2026 USARL season

2026 USARL season
2026 USARL season
Structure	Regional Round Robin + Playoffs
League	USA Rugby League
Duration	May 30th - August 29th, 2026
Teams	13
Matches played	37
Points scored	2,362 (avg of ~68 per game)
Broadcast partners	Local & club productions on YouTube
Biggest home win	Los Angeles Roosters 104-30 San Diego Barracudas (August 1, 2026)
Biggest away win	Santa Rosa Dead Pelicans 10-114 Sacramento Immortals (June 6, 2026)

The 2026 USA Rugby League season is the current and 29th season overall of men's amateur and semi-professional rugby league competition in the United States and the 14th season under the governance of the USARL.

League updates and notes

Expansion, departures, relocation, and return of the Western Conference

USARL began with an expansion to 19 (later 18) clubs and a return to the West Coast of the US, with the Western Conference reinstated. The URLA (Utah Rugby League Association) continues to operate independently until the two parties reach an agreement. Los Angeles Mongrel and West LA Jackrabbits will not officially participate in the league.^[1]^[2]^[3]

The West expands to nine teams with the return of Los Angeles Bandidos & Sacramento Immortals, the entry of 916ers Rugby (later merged with Sacramento Immortals), and the addition of Bay Area 808s and West LA Renegades, both associated with the Wide Bay Renegades in Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia. This will also be the first official league season of the Los Angeles Roosters, which is operated by USARL partner and NRL club Sydney Roosters.^[4]

In the Eastern Conference, the 2017 national champions, Atlanta Rhinos, pulled out of the season; it is currently unknown whether they will return to play, as the club has not officially folded. The Southwest Florida Copperheads, originally founded in Naples, FL, have moved to Atlanta, GA, and rebranded as the Atlanta Copperheads.^[5] The conference expands to 10 teams with the entry of the Sarasota Bull Sharks from Sarasota, FL , and the return of the four-time national champion, the New York Knights, after the Super League club, York Knights, announced a partnership and the revival of the club and its brand.^[6]^[7]^[8]

On May 19th, 2026, via its social media pages, the USARL announced 13 clubs that have met league requirements and are thus eligible to compete for the national championship.^[9]

Teams

The league officially consists of 13 teams, an increase of eleven from the previous season. Each league is split by coast into three conferences, as the East is split into the Northeast and Southeast conferences. While the West will be one California conference.^[10]

USARL East

Club	Founded	City (MSA)	Stadium	National Titles (Last)
Northeast Conference (Rugby League United)
Boston Bears	2014	Boston, MA	Briggs Field	1 (2015)
Brooklyn Kings RLFC	2006	Brooklyn, NY	Randalls Island Field 10	2 (2025)
DC Cavalry	2021	Washington, DC	Battleground Athletic Complex	1 (2024)
Delaware Black Foxes	2015	Wilmington, Delaware	Eden Park	0
New York Knights	1997	New York City, NY	Pelham Bay Park	4 (2012)⁴

Club	Founded	City (MSA)	Stadium	National Titles (Last)
Southeast Conference (Florida Rugby League)
Atlanta Copperheads	2018	Atlanta, GA	Roswell Area Park	0
Jacksonville Axemen	2006	Jacksonville, FL	Rock Stadium	4 (2022)⁴
Sarasota Bull Sharks	2025	Sarasota, FL	Sarasota Rugby Club	0
Tampa Mayhem	2014	Tampa, FL	Leto High School	1 (2021)

USARL West

Club	Founded	City (MSA)	Stadium	National Titles (Last)
California Conference
Los Angeles Roosters	2022	Los Angeles, CA	Various	0
Sacramento Immortals	2019	Sacramento, CA	Danny Nunn Park	0
San Diego Barracudas	2020	San Diego, CA	Various	0
Santa Rosa Dead Pelicans	2018	Santa Rosa, CA	For Pete's Sake Field	1 (2023)

Regular Season

USARL East

Southeastern Conference - Week 1


Southeast Conference Week 1
Home	Score	Away	Match Information
Home	Score	Away	Date and Time (EST)	Venue	Report
Jacksonville Axemen	90 - 0	Atlanta Copperheads	June 6, 2026/7:00 PM	Rock Stadium
Tampa Mayhem	56 - 10	Sarasota Bull Sharks	June 6, 2026/6:30 PM	Leto High School

Southeastern Conference - Week 2

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
Southeast Conference Week 2
Home	Score	Away	Date and Time (EST)	Venue	Report
Sarasota Bull Sharks	16 - 28	Jacksonville Axemen	June 13, 2026/6:00 PM	Sarasota Rugby Club
Tampa Mayhem	94 - 4	Atlanta Copperheads	June 13, 2026/6:30 PM	Leto High School

Southeastern Conference - Week 3

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
Southeast Conference Week 3
Home	Score	Away	Date and Time (EST)	Venue	Report
Jacksonville Axemen	6 - 52	Tampa Mayhem	June 20, 2026/6:00PM	Rock Stadium
Atlanta Copperheads	6 - 42	Sarasota Bull Sharks	June 20, 2026/7:00PM	Roswell Area Park

Southeastern Conference - Week 4

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
Southeast Conference Week 4
Home	Score	Away	Date and Time (EST)	Venue	Report
Sarasota Bull Sharks	12 - 50	Tampa Mayhem	June 27, 2026/6:00 PM	Sarasota Rugby Club
Atlanta Copperheads	0 - 78	Jacksonville Axemen	June 27, 2026/6:45 PM	Roswell Area Park

Southeastern Conference - Week 5

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
Southeast Conference Week 5
Home	Score	Away	Date and Time (EST)	Venue	Report
Sarasota Bull Sharks	50 - 0	Atlanta Copperheads	July 11, 2026/TBD	Wilkinson Road
Tampa Mayhem	34 - 10	Jacksonville Axemen	July 11, 2026/6:30 PM	Leto High School

Southeastern Conference - Week 6

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
Southeast Conference Week 6
Home	Score	Away	Date and Time (EST)	Venue	Report
Jacksonville Axemen	48 - 22	Sarasota Bull Sharks	July 18, 2026/6:30 PM	Rock Stadium
Atlanta Copperheads	0 - 50	Tampa Mayhem	July 18, 2026/TBD	Roswell Area Park

Northeastern Conference - Week 1

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
Northeast Conference Week 1
Home	Score	Away	Date and Time (EST)	Venue	Report
Delaware Black Foxes	30 - 44	New York Knights	June 6, 2026/4:00PM	Eden Park
DC Cavalry	34 - 26	Brooklyn Kings RLFC	June 6, 2026/11:30 AM	Battleground Athletic Complex

Northeastern Conference - Week 2

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
Northeast Conference Week 2
Home	Score	Away	Date and Time (EST)	Venue	Report
New York Knights	52 - 22	Brooklyn Kings RLFC	June 13, 2026/11:00 AM	Pelham Bay Park
Delaware Black Foxes	68 - 24	Boston Bears	June 13, 2026/4:00 PM	Eden Park

Northeastern Conference - Week 3

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
Northeast Conference Week 3
Home	Score	Away	Date and Time (EST)	Venue	Report
DC Cavalry	40 - 30	New York Knights	June 20, 2026/11:00AM	Battleground Athletic Complex
Boston Bears	50 - 0	Brooklyn Kings RLFC	June 20, 2026/TBD	Briggs Field

Northeastern Conference - Week 4

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
Northeast Conference Week 4
Home	Score	Away	Date and Time (EST)	Venue	Report
Boston Bears	10 - 94	New York Knights	June 27, 2026/11:45 AM	Briggs Field
DC Cavalry	62 - 16	Delaware Black Foxes	June 27, 2026/4:00 PM	Battleground Athletic Complex

Northeastern Conference - Week 5

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
Northeast Conference Week 5
Home	Score	Away	Date and Time (EST)	Venue	Report
New York Knights	76 - 6	Delaware Black Foxes	July 11, 2026/11:00 AM	Pelham Bay Park
Boston Bears	0 - 82	DC Cavalry	July 11, 2026/12:30 PM	Briggs Field

Northeastern Conference - Week 6

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
Northeast Conference Week 6
Home	Score	Away	Date and Time (EST)	Venue	Report
New York Knights	58 - 6	DC Cavalry	July 18, 2026/TBD	Pelham Bay Park

USARL West

California Conference - Week 1

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
California Conference Week 1
Home	Score	Away	Date and Time (PST)	Venue	Report
Santa Rosa Dead Pelicans	10 - 114	Sacramento Immortals	June 6, 2026/12:00 PM	For Pete's Sake Field	^[11]
Los Angeles Roosters	94 - 12	San Diego Barracudas	June 6, 2026/6:30 PM	Mira Costa West Field	^[12]

California Conference - Week 2

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
California Conference Week 2
Home	Score	Away	Date and Time (PST)	Venue	Report
Los Angeles Roosters	50 - 0	Santa Rosa Dead Pelicans	June 20, 2026/3:00 PM	Warren High School	^[13]
San Diego Barracudas	12 - 104	Sacramento Immortals	June 20, 2026/7:30 PM	4S Ranch Sports Park	^[14]

California Conference - Week 3

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
California Conference Week 3
Home	Score	Away	Date and Time (PST)	Venue	Report
San Diego Barracudas	0 - 50	Los Angeles Roosters	July 11, 2026/7:00 PM	Torrey Pines High School	^[15]
Sacramento Immortals	50 - 0	Santa Rosa Dead Pelicans	July 18, 2026/12:00 PM	Danny Nunn Park

California Conference - Week 4

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
California Conference Week 4
Home	Score	Away	Date and Time (PST)	Venue	Report
Santa Rosa Dead Pelicans	64 - 54	San Diego Barracudas	July 25, 2026/3:00 PM	For Pete's Sake Rugby Ground	^[16]
Sacramento Immortals	30 - 44	Los Angeles Roosters	July 25, 2026/3:00 PM	Danny Nunn Park	^[17]

California Conference - Week 5

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
California Conference Week 5
Home	Score	Away	Date and Time (PST)	Venue	Report
Los Angeles Roosters	104 - 30	San Diego Barracudas	August 1, 2026/6:30 PM	Warren High School
Santa Rosa Dead Pelicans	0 - 50	Sacramento Immortals	August 1, 2026/4:00 PM	For Pete's Sake Rugby Ground

California Conference - Week 6

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
California Conference Week 6
Home	Score	Away	Date and Time (PST)	Venue	Report
San Diego Barracudas	4 - 82	Los Angeles Roosters	August 15, 2026/6:30 PM	Torrey Pines High School
Sacramento Immortals		Santa Rosa Dead Pelicans	August 15, 2026/TBD	Danny Nunn Park

Standings

Legend
Conference Final

USARL East

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
Northeast Conference
1	New York Knights (A)	5	4	0	1	220	102	+118	8	Conference Final
2	DC Cavalry (A)(N)	5	4	0	1	224	130	+94	8	Conference Final
3	Delaware Black Foxes	5	2	3	0	148	128	+20	4
4	Boston Bears	5	2	0	3	82	146	-44	4
5	Brooklyn Kings	5	0	0	5	48	86	-38	0

(N) ^{Northeast Champion} (A) ^{Advances to Conference Final}

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
Southeast Conference
1	Tampa Mayhem (A)(S)	6	6	0	0	268	42	+226	12	Conference Final
2	Jacksonville Axemen (A)	6	4	2	0	212	102	+110	8	Conference Final
3	Sarasota Bull Sharks	6	3	3	0	144	140	+4	6
4	Atlanta Copperheads	6	0	6	0	10	318	-308	-2

(S) ^{Southeast Champion} (A) ^{Advances to Conference Final}

USARL West

Pos^[18]	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
California Conference
1	Los Angeles Roosters (W)(Q)	6	6	0	0	420	76	+344	12	National Final
2	Sacramento Immortals	5	4	0	1	348	66	+282	8
3	Santa Rosa Dead Pelicans	5	1	0	4	74	268	-194	-2
4	San Diego Barracudas	6	0	0	6	112	444	-332	-2

(Q) ^{Qualified for National Championship Final} (W) ^{West Champion}

Post Season

Regional and Conference Playoffs

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
Northeast Conference Final
Home	Score	Away	Date and Time (PST)	Venue	Report
New York Knights	24 - 44	DC Cavalry	August 1, 2026/1:30 PM	Abessinio Stadium

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
Southeast Conference Final
Home	Score	Away	Date and Time (PST)	Venue	Report
Tampa Mayhem	60 - 6	Jacksonville Axemen	August 1, 2026/6:30 PM	Leto High School

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
East Coast Playoff Final
Home	Score	Away	Date and Time (PST)	Venue	Report
DC Cavalry	32 - 48	Tampa Mayhem	August 15, 2026/6:30 PM	Battleground Athletic Complex

National Championship Final

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
USA Rugby League National Championship
Home	Score	Away	Date and Time (EST)	Venue	Report
Los Angeles Roosters		Tampa Mayhem	August 29, 2026/2:00 PM	Warren High School

References

↑ "Men's Clubs | Join a Rugby Club Today". USA Rugby League. Retrieved 2026-04-09.
↑ "Clubs across the country have submitted expressions of interest to compete this year". www.instagram.com. April 6, 2026. Retrieved 2026-04-09.
↑ "18 teams registered for Men's national championship". The Front Row Forums. 2025-12-22. Retrieved 2026-04-09.
↑ "Sydney Roosters Sign Landmark Partnership with USA Rugby League". Los Angeles Roosters. Retrieved 2026-04-09.
↑ "Copperheads RLFC maybe on the move, slithering they're way up the I75 to relocate in Atlanta GA. Stay Tuned! 🐍🏉". www.instagram.com. August 22, 2025. Retrieved 2026-04-09.
↑ media3035 (2026-03-10). "Revival of New York Knights signals a new chapter for Rugby League in the Big Apple". York RLFC. Retrieved 2026-04-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
↑ "York RLFC announce ground-breaking partnership with American club". York Press. 2026-03-10. Retrieved 2026-04-09.
↑ "Season 2026 Set to Kick Off in USA | Rugby League Planet". 2026-05-22. Retrieved 2026-06-09.
↑ Rugby League USA (May 19, 2026). "2026 Conferences are locked in". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2026-05-20.
↑ "Men's Clubs | Join a Rugby Club Today". USA Rugby League. Retrieved 2026-04-15.
↑ "Rugby League California Match Centre". GameDay. Retrieved 2026-07-21.
↑ "Rugby League California Match Centre". GameDay. Retrieved 2026-07-21.
↑ "Rugby League California Match Centre". GameDay. Retrieved 2026-07-21.
↑ "Rugby League California Match Centre". GameDay. Retrieved 2026-07-21.
↑ "Rugby League California Match Centre". GameDay. Retrieved 2026-07-21.
↑ "Santa Rosa Dead Pelicans, 64 def. 54, San Diego Barracudas". GameDay. 2026-07-28. Retrieved 2026-07-28.
↑ "Sacramento Immortals, 30 def. by 44, Los Angeles Roosters". GameDay. 2026-07-28. Retrieved 2026-07-28.
↑ "Ladder for 2026 Rugby League California". GameDay. Retrieved 2026-07-07.

[1] "Men's Clubs | Join a Rugby Club Today". USA Rugby League. Retrieved 2026-04-09.

[:0-2] "Clubs across the country have submitted expressions of interest to compete this year". www.instagram.com. April 6, 2026. Retrieved 2026-04-09.

[3] "18 teams registered for Men's national championship". The Front Row Forums. 2025-12-22. Retrieved 2026-04-09.

[4] "Sydney Roosters Sign Landmark Partnership with USA Rugby League". Los Angeles Roosters. Retrieved 2026-04-09.

[5] "Copperheads RLFC maybe on the move, slithering they're way up the I75 to relocate in Atlanta GA. Stay Tuned! 🐍🏉". www.instagram.com. August 22, 2025. Retrieved 2026-04-09.

[6] 3035 (2026-03-10). "Revival of New York Knights signals a new chapter for Rugby League in the Big Apple". York RLFC. Retrieved 2026-04-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

[7] "York RLFC announce ground-breaking partnership with American club". York Press. 2026-03-10. Retrieved 2026-04-09.

[8] "Season 2026 Set to Kick Off in USA | Rugby League Planet". 2026-05-22. Retrieved 2026-06-09.

[9] Rugby League USA (May 19, 2026). "2026 Conferences are locked in". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2026-05-20.

[10] "Men's Clubs | Join a Rugby Club Today". USA Rugby League. Retrieved 2026-04-15.

[11] "Rugby League California Match Centre". GameDay. Retrieved 2026-07-21.

[12] "Rugby League California Match Centre". GameDay. Retrieved 2026-07-21.

[13] "Rugby League California Match Centre". GameDay. Retrieved 2026-07-21.

[14] "Rugby League California Match Centre". GameDay. Retrieved 2026-07-21.

[15] "Rugby League California Match Centre". GameDay. Retrieved 2026-07-21.

[16] "Santa Rosa Dead Pelicans, 64 def. 54, San Diego Barracudas". GameDay. 2026-07-28. Retrieved 2026-07-28.

[17] "Sacramento Immortals, 30 def. by 44, Los Angeles Roosters". GameDay. 2026-07-28. Retrieved 2026-07-28.

[18] "Ladder for 2026 Rugby League California". GameDay. Retrieved 2026-07-07.

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Rugby league in the United States
Federation	USA Rugby League (USARL)
National teams	Men's results Women's Wheelchair
International competitions	1987 State of Origin Americas Cup Colonial Cup Atlantic Cup World Cup World Sevens Emerging Nations Tournament Saint Patrick's Day Test Wigan v Warrington 1989 Rugby League Las Vegas
Representative teams	New England Immortals USARL Pioneers Presidents Barbarians North Conference All-Stars South Conference All-Stars
National competitions	USA Rugby League
Unsanctioned competition	Championship Rugby League (CRL) North American Rugby League (NARL)
National Level Domestic Teams	Boston Bears Jacksonville Axemen Southwest Florida Copperheads Tampa Mayhem
Domestic seasons	1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 AMNRL USARL 2012 AMNRL USARL 2013 AMNRL USARL 2014 AMNRL USARL 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026