Hi, we’re the National Rugby Football League (NRFL), the group building the leading entertainment & media company in rugby globally.
The Scrum is our monthly newsletter in which we recap the latest happenings with the league, share insights into the sports investment market, and highlight some of the biggest news in the world of rugby, both on and off the pitch.
League Progress & Happenings
Here’s how the league has progressed since our update last month:
We’re on the road: We launched the NRFL digital roadshow and data room – email sryan@thenrfl.com if you’d like access.
We’re deepening conversations with athletes: We continued discussions with current and former athletes, and athlete groups, to secure their spot at our ownership table. Now is the time for athletes beyond the top 1% to own equity in professional sports.
Our film is coming to life: We met with an Emmy award-winning director in Los Angeles to discuss NRFL Studios' Hollywood film. We’re one step closer to bringing the sport to mainstream America through the big screen.Â
We’re exploring new technologies: We’re exploring creating an immersive technology that’ll bring fans closer to the game through betting, camera angles, gaming, and blockchain.
Market Trends
To ensure both short-term survival and long-term success comparable to established major sports leagues, emerging and challenger sports properties must diversify their revenue sources instead of relying solely on substantial media rights payments. To achieve this effectively, future sports leagues are increasingly adopting a corporate structure rather than operating solely as governing bodies overseeing independently owned franchises, enabling them to implement diverse revenue strategies and enhance their financial stability. (Read More)
Predicting and sustaining on-field performance from season to season poses challenges. To achieve enduring fan engagement success, encompassing both devoted followers and casual supporters, teams and leagues are formulating strategies aimed at sustaining fan interest over an extended duration. (Read More)
Minnesota’s six pro sports franchises went from $1M to $8B in 60 years. Biggest drivers: Demand to purchase continues to increase while the supply remains stable and new revenue streams – gambling, social media, international markets and broadcast deals – keep emerging. (Read More)
Global Rugby News
World Rugby has announced details of Accelerate, a new framework for growth and targeted investment that will supercharge the development of women’s rugby on and off the field ahead of the 2025 Rugby World Cup. (Read More)
The U.S. women’s rugby team qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics by clinching a top-four finish in this season’s World Series. Since rugby was re-added to the Olympics in 2016, the U.S. men’s and women’s teams finished fifth, sixth, sixth, and ninth at the Games. (Read More)
A move to 2026 for the Rugby League World Cup seems likely now that France has withdrawn from hosting the 2025 tournament. New Zealand is now the favorite to host, but it is Qatar's bid that jumps out. (Read More)
May 15 marked the 149th anniversary of the McGill vs Harvard rugby-football confrontation. The two games at Harvard were the first-ever rugby-style football games played in the United States and were the catalyst for the growth of the game. (Read More)
Want to learn more about the NRFL? Check out our website or reach out to info@thenrfl.com.