The World’s Game. America’s Opportunity.

877 million fans worldwide. One untapped market left.

 

A Global Game Built for American Demand.

Rugby is played in over 130 countries, with 877 million followers and 9.1 million active participants — yet the U.S. remains commercially untapped.

The timing is unprecedented:

  • A massive domestic contact-sport audience

  • NFL-caliber crossover athletes seeking new opportunities

  • World-class stadium infrastructure already in place

  • A growing youth and collegiate rugby ecosystem

  • The 2028 Olympics, 2031 Men’s and 2033 Women’s Rugby World Cups on U.S. soil

The sport’s physicality, pace, and values align with American culture — and the NRFL is positioned to deliver it as a fully professional, media-first platform built for fans, content, and commerce.

Untapped Value. Unmatched Potential.

Rugby is one of the most played and followed sports in the world — ranked #7 globally with 877 million followers — yet it accounts for less than 1% of global sports media rights value.

That gap is the opportunity.

The Rugby World Cup is the 3rd largest sporting event on the planet, but only comes every four years. The market lacks a consistent, commercialized platform that taps into rugby’s full media, content, and fandom potential.

The NRFL is built to fill that void — with a modern, entertainment-first league designed to activate passionate rugby fans and capture new U.S. audiences hungry for high-impact, story-driven sports experiences.

 

Most Popular Sports Globally (in billions of fans)

 

The Most Undervalued Asset Class in Global Sports

Rugby offers a rare combination: massive global demand, strong U.S. market potential, and low cost of entry. It’s the last premium sports property yet to be fully commercialized for American audiences — and the NRFL is positioned to unlock its value.

  • Scarcity of Opportunity

    U.S. sports franchise prices have skyrocketed into the billions. The NRFL offers investors early-stage access to a premium contact sport — without the inflated valuations or saturated competition.

  • Untapped American Audience

    Rugby resonates with today’s fans: fast, physical, and inclusive. With one of the most evenly split male/female demographics in global sports, it offers a culturally relevant and diverse fan opportunity in the U.S.

  • Global Scale, Proven Demand

    Rugby is played in over 130 countries and is embedded in culture across continents. As the U.S. prepares to host back-to-back World Cups, the sport is entering its most commercially viable chapter yet.

  • Commercial Upside

    The NRFL is structured to control and monetize every layer of the platform — from athlete storytelling to digital IP to branded content — creating multiple scalable revenue streams. Yet despite its global popularity, rugby generates less than 1% of global sports media rights value — a massive commercial gap the NRFL is built to close.

“Rugby’s the most demanding sport on the planet. That’s exactly why it belongs in front of American fans.”

Mick Byrne, Director of Rugby, NRFL