comments
B
BH 2 hours ago
Argentina's Felipe Contepomi dimisses All Blacks' win over Ireland

Poor headline to be honest. Makes it look like Contemponi is disrespecting New Zealand, which he clearly is not. He does the opposite.

3 Go to comments
O
Otagoman II 2 hours ago
Jake White: If I was England coach, I’d have been livid

In regards to the obstruction empahsis on kicking, the receiving team has to clear a path to where the ball is going that one of their team is going to take. If the kicking team member runs into another player that will not mean they gain a penalty unless a direct path to the receiver is blocked.


I suspect the change was brought about to make this aspect of the game safer as chasers will not be bumped into creating a dangerous fall for the player leaping. A good example of this was the red card for a French player against the ABs a few years back. He clattered into B Barrett taking his legs from out under him and landing on his neck/head. Upon review for the citing committee they agreed that ALB had checked the French player causing him to go off course and take Barrett out. No suspension resulted and the red card rescinded. The metric to judge the worth of this change is to see if dangerous falls lessen or not.


Thanks for the article.

8 Go to comments
H
Head high tackle 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson explains the new halves pairing for the All Blacks ahead of France

DM should start and have the game decided by the starting 15. I can just see everyone blaming Dmac and Ratima because they come on with 15 to go and cant make up the 2 try deficit they face. Dmac needs to leave. Make the coin whilst he is in his prime.

9 Go to comments
S
SM 3 hours ago
Scott Robertson explains the new halves pairing for the All Blacks ahead of France

BB should be back and he should play the 80,Dmac reminds me of the story about the emperor having no clothes on how he got player of the day ahead of Jordan or J Barrett must be for not losing or maybe coal kicking 🤔

9 Go to comments
H
Hellhound 3 hours ago
Jake White: If I was England coach, I’d have been livid

The English biggest problem is that whole board. They need to change it, because all they've shown is how incapable they are of running a business which ultimately it is.


The players they choose for the team isn't even the best players in England. There is better players out there just as you suggested and I've said in one of my responses.


This was a well written no nonsense article. An eye opener. Let's hope they read your articles. There is a lot they can learn from someone like you. Just don't dare leave my Bulls as a coach. 2 URC Finals and no cigar. You'd better give those boys gas when they screw up. We want that URC title this year👍

8 Go to comments
L
LRB 3 hours ago
Veterans return for All Blacks as team to play France named

Love the username, fu¢king brilliant.! 😁

13 Go to comments
O
OJohn 3 hours ago
Why Australia won't see the best of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii at centre

The Tahs are like that. I wouldn't describe Rennie as honorable. He betrayed his own country after all.

148 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Wales 'in one of their deepest holes for a long time' Wales 'in one of their deepest holes for a long time'
Search