The 2026 USA Rugby League season was the 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.
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.
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. 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.
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.
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.
USARL East Northeast Conference (Rugby League United)ClubFoundedCity (MSA)StadiumNational Titles (Last)Boston Bears2014Boston, MABriggs Field1 (2015)Brooklyn Kings RLFC2006Brooklyn, NYRandalls Island Field 102 (2025)DC Cavalry2021Washington, DCBattleground Athletic Complex1 (2024)Delaware Black Foxes2015Wilmington, DelawareEden Park0New York Knights1997New York City, NYPelham Bay Park4 (2012)4 Southeast Conference (Florida Rugby League)ClubFoundedCity (MSA)StadiumNational Titles (Last)Atlanta Copperheads2018Atlanta, GARoswell Area Park0Jacksonville Axemen2006Jacksonville, FLRock Stadium4 (2022)4Sarasota Bull Sharks2025Sarasota, FLSarasota Rugby Club0Tampa Mayhem2014Tampa, FLLeto High School1 (2021)
USARL West California ConferenceClubFoundedCity (MSA)StadiumNational Titles (Last)Los Angeles Roosters2022Los Angeles, CAVarious0Sacramento Immortals2019Sacramento, CADanny Nunn Park0San Diego Barracudas2020San Diego, CAVarious0Santa Rosa Dead Pelicans2018Santa Rosa, CAFor Pete's Sake Field1 (2023)
Regular Season
USARL East
Southeastern Conference - Week 1 Southeast Conference Week 1HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and Time (EST)VenueReportJacksonville Axemen90 - 0Atlanta CopperheadsJune 6, 2026/7:00 PMRock StadiumTampa Mayhem56 - 10Sarasota Bull SharksJune 6, 2026/6:30 PM Leto High School
Southeastern Conference - Week 2 Southeast Conference Week 2HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and Time (EST)VenueReportSarasota Bull Sharks16 - 28Jacksonville AxemenJune 13, 2026/6:00 PMSarasota Rugby ClubTampa Mayhem94 - 4Atlanta CopperheadsJune 13, 2026/6:30 PMLeto High School
Southeastern Conference - Week 3 Southeast Conference Week 3HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and Time (EST)VenueReportJacksonville Axemen6 - 52Tampa MayhemJune 20, 2026/6:00PMRock StadiumAtlanta Copperheads6 - 42Sarasota Bull SharksJune 20, 2026/7:00PMRoswell Area Park
Southeastern Conference - Week 4 Southeast Conference Week 4HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and Time (EST)VenueReportSarasota Bull Sharks12 - 50Tampa MayhemJune 27, 2026/6:00 PMSarasota Rugby ClubAtlanta Copperheads0 - 78Jacksonville AxemenJune 27, 2026/6:45 PMRoswell Area Park
Southeastern Conference - Week 5 Southeast Conference Week 5HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and Time (EST)VenueReportSarasota Bull Sharks50 - 0Atlanta CopperheadsJuly 11, 2026/TBDWilkinson RoadTampa Mayhem34 - 10Jacksonville AxemenJuly 11, 2026/6:30 PMLeto High School
Southeastern Conference - Week 6 Southeast Conference Week 6HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and Time (EST)VenueReportJacksonville Axemen48 - 22Sarasota Bull SharksJuly 18, 2026/6:30 PMRock StadiumAtlanta Copperheads0 - 50Tampa MayhemJuly 18, 2026/TBDRoswell Area Park
Northeastern Conference - Week 1 Northeast Conference Week 1HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and Time (EST)VenueReportDelaware Black Foxes30 - 44New York KnightsJune 6, 2026/4:00PMEden ParkDC Cavalry34 - 26Brooklyn Kings RLFCJune 6, 2026/11:30 AMBattleground Athletic Complex
Northeastern Conference - Week 2 Northeast Conference Week 2HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and Time (EST)VenueReportNew York Knights52 - 22Brooklyn Kings RLFCJune 13, 2026/11:00 AMPelham Bay ParkDelaware Black Foxes68 - 24Boston BearsJune 13, 2026/4:00 PMEden Park
Northeastern Conference - Week 3 Northeast Conference Week 3HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and Time (EST)VenueReportDC Cavalry40 - 30New York KnightsJune 20, 2026/11:00AMBattleground Athletic ComplexBoston Bears50 - 0Brooklyn Kings RLFCJune 20, 2026/TBDBriggs Field
Northeastern Conference - Week 4 Northeast Conference Week 4HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and Time (EST)VenueReportBoston Bears10 - 94New York KnightsJune 27, 2026/11:45 AMBriggs FieldDC Cavalry62 - 16Delaware Black FoxesJune 27, 2026/4:00 PMBattleground Athletic Complex
Northeastern Conference - Week 5 Northeast Conference Week 5HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and Time (EST)VenueReportNew York Knights76 - 6Delaware Black FoxesJuly 11, 2026/11:00 AMPelham Bay ParkBoston Bears0 - 82DC CavalryJuly 11, 2026/12:30 PMBriggs Field
Northeastern Conference - Week 6 Northeast Conference Week 6HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and Time (EST)VenueReportNew York Knights58 - 6DC CavalryJuly 18, 2026/TBDPelham Bay Park
USARL West
California Conference - Week 1 California Conference Week 1HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and Time (PST)VenueReportSanta Rosa Dead Pelicans10 - 114Sacramento ImmortalsJune 6, 2026/12:00 PMFor Pete's Sake FieldLos Angeles Roosters94 - 12San Diego BarracudasJune 6, 2026/6:30 PMMira Costa West Field
California Conference - Week 2 California Conference Week 2HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and Time (PST)VenueReportLos Angeles Roosters50 - 0Santa Rosa Dead PelicansJune 20, 2026/3:00 PMWarren High SchoolSan Diego Barracudas12 - 104Sacramento ImmortalsJune 20, 2026/7:30 PM4S Ranch Sports Park
California Conference - Week 3 California Conference Week 3HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and Time (PST)VenueReportSan Diego Barracudas0 - 50Los Angeles RoostersJuly 11, 2026/7:00 PMTorrey Pines High SchoolSacramento Immortals50 - 0Santa Rosa Dead PelicansJuly 18, 2026/12:00 PMDanny Nunn Park
California Conference - Week 4 California Conference Week 4HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and Time (PST)VenueReportSanta Rosa Dead Pelicans64 - 54San Diego BarracudasJuly 25, 2026/3:00 PMFor Pete's Sake Rugby GroundSacramento Immortals30 - 44Los Angeles RoostersJuly 25, 2026/3:00 PMDanny Nunn Park
California Conference - Week 5 California Conference Week 5HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and Time (PST)VenueReportLos Angeles Roosters104 - 30San Diego BarracudasAugust 1, 2026/6:30 PMWarren High SchoolSanta Rosa Dead Pelicans0 - 50Sacramento ImmortalsAugust 1, 2026/4:00 PMFor Pete's Sake Rugby Ground
California Conference - Week 6 California Conference Week 6HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and Time (PST)VenueReportSan Diego Barracudas4 - 82Los Angeles RoostersAugust 15, 2026/6:30 PMTorrey Pines High SchoolSacramento ImmortalsNRSanta Rosa Dead PelicansAugust 15, 2026/TBDDanny Nunn Park
Standings LegendConference Final
USARL East Northeast ConferencePosTeamPldWDLPFPAPDPtsQualification1 New York Knights (A)5401220102 +1188Conference Final2 DC Cavalry (A)(N)5401224130 +9483 Delaware Black Foxes5230148128 +2044 Boston Bears520382146 -4445 Brooklyn Kings50054886 -380 (N) Northeast Champion (A) Advances to Conference Final Southeast ConferencePosTeamPldWDLPFPAPDPtsQualification1 Tampa Mayhem (A)(S)660026842 +22612Conference Final2 Jacksonville Axemen (A)6420212102 +11083 Sarasota Bull Sharks6330144140 +464 Atlanta Copperheads606010318 -308-2 (S) Southeast Champion (A) Advances to Conference Final
USARL West California ConferencePosTeamPldWDLPFPAPDPtsQualification1 Los Angeles Roosters (W)(Q)660042076 +34412National Final2 Sacramento Immortals540134866 +28283 Santa Rosa Dead Pelicans510474268 -194-24 San Diego Barracudas6006112444 -332-2 (Q) Qualified for National Championship Final (W) West Champion
Post Season
Regional and Conference Playoffs Northeast Conference FinalHomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and Time (PST)VenueReportNew York Knights24 - 44DC CavalryAugust 1, 2026/1:30 PMAbessinio Stadium Southeast Conference FinalHomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and Time (PST)VenueReportTampa Mayhem60 - 6Jacksonville AxemenAugust 1, 2026/6:30 PMLeto High School East Coast Playoff FinalHomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and Time (PST)VenueReportDC Cavalry32 - 48Tampa MayhemAugust 15, 2026/6:30 PMBattleground Athletic Complex
National Championship Final USA Rugby League National ChampionshipHomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and Time (EST)VenueReport Los Angeles Roosters26 - 30Tampa MayhemAugust 29, 2026/2:00 PM Leuzinger High School
References