World Rugby and USA Rugby partner on new MLR Charlotte club

World Rugby and USA Rugby announced a strategic partnership on Friday to create a 2024 Major League Rugby expansion club in Charlotte ahead of the 2031 Rugby World Cup in the United States.

Anthem Rugby Carolina will become the US league’s 12th team for the upcoming campaign in a ground-breaking deal between governing bodies to grow and develop American rugby.

The team predominantly will include “the most exciting young American talent available,” according to a joint release announcing the club, and will “solidify MLR as the primary pathway for America’s best rugby players who have aspirations to play for their country.”

Anthem’s first roster will include players from other MLR teams who are eligible to play for the USA national team in global events.

Anthem would accelerate American high-performance objectives by supporting USA Eagles long-term goals ahead of qualifying for the 2027 World Cup, the organizations said.

The Americans failed to qualify for last year’s World Cup in France but World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin hailed the club as a key move in boosting US rugby competitiveness.

“We’re activating a transformative and long-term growth plan for rugby in the US that will enable a great sporting nation, and the sport as a whole, to unlock the true potential of hosting men’s and women’s Rugby World Cups in 2031 and 2033,” Gilpin said.

“We must sustainably grow the elite men’s game and (have) the USA Eagles national team to be successful on the world stage. Today’s announcement is a major milestone to achieving that.”

Gilpin compared the high-performance pathway to the partnership that was successful for 2023 World Cup last-eight qualifiers Fiji through Super Rugby squad Fijian Drua.

“The new club is a gamechanger for American rugby and will create new pathways for player development and grassroots participation, building on the outstanding foundation our teams have forged during the past seven years.” MLR chief executive Nic Benson said.

USA Rugby chief executive Ross Young called the move a new trajectory for rugby in America.

“Anthem provides a truly unique opportunity for accelerated development with USA Rugby High Performance while continuing to bolster MLR as a key pathway for the USA men’s Eagles,” he said.