Rugby New York, originally known as Rugby United New York and officially nicknamed the Ironworkers, was a professional rugby union team based in New York City that was a member of Major League Rugby (MLR). The team played an exhibition season in spring 2018 and joined MLR for its second full season in 2019. The team was founded by James Kennedy.
During the 2022 season, its first under the Rugby New York name, the team made its only MLR Final appearance, winning a title in front of 1,979 attendees at Red Bull Arena in nearby Harrison, New Jersey.
In December 2023, MLR announced that Rugby New York had withdrawn from the league and had folded, following a failed attempt to sell the team.
History Rugby United New York was founded in April 2018 by James Kennedy, owner of Murphy Kennedy Group a New York construction management company and John Layfield, a retired WWE professional wrestler and the founder of a nonprofit organization called Beyond Rugby Bermuda. In its 2018 exhibition season, RUNY was led by former USA men's national team coach Mike Tolkin, and assistant coaches Bruce McLane (former coach of New York Athletic Club RFC), Andrew Britt, and Vili Vakasisikakala. The team's 2018 spring season consisted of matches against the Ontario Arrows and the Mystic River Rugby Club of Boston. The team played its home matches at Gaelic Park in The Bronx. The team played its first match on March 17, 2018, at Mazzella Field in New Rochelle, New York. New York defeated the Ontario Arrows by a score of 36–19. RUNY played its first match in New York City against Mystic River on March 24 before a sold-out crowd at Gaelic Park. New York defeated Mystic River by a score of 50–0.
Ahead of the 2019 season, RUNY announced that they had retained Mike Tolkin as the team's head coach, signed Kees Lensing as the team's forwards coach, and named James English as general manager. Tiffany Faʻaeʻe was signed as Assistant Coach.
On November 7, 2018, RUNY announced that MCU Park in Brooklyn would be their home field for their first full season.
On April 12, 2021, the club announced that they would begin the season at Cochrane Stadium in Jersey City, NJ. The club would end up splitting their home fields between Cochrane Stadium and Belson Stadium in Queens, NY.
In January 2023, Rugby New York announced that Memorial Field in Mount Vernon, NY would be their home field.
On December 6, 2023, it was announced that the Iron Workers would not compete in the 2024 MLR season.
Broadcasts 2019 and 2020 home games were shown on SportsNet New York (SNY). Matt McCarthy, John Broker and Steve Lewis were the on air talent.
The 2021 season matches were broadcast on MSG Networks, ending their contract with SNY.
Sponsorship During the inaugural season, RUNY signed a partnership deal with Magners Irish Cider, the official drink partner and Bawnmore Irish Beef Jerky as the official snack partner for the 2019 season. They also partnered up with EVF Performance, the team's official gym and Motion PT Group, named the official physical therapy partner for the team.
For the 2021 season, RUNY partnered with Sword Performance, a sports drink hydration company. They also partnered with Mainfreight as their shirt sponsor for the next two seasons.
Season Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor 2018 Paladin SportsMurphy Kennedy Group 2019 XBlades 2020 Paladin Sports None 2021Paladin SportsMainfreight2022 2023Paladin SportsHudson Pro Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
Head coaches Mike Tolkin (2018–2019) Greg McWilliams (2020) Marty Veale (2021–2022) James Semple (2022–2023)
Captains Mike Petri (2019) Dylan Fawsitt (2020–2021) Nate Brakeley (2022–2023)
Records
Season standings SeasonConferenceRegular seasonPostseasonPosPldWDLFA+/−BPPtsPldWLFA+/− Result2019 -4th 16 11 0 5 411 320 +91 10 54 1 012224-2 Lost Semifinal (San Diego Legion) 22–242020 Eastern4th 5 3 0 2 136 131 +5 3 15 - - - - - - Cancelled2021 Eastern2nd 16 10 0 6 448 419 +29 13 53 1 01910-1 Lost East Conference Final (Rugby ATL) 9-102022 Eastern3rd 16 11 0 5 433 408 +25 11 56 3 3 0 80 50 +30 Won East Conference Eliminator (Rugby ATL) 26–19 Won East Conference Final (New England Free Jacks) 24–16 Won Major League Rugby final (Seattle Seawolves) 30-152023 -4th 16 8 0 8 442 373 +69 10 43 1 013723-4 Lost East Eliminator (Old Glory DC) 37-33Totals 69 43 0 26 1,870 1,651 +219 37 178 6 3 3 148 117 +31 4 postseason appearances
Honors +Major League RugbyPlayoff AppearancesConference ChampionshipsMajor League Rugby Championships2019, 2021, 2022, 202320222022
Head to Head
Details of the performance of Rugby United New York against Major League Rugby opponents, between the 2019 and 2022 seasons. Table includes all regular season and play-off matches.
Major League Rugby Opposition Span Played Won Drawn Lost Win% PF PA PD Home Wins Away Wins Notes San Diego Legion 2019–22 6 3 0 3 50 148 152 -4 1 2 NOLA Gold 2019–22 6 4 0 2 66.67 177 179 -2 2 2 Seattle Seawolves 2019–22 5 3 0 2 60 135 129 +6 2 1 Houston SaberCats 2019–22 5 5 0 0 100 151 57 +94 2 3 Utah Warriors 2019–21 3 2 0 1 66.67 99 72 +28 1 1 Toronto Arrows 2019–22 6 3 0 3 50 138 151 -13 1 2 Austin Gilgronis 2019–20 4 3 0 1 75 104 65 +39 2 1 New England Free Jacks 2020-22 7 3 0 4 42.86 149 172 -23 1 2 Rugby ATL 2020–22 7 5 0 2 71.43 154 158 -4 2 3 Old Glory DC 2021-22 4 4 0 0 100 178 124 +54 2 2 LA Giltinis 2021-22 2 1 0 1 50 18 59 -41 1 0 Dallas Jackals 2022 1 1 0 0 100 41 5 +36 0 1 Glendale Raptors 2019–20 2 1 0 1 50 47 39 +8 1 0 Totals 2019–22 58 38 0 20 65.55 1,539 1,362 +177 18 20
2018 season All games in the 2018 season were exhibition games and did not count in the league standings. Date Opponent Home/Away Venue Location Result March 17 Ontario Arrows Home Mazzella Field New Rochelle, New York Won, 36–19 March 24 Mystic River Rugby Club Home Gaelic Park Riverdale, Bronx, New York Won, 50–0 March 31 Mystic River Rugby Club Away Mignone Field Allston, Massachusetts Won, 42–24 April 14 Ontario Arrows Away York Lions Stadium Toronto, Ontario Game cancelled due to weather
2019 season Exhibitions Date Opponent Home/Away Location Result December 1, 2018 New England Free Jacks Away Union Point Sports Complex Won, 38–35 December 15, 2018 Capital Selects Home Mazzella Field Won, 100–0 January 12, 2019 Toronto Arrows Neutral Buffalo Bills Fieldhouse Cancelled
Regular season Date Opponent Home/Away Location Result January 27 San Diego Legion Away Torero Stadium Won, 25-23 February 16 New Orleans Gold Away Archbishop Shaw Won, 27–24 February 24 Seattle Seawolves Away Starfire Stadium Lost, 21-33 March 2 Houston SaberCats Away Constellation Field Won, 35-8 March 9 Utah Warriors Away Zions Bank Stadium Won, 47-21 March 15 Toronto Arrows Home MCU Park Won, 24–21 March 24 Glendale Raptors Home MCU Park Won, 31-19 March 30 Austin Elite Away Toyota Field Won, 19-11 April 14 San Diego Legion Home MCU Park Lost, 19–29 April 20 Utah Warriors Home MCU Park Won, 24–22 April 26 Glendale Raptors Away Infinity Park Lost, 16–20 May 5 Houston SaberCats Home MCU Park Won, 21–0 May 12 Seattle Seawolves Home MCU Park Lost, 31–38 May 19 Austin Elite Home MCU Park Won, 27-7 May 26 New Orleans Gold Home MCU Park Won, 24–22 June 2 Toronto Arrows Away Lamport Stadium Lost, 20-22
Postseason Date Opponent Home/Away Result June 9 San Diego Legion Away Lost, 22-24
2020 season Exhibition Date Opponent Home/Away Location Result January 25 Toronto Arrows Neutral Orchard Park scrimmage no score recorded February 1 New York Barbarians Home Wagner College Football Stadium Won 77-5
Regular season
On March 12, 2020, MLR announced the season would go on hiatus immediately for 30 days due to fears surrounding the 2019–2020 coronavirus pandemic.Anonymous, "MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY SUSPENDS 2020 SEASON FOR 30 DAYS," www.majorleague.rugby, March 12, 2020 Retrieved March 14, 2020 It was cancelled the following week
Date Opponent Home/Away Location Result February 8 New England Free Jacks Away Sam Boyd Stadium Lost 14-34 February 15 Austin Gilgronis Home Sam Boyd Stadium Won 49-31 February 23 Rugby ATL Away Lupo Family Field @ Life University Won 22-19 March 1 Houston SaberCats Away Aveva Stadium Won 31-23 March 8 San Diego Legion Away Torero Stadium Lost 20-24 March 14 Seattle Seawolves Home MCU Park Cancelled March 22 Toronto Arrows Home MCU Park Cancelled March 29 Old Glory DC Away Cardinal Stadium @ Catholic University Cancelled April 10 Rugby ATL Home MCU Park Cancelled April 18 NOLA Gold Away The Gold Mine Cancelled April 25 Colorado Raptors Home MCU Park Cancelled May 1 New England Free Jacks Home MCU Park Cancelled May 9 Old Glory DC Home MCU Park Cancelled May 16 Utah Warriors Away Zions Bank Stadium Cancelled May 22 Toronto Arrows Away Lamport Stadium Cancelled May 30 NOLA Gold Home MCU Park Cancelled
2021 season
Regular season Date Opponent Home/Away Location Result March 20 San Diego Legion Away James Regional Sports Park Won, 36–29 March 27 New Orleans Gold Away The Gold Mine Lost, 28–51 April 11 Rugby ATL Away Lupo Family Field Won, 27–17 April 18 Old Glory DC Home Cochrane Stadium Won, 38–34 April 25 Toronto Arrows Home Cochrane Stadium Lost, 12–53 May 2 Seattle Seawolves Away Starfire Stadium Won, 23–21 May 8 LA Giltinis Home Cochrane Stadium Won, 18–16 May 15 Austin Gilgronis Away Bold Stadium Lost, 9–16 May 23 New England Free Jacks Home Cochrane Stadium Won, 29–19 May 30 Old Glory DC Away Segra Field Won, 46–10 June 13 Rugby ATL Home Belson Stadium Won, 31–24 June 19 Utah Warriors Home Cochrane Stadium Lost, 28–29 June 27 Toronto Arrows Away Lupo Family Field Won, 31–24 July 3 New England Free Jacks Away Union Point Sports Complex Lost, 6–22 July 10 Houston SaberCats Home Belson Stadium Won, 54–19 July 17 New Orleans Gold Home Belson Stadium Lost, 32–35
Post-season Date Opponent Home/Away Result July 24 Rugby ATL Away Lupo Family Field Lost, 9-10
2022 season Regular season Date Opponent Home/Away Location Result February 12 Houston SaberCats Away Aveva Stadium Won, 10-7 February 19 Rugby ATL Away Silverbacks Park Won, 36-31 February 26 Dallas Jackals Away Choctaw Stadium Won, 41-5 March 6 New England Free Jacks Home John F. Kennedy Stadium Lost, 29-38 March 13 San Diego Legion Home John F. Kennedy Stadium Won, 26-23 March 19 New Orleans Gold Away The Gold Mine Won, 30-19 March 27 Toronto Arrows Home John F. Kennedy Stadium Lost, 10-14 April 3 Old Glory DC Home John F. Kennedy Stadium Won, 35-31 April 10 LA Giltinis Away Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Lost, 43-0 April 24 New England Free Jacks Home John F. Kennedy Stadium Lost, 26-29 May 1 New Orleans Gold Home John F. Kennedy Stadium Won, 36-28 May 8 Toronto Arrows Away York Lions Stadium Won, 41-17 May 15 Seattle Seawolves Home John F. Kennedy Stadium Won, 30-22 May 22 Rugby ATL Home John F. Kennedy Stadium Lost, 3-38 May 29 Old Glory DC Away Segra Field Won, 59-49 June 3 New England Free Jacks Away Veterans Memorial Stadium Won, 21-14
Post-season
Round Date Opponent Home/Away Location Result East Eliminator June 11 Rugby ATL Away Silverbacks Park Won, 26-19 East Conference Finals June 19 New England Free Jacks Away Veterans Memorial Stadium Won, 24-19 MLR Championship June 25 Seattle Seawolves Home Red Bull Arena Won, 30-15
2023 season Regular season