The 2025 USA Rugby League season was the 28th season overall of amateur and semi-professional rugby league competition in the United States and the 13th season under the governance of the USARL.
League notes Postseason controversy and league contraction
After the end of the 2024 postseason, the Utah Rugby League Association (URLA) had pulled out from USARL play due to differences between the regional body and the national body surrounding eligibility to play in the national championship. The 2024 national final ended with RLU champion DC Cavalry being crowned national champion after the USARL deemed that the Utah champion Provo Broncos were ineligible to play in the final. The URLA will operate independently until the two parties reach an agreement.
In the Spring of 2025, the USARL made a change in voting parity for clubs and changes to the registration policy for clubs. This happened without the knowledge of participating clubs in the West. Also, a change in voting parity led the Pacific Coast Rugby League (PCRL) to withdraw from competition for the 2025 season. It is unknown if the PCRL will return in 2026.
Club changes
Miami Shoremen were introduced as new members of the Florida Rugby League. The club is run by former member South Florida Speed as they retry their hand at rugby league.
Former national champion clubs, Boston Bears and Atlanta Rhinos chose to not participate in the 2025 season. Both clubs may return in 2026.
Format Due to the temporary contraction of the competition, the format reverts to the pre-expansion method, in which both divisions will play its opponents twice. After the round robin, the top two of each division will playoff for their divisional championship. The winners of the divisional finals will meet for the National Championship at the highest ranked divisional champion.
Participating clubs Northeast Rugby LeagueColorsClubFoundedCity (MSA)StadiumNational Titles (Last)Brooklyn Kings RLFC2006BrooklynMcCarren Park1 (2019)DC Cavalry2021Washington MetroCentral Sports Complex0 (N/A)Delaware Black Foxes2018Wilmington, DelawareEden Park0 (N/A) Florida Rugby LeagueColorsClubFoundedCity (MSA)StadiumNational Titles (Last)Jacksonville Axemen2006Jacksonville, FLNorth Rugby Fields at UNF3 (2022)Miami Shoremen2025Miami, FLLester Brown Park Ives Estate Park0 (N/A)Southwest Florida Copperheads2018Naples, FLEstero Sports Park0 (N/A)Tampa Mayhem2014Tampa, FLLeto High School1 (2021)
Regular season
Week 1 HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and Time (EST)VenueReport Tampa Mayhem82–0 Miami ShoremenMay 31st - 6:30pmLeto High School Southwest Florida Copperheads12–32 Jacksonville Axemen May 31st - 6:45pmEstero Sports Park
Week 2 HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and Time (EST)VenueReport DC Cavalry70–16 Delaware Black FoxesJune 7th - 10:30amCentral Sports Complex Southwest Florida Copperheads30–32 Tampa MayhemJune 7th - 6:45pmEstero Sports Park
Week 3 HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and Time (EST)VenueReport DC Cavalry58–18 Brooklyn Kings RLFCJune 14th - 10:30amCentral Sports Complex Jacksonville Axemen 102–0 Miami ShoremenJune 14th - 7:00pmNorth Rugby Fields at UNF
Week 4 HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and Time (EST)VenueReport Delaware Black Foxes18–44 Brooklyn Kings RLFCJune 21st - 5:00pmEden Park Miami Shoremen4–82 Southwest Florida CopperheadsJune 21st - 5:30pmLester Brown Park Tampa Mayhem46–16 Jacksonville Axemen June 21st - 6:30pmLeto High School
Week 5 HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and Time (EST)VenueReport Brooklyn Kings RLFC56–20 Delaware Black FoxesJune 28th - 12:00pmMcCarren Park Jacksonville Axemen 52–20 Southwest Florida CopperheadsJune 28th - 6:30pmNorth Rugby Fields at UNF
Week 6 HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and Time (EST)VenueReport Brooklyn Kings RLFC58–28 DC CavalryJuly 12th - 1:00pmMcCarren Park Miami Shoremen4–100 Jacksonville Axemen July 12th - 5:30pmIves Estate Park Tampa Mayhem56–6 Southwest Florida CopperheadsJuly 12th - 6:30pmLeto High School
Week 7 HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and Time (EST)VenueReport Delaware Black Foxes6–94 DC CavalryJuly 19th - 4:00pmEden Park Southwest Florida Copperheads80–14 Miami ShoremenJuly 19th - 6:45pmEstero Sports Park Jacksonville Axemen 32–22 Tampa MayhemJuly 19th - 7:00pmNorth Rugby Fields at UNF
Standings LegendAdvance to Divisional Finals Northeast Rugby League Standings#TeamPWTLPFPAPDPts1 DC Cavalry430125098 +15262 Brooklyn Kings RLFC4301176124 +5263 Delaware Black Foxes400460264 -2340 Florida Rugby League Standings#TeamPWTLPFPAPDPts1 Jacksonville Axemen650133494 +240102 Tampa Mayhem650127486 +188103 Southwest Florida Copperheads620423086 +14444 Miami Shoremen600622444 -4220
National playoffs Divisional Championships HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and Time (EST)VenueReport DC Cavalry30–36 Brooklyn Kings RLFCJuly 26th - 6:30pmEden Park Jacksonville Axemen 30–14 Tampa MayhemJuly 26th - 7:00pmNorth Rugby Fields at UNF
2025 USA Rugby League National Championship Game HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and Time (EST)VenueReport Jacksonville Axemen18–34 Brooklyn Kings RLFCAugust 9th - 7:00pmNorth Rugby Fields at UNF
References