While Spain lifted football’s biggest prize with a 1-0 victory over Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium to win the FIFA World Cup, Spain’s national rugby team suffered defeat to the USA Eagles in North Carolina in the final match of the Nations Cup July Tests.

I know many people will roll their eyes at any comparison between a FIFA World Cup final and a summer international rugby fixture. They are worlds apart in scale. But as the football / soccer World Cup comes to an end in the United States, my attention has already shifted to 2031, when the men’s Rugby World Cup will make its long-awaited debut in North America.

Watching Spain compete in both sports over the weekend, I couldn’t help wondering what Rugby World Cup 2031 might feel like if even a fraction of the color, passion and atmosphere created over the past six weeks carries across to rugby.

There’s no point pretending rugby can match football’s commercial scale. The 2026 FIFA World Cup reportedly cost between $8-10 billion to stage, while France spent around $570 million hosting Rugby World Cup 2023. FIFA’s tournament featured 104 matches compared with 48 at rugby’s showpiece event.

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Those numbers aren’t the point.

The question is simple: how will America embrace rugby’s biggest tournament?

Whilst I know that question could easily cue a conversation about grassroots participation, school and college rugby, and growing the domestic fanbase before 2031; all of those discussions matter. I’m looking at something slightly different.

How many overseas supporters will travel to the United States? How many expatriate New Zealanders, South Africans, English, Italian and Pacific Islander fans already living in America will turn stadiums into home fixtures? And how much of the tournament experience will take on an American flavor?

As someone living in the US, one of my favorite parts of this FIFA World Cup has been watching fans from across the globe transform cities into celebrations.

I spent time in New York while working with the MLR Sunday Night Rugby studio and loved seeing Brazilian and Moroccan supporters celebrating alongside New York Knicks fans after their NBA Finals victory. Norwegian fans were rowing through Times Square. Even supporters whose teams weren’t playing in the area packed Manhattan’s sport bars and pubs wearing national colors with pride.

Only a World Cup can create that kind of atmosphere.

I hope that in 2031 we’ll see Springbok fans filling Times Square, All Blacks supporters taking over the subway, or Irish fans belting out Fields of Athenry on their way to matches.

The tournament won’t be confined to New York and New Jersey either.

Twenty-seven cities have entered the bidding process, including my home city of San Diego. Many overlap with FIFA World Cup host cities, while others have already proved they can host major rugby events, such as Chicago, Washington D.C. and Baltimore, which will host the famous New Zealand-South Africa rivalry later this September.

Encouragingly, all six current Major League Rugby markets are among the potential host cities. As the list is narrowed down, I’d love to see more investment in rugby infrastructure and perhaps even new MLR franchises emerge in successful host markets.

Major events have a habit of leaving lasting legacies if they’re managed well.

Whatever cities are eventually chosen, one thing America unquestionably knows how to do is stage a sporting spectacle. That’s exactly what we’ve seen throughout this FIFA World Cup.

From the television studios to the presentation, from the camera work to the pre-game and post-game coverage, the production has been phenomenal. As someone who works in sports broadcasting, I couldn’t help watching with admiration for the logistics, planning and resources involved.

Rugby will never have FIFA’s budget, but that doesn’t mean it can’t learn from it.

My biggest hope is that Rugby World Cup 2031 secures a broadcast partner willing to invest in telling the stories, creating compelling coverage and making the tournament feel like a genuine global event.

I’d be lying if I said it wouldn’t be a dream to be part of that production.

One feature noticeable on broadcast that certainly caught everyone’s attention was the use of hydration breaks.

I know they’re unpopular with many fans (and as a former professional player I wasn’t a fan either because they disrupt momentum) but they serve a commercial purpose.

The reality of American sports broadcasting is that television windows matter. Hydration breaks create advertising opportunities, and advertising drives broadcast revenue.

Whether traditional rugby fans like it or not, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see something similar in 2031. If it helps deliver a significantly larger broadcast deal, World Rugby will certainly have a conversation about it.

Sorry... you might hate me for saying that.

Another topic guaranteed to divide opinion is entertainment.

The Super Bowl halftime show has become an event in its own right, attracting viewers who may not even care about the game. Rugby doesn’t need to copy that exactly, but it would be smart to embrace the wider entertainment industry.

Hollywood stars, musicians, influencers and celebrities all help bring new audiences to sport.

And yes, as a Justin Bieber fan, I’d happily see him at Rugby World Cup 2031.

That said, I actually thought the FIFA World Cup Final halftime show that he was involved in on Sunday felt a little forced. Maybe that’s just me, but if football / soccer supporters weren’t entirely convinced, like former England striker turned pundit on BBC Wayne Rooney, I’m not sure rugby fans would be either.

The final thing I noticed during this World Cup was how enthusiastically America embraced its own team.

Yes, the United States exited in the Round of 16 after a 4-1 defeat to Belgium, but support and patriotism shown by the Americans towards their side was brilliant to see.

Bars across San Diego County were packed. Supporters queued to watch matches. Tickets for games in Los Angeles were at a premium. Supermarkets, local businesses and billboards proudly displayed the Stars and Stripes.

For a few weeks, USA Soccer became part of everyday conversation.

That’s what excites me most about Rugby World Cup 2031.

Can America get behind the Eagles in the same way?

Will fans gather for watch parties? Will people buy USA Rugby jerseys? Will matches be easy to find on television? Will rugby become part of the national conversation, even if only for a few weeks?

As a former USA Eagle, that’s the part that excites me more than anything else.

Rugby World Cup 2031 may never reach the scale of football’s biggest tournament, but it doesn’t have to.

If it can capture even a small slice of the atmosphere, excitement and global energy we’ve witnessed over the past six weeks, then rugby in America could take a giant step forward.

We’ve got five years to prepare.

Five years to build.

Five years to dream.

And five years to find out who’s headlining that Rugby World Cup halftime show...

I’m kidding.

...or am I?

Chris Hilsenbeck was calm and composed last Saturday.

The USA Eagles fly-half stood over a penalty in the 78th minute, 40 metres from the posts, with a chance to win the opening match of the Nations Cup against Portugal.

“My first thought was actually to look at the clock,” Hilsenbeck said. “When I got the ball it was still around the 77th minute, so I thought, ‘If I miss this, we still have another chance.’

“From then on it’s just about staying as calm and composed as you can and doing what you’ve done hundreds of times before.”

As always, the routine never changed. He aimed the ball towards the right upright to allow for his natural draw, stepped back four paces, then four to the left. Every kick follows the same process.

The final cue comes in French—a language he became accustomed to during much of his professional career.

“’Juste ça,’” he explains. “It basically means, ‘Just the ball.’ You shouldn’t kick any differently than what works for you.”

That was the mindset of the Chicago Hounds No. 10.

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Every goal-kicker dreams of those match-winning moments. I can certainly vouch for that. But those moments come with a price. With one strike of the ball, you can become either the hero or the villain.

Fortunately for Hilsenbeck, the ball sailed cleanly through the posts, giving the Eagles a dramatic 30-29 victory over Portugal. A night where the Eagles fly half went 100% off the kicking the tea, sending the partisan Denver crowd into eruption as the USA opened its Nations Cup campaign with a memorable win, made even sweeter by coming on America’s 250th birthday.

It was the kind of moment every goal-kicker dreams about.

But Hilsenbeck knows better than most that the life of a kicker doesn’t always have a fairytale ending.

Just over a year earlier, he walked off the field carrying the burden every kicker knows too well.

The Chicago Hounds fly-half had the opportunity to send his team into the 2025 Major League Rugby Championship, only to watch a last-play penalty drift wide in the Eastern Conference Final. It was the type of miss that lingers, regardless of experience or success.

“I guess a year on, the feeling is a lot better!” Hilsenbeck laughs, reflecting on a full-circle redemption story after helping guide the Hounds through an unbeaten season to lift the Major League Rugby Shield at the end of June.

“It definitely sat with me for a while, but I just kept getting more reps in and consolidated the kicking style that I trust.

“I was devastated for the boys because I wanted to give them that final so badly. But personally, I was actually happy with how the kick felt off my boot. Maybe I’m telling myself a story, but I never thought it was something technical or something about my kicking style that needed changing.”

Instead of overhauling his technique, Hilsenbeck doubled down on the process he trusted.

The response was emphatic.

He scored 104 points in 12 matches to finish second on the league’s scoring charts and played a pivotal role in Chicago’s championship-winning campaign. His 15 points in the MLR Championship Final against the New England Free Jacks helped the Hounds to a 35-17 victory, and fittingly, he slotted the final penalty of the match before celebrating as a champion.

“There was an enormous amount of preparation that went into the season,” Hilsenbeck says.

“We hit the ground running. We knew exactly what our weeks looked like. Every training session was planned from preseason all the way through. And above all, it was filled with enjoyment.”

The Hounds also embraced a distinctly Chicago identity.

Drawing inspiration from the city’s history, the coaching staff built the season around the theme of “The Chicago Outfit,” encouraging players to become the team nobody wanted to face.

“We created such a strong identity and belief around what we were trying to do,” Hilsenbeck says. “I like to think our preparation was just better than anybody else’s.

He scored 104 points in 12 matches to finish second on the league’s scoring charts and played a pivotal role in Chicago’s championship-winning campaign. His 15 points in the MLR Championship Final against the New England Free Jacks helped the Hounds to a 35-17 victory, and fittingly, he slotted the final penalty of the match before celebrating as a champion.

“There was an enormous amount of preparation that went into the season,” Hilsenbeck says.

“We hit the ground running. We knew exactly what our weeks looked like. Every training session was planned from preseason all the way through. And above all, it was filled with enjoyment.”

The Hounds also embraced a distinctly Chicago identity.

Drawing inspiration from the city’s history, the coaching staff built the season around the theme of “The Chicago Outfit,” encouraging players to become the team nobody wanted to face.

“We created such a strong identity and belief around what we were trying to do,” Hilsenbeck says. “I like to think our preparation was just better than anybody else’s.”

That winning culture is something Hilsenbeck hopes can continue to influence the Eagles as preparations intensify for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

Several Hounds are members of the USA squad this summer, including Tavite Lopeti, Nathan Den Hoedt, Brandan Harvey, Ruben de Haas and Mark O’Keeffe, bringing the standards and habits developed throughout Chicago’s title-winning season.

“It is definitely the goal to bring that,” Hilsenbeck says. “I hope just by leading through our actions and showing what it looks like to be professional.”

More importantly, he believes the Eagles are beginning to establish an identity of their own under the current coaching staff.

“I think the biggest thing is figuring out what American rugby looks like. How do we want the Eagles to play?

“We’ve had a really good start. David Williams has been outstanding with our kicking game and the detail around everybody’s roles.

“Now it’s about pushing that identity again and again until it becomes ingrained.”

With Zimbabwe awaiting in Charlotte before a meeting with Spain, Hilsenbeck views the remainder of the summer as an opportunity to continue building rather than simply chasing results.

“The goal is to keep fine-tuning our game,” he says. “If the wins come, that’s perfect.

“If we’re improving in the areas we’ve identified, then that’s a huge achievement for us. We know Zimbabwe is a good team with some quality players who showed that against Tonga last Saturday. Each week will be a different challenge, especially in the heat and humidity of North Carolina.”

At 34, Hilsenbeck knows time is no longer on his side.

His American chapter has given his career renewed purpose after spending most of his professional rugby in France and representing Germany until 2019 before switching to the USA through family eligibility.

His final destination is clear: the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

“This is definitely my last big goal as a professional rugby player,” he says.

“I had my little boy later in life, and my whole life has been about rugby. I want him to see me as a professional player so badly. I’ll do everything I possibly can to be there in 2027.”

That journey will likely include another season with the reigning champion Chicago Hounds before attention turns fully towards Australia.

Looking back, perhaps no single word better captures Hilsenbeck’s journey from playoff heartbreak to club champion and international match-winner.

When I asked him to sum up the life of a goal-kicker, his answer came without hesitation.

“Repetition.”

It’s a fitting description for a player whose greatest strength has never been perfection, but the willingness to trust the same process, over and over again, until redemption finally arrived.

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This week’s schedule involves travelling from my home in San Diego to Chicago before heading on to New York and the MLR studio. The travel gives me time to reflect, and this weekend is a special one. MLR reaches its showpiece event, with the Chicago Hounds and California Legion battling it out on Sunday for the MLR Championship.

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While my excitement lies within the rugby world here in the United States, I know there are plenty of other sporting distractions competing for attention right now.

I have been spending a lot of time in New York over the last few months, and sport has taken centre stage in recent weeks. FIFA World Cup signs greet you as soon as you arrive at JFK and make your way into Manhattan. A trip to Times Square last week felt like walking through a global fan zone, with supporters from all over the world proudly wearing their national colours.

Encouragingly, there were plenty of Team USA shirts on display. Victories over Paraguay and Australia have helped spark the kind of excitement that only a World Cup can bring to a host nation.

But the sporting highlight for me came last Saturday night.

I have attended many major sporting events, but the scenes in New York City after the Knicks won the NBA Championship were among the most remarkable I have ever witnessed. The city came to a standstill. Before and after the game, it felt as though everyone was wearing a Knicks jersey.

Ironically, I watched it all unfold with my MLR broadcasting colleague Ben Holden in a rugby pub just a couple of blocks from Madison Square Garden: The Pig ‘N’ Whistle. Surrounded by rugby jerseys from America and overseas, I found myself wondering whether rugby could create similar scenes when the Rugby World Cup arrives on American soil in five years’ time.

We probably still have some way to go.

Yet amid the World Cup buzz and New York’s sporting celebrations, rugby still has its place this weekend. One thing is certain: The Pig ‘N’ Whistle will be showing the MLR Championship on Sunday night.

As New York watches on, the championship itself takes place at SeatGeek Stadium in Chicago.

The Chicago Hounds enter the final as clear favourites after becoming the first team in MLR history to complete an unbeaten regular season. Guided by former Wallaby Chris Latham, they have combined power, precision and consistency throughout the year. Their semifinal victory over Old Glory DC only reinforced their status as one of the most dominant teams the league has seen.

With 77 tries in 11 games, there have been standout seasons across the squad. England’s Ollie Devoto, set to hang up his boots after the championship, has been influential in midfield, while Canadian trio Brock Webster, Mason Flesch and captain Lucas Rumball are all candidates for the 2026 MLR Player of the Season award.

Standing in their way is California Legion.

The West Coast side arrives after an impressive semifinal win in Seattle and possesses plenty of experience both on the field and in the coaching box. Head coach Stephen Hoiles has built a team capable of playing an exciting, high-tempo brand of rugby that can trouble any opponent on its day. Assistant coach Dave Dennis not only won Premiership and European titles overseas as a player, but also lifted the MLR Shield with the LA Giltinis in 2021.

Throw in standout performers such as two-time MLR Back of the Year Billy Meakes in the centres, Argentinian scrum-half Gonzalo Bertranou, USA and Legion captain Jason Damm at lock, and the league’s leading points scorer Coby Miln at fly-half, and Legion certainly pack a punch.

While Chicago enters as the favourite, Legion will be more than happy embracing the underdog role.

It makes for a fascinating matchup and one I am looking forward to covering on ESPN2 alongside USA Rugby Hall of Famer Mike Petri and Claudia Bellofatto from our New York studio. Ben Holden and Bri Kim will be on commentary, while Alex Corbisiero and Joey Lindstrom will be pitchside.

The championship in Chicago may not generate the same attention as the FIFA World Cup or the Knicks winning their first NBA title in 53 years, but rugby will still have its moment in the spotlight.

Chicago may complete one of the greatest seasons in MLR history. Legion may pull off an upset. Either way, rugby earns its place in the American sporting conversation this Sunday.

And somewhere in the middle of New York City, The Pig ‘N’ Whistle will be showing every minute of it.

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Maybe it’s the athlete in me. There’s something about performing that draws me in. Some might call that vanity, but I see it differently. It’s an art, one people either lean into or shy away from.

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Last Sunday felt like a full circle moment. A vision turned into reality. To help build a show from the ground up, shaping the script, contributing to production, and then hosting a primetime rugby broadcast was something I once only imagined. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, I stepped into a last minute play by play role during the MLR clash between the Chicago Hounds and San Diego Legion due to technical issues in the commentary booth.

Safe to say, it was a day that exceeded expectations.

But while Sunday Night Rugby might feel like a breakthrough moment, the truth is it’s the result of years of planning, curiosity, and steady work. If there’s one thing I’d want anyone reading this to take away, it’s this: nothing just lands in your lap. The road is rarely straightforward.

Even during my playing career, I had one eye on what might come next. I took on a part time degree in Sports Journalism, Writing and Broadcasting at Staffordshire University while playing in the English Premiership and representing USA Rugby.

Ironically, my interest in media grew out of a setback. A serious concussion during the 2016 season with Exeter Chiefs forced me away from training and from screens altogether. It also meant putting my history degree on hold, leaving me unsure about what came next academically.

That uncertainty opened a door.

Mark Stevens, Exeter’s Head of Media at the time, noticed my interest in things beyond rugby. He offered me the chance to write for the club’s matchday magazine and interview one of Exeter’s oldest living legends, Dick Manley. I took it and it changed everything.

That experience sparked something. I switched degrees, leaned fully into sports media, and began building experience wherever I could. BBC Radio Three Counties, writing for The Guardian during the 2019 Rugby World Cup as a player, then writing as a pundit in 2023. I started my own podcast, became a sub-editor for a local online channel creating local sports documentaries, and got behind the mic as an analyst in professional rugby games.

At some point, a simple realization set in. I was not going to be the best player in the world and that was fine. What mattered was having a plan for what came next.

I did not want to drift into retirement unsure of my direction. I wanted to be proactive, using my experience in sport to build something meaningful off the field.

In 2023, I retired from professional rugby. That preparation paid off with an opportunity in Major League Rugby’s media department. From there, I stepped into a broadcast role as one of the league’s lead analysts.

But analysis was only part of it.

What really interested me was the bigger picture. How shows are built, how stories are shaped, how production comes together, and how everything connects on screen.

That is where Sunday Night Rugby comes in.

The show has become a passion project, something I am proud to be part of rather than something I can claim alone. The goal was simple: to elevate rugby coverage in the United States through proper studio programming, including pregame, halftime, and postgame analysis on a platform like ESPN. While this format is standard in American sports, it represents a meaningful step forward for rugby.

With recent broadcast experience, a strong knowledge of Major League Rugby, and a desire to move into sports desk broadcasting, I was offered the role of host and an assistant producer to develop the show.

A huge amount of credit goes to our production partners at OS Studios, who helped bring the vision to life, literally building the set in New York, even if it means a weekly cross country trip from San Diego for me.

Our first show was the culmination of months of work. Having USA Rugby Hall of Famer Mike Petri as our opening guest set the tone, credible, insightful, and deeply connected to the game in the US.

And then there is my co host, Claudia Bellofatto.

I was introduced to Claudia just a few months ago as part of a push to bring fresh energy into rugby broadcasting, someone with strong audience engagement experience, even without a traditional rugby background. It did not take long to see why she stood out. Claudia brings energy, sharp instincts, and an ability to drive conversation in a way that elevates everyone around her. Within 48 hours of meeting in person, it was clear we would work well together.

Now, we are underway.

And honestly, I am still taking it all in.

Sitting behind the desk, with the lights turning red and the ESPN branding behind us, there is a real sense of pride. I know the journey it took to get here, not an easy one, and one that required consistent work. A journey that started when I was young, comfortable in front of the camera, curious to tell stories, and never shy of the microphone.

That has not changed.

If anything, it has grown stronger.

As a professional athlete, I developed the mindset to improve, compete, and keep pushing forward. Those are the same qualities I now bring to broadcasting. I want to keep learning, keep developing, and become the best version of myself in this space.

Sunday Night Rugby feels like the beginning of something, not the endpoint.

And it gives me the same feeling I had as a player stepping onto the field. Excitement, purpose, belief.

A dream, still unfolding.

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As domestic rugby teams go, the Free Jacks’ dominance in MLR puts them in rare company. Their three consecutive Major League Rugby titles from 2023 to 2025 places them alongside teams like the Crusaders, who won three straight Super Rugby titles from 2017 to 2019, and Toulon, who won three consecutive European Champions Cups. The competitions are obviously very different, but the Free Jacks can only play what’s in front of them, and they’ve built a winning legacy in their league.

I say this from personal experience, both broadcasting their games, including the last two MLR Championship wins, and as a player who lost to them in the 2023 Championship game.

The 2026 MLR season kicked off last weekend with Anthem Rugby Carolina picking up their first ever franchise win, beating California Legion 39–26. Meanwhile, the three-time defending champions begin their title defense this Saturday against the Legion.

What’s been built in New England since the team joined the league in 2020 is impressive. They established their home in Quincy, about 9 miles outside downtown Boston, and instead of trying to compete directly in a major city sports market, they embraced the local community. Quincy might not be Boston, but the locals know the players, and the team has built something that truly feels like a community club with a professional edge.

I never actually got the chance to play in Quincy during my two MLR seasons, which I was genuinely gutted about, but the atmosphere at Veterans Memorial Stadium is one of the best in the league. One supporter described it as “the community hub,” and the Free Jacks have consistently led the league in ticket revenue and fan experience.

A huge amount of credit must go to former Free Jacks co-owner and former USA Eagle Alex Magleby. ‘Mags’ is now Co-President of MLR and my co-host on the league’s new weekly podcast Inside MLR, but he helped shape what the Free Jacks became. He’ll be too humble to take much credit himself, and would point instead to the man who helped build the roster and structure behind the scenes, Tom Kindley.

Kindley, who left the Free Jacks last month to become General Manager at the Hurricanes in Super Rugby, had an incredible journey to becoming one of the Free Jacks’ key decision makers. He originally came to the US to study sports performance, thinking he’d become a physiotherapist. After meeting Magleby in Dartmouth, he joined the Free Jacks as a business trainee in 2020, and by 2023 he was General Manager. The rest is history.

I first met ‘TK’ in 2019 when he was the USA Eagles strength and conditioning assistant during our Rugby World Cup training camp. Even then, he was clearly more than an S&C coach, he was deeply interested in data, performance analysis, and general team operations. A very clever operator, and persuasive…nearly convincing me to join the Free Jacks in 2021. Part of me wishes I had…I might have an MLR Championship to my name…but in truth, he found better players than me.

His recruitment philosophy was simple: “Recruit on character, not skill.”

Kindly and the Free Jacks didn’t chase big names. Instead, they brought in overseas players who bought into the culture and the vision. Players like Kiwi fly-halves Beaudein Waaka and Jayson Potroz became league MVPs and champions. Combined with domestic talent from the US and Canada, the Free Jacks became a force.

Of course, success also came down to coaching. During my playing time in MLR, the Free Jacks were led by Scott Mathie, who coached them to the 2023 and 2024 championships before moving to Edinburgh Rugby. The smart move from Kindley and the organization was to bring in familiarity in the form of previous 2021 head coach, Ryan Martin.

Martin is a calm, assured, quietly spoken leader who continues to lead the team into the 2026 season. What fascinated me about both Mathie and Martin was their previous careers…both were school teachers. As Kindley once told me, teachers often make the best coaches because they are great communicators and presenters.

As the Free Jacks prepare for their opening game of the 2026 season against the California Legion, there is a sense of change but also continuity. Kindley has moved on to the Hurricanes, Todd Thornley has stepped in as General Manager. Ryan Martin remains as head coach but now works with a refreshed looking squad, albeit with some core players of old.

But the recruitment philosophy and strong culture built in Quincy remain. What the Free Jacks have built isn’t just a winning mentality…it’s a model. Smart recruitment, community and a clear identity. In a league that is still young and still figuring itself out, the Free Jacks already know exactly who they are.

I wholeheartedly believe the Free Jacks are once again MLR Championship contenders this year. But that’s no surprise. Afterall, they’re undoubtedly the standard everyone else is chasing.

I’m sitting next to a bassinet, looking at my daughter who was born just last Wednesday, realizing that my era of fatherhood has truly begun, and that my perspective on the world has completely changed.

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As MLR 2026 begins with California Legion taking on Anthem Rugby Carolina this Saturday, the words birth and new era feel very appropriate to describe America’s men’s professional rugby competition. Even though MLR is entering its 8th full season, there is no denying that this year feels very different. Calling it a tough offseason would be an understatement, as MLR’s franchises went from 11 teams in 2025 to just 6 this year. A restructure, new leadership, and a new way of thinking have come in. The refresh button has been pressed, and the remaining teams have come together to build what feels like MLR 2.0.

Many have questioned MLR’s future, with fair reason, but with change comes a new era and new opportunity. I feel honored to be part of that new era, one that I firmly believe will show that Major League Rugby is here to stay, to grow, and to become a formidable competition not just in America but across the world as we build towards the 2031 Rugby World Cup on American soil.

Fortunately, I’ve had the opportunity to see things from different angles. I finished my playing career in 2023, falling just short in the Championship Final in Chicago playing for San Diego Legion against the New England Free Jacks. Although I didn’t get the romantic ending to my career, I had two of the best years of my career playing in the US in Major League Rugby. I experienced the competitiveness of the league and saw firsthand the growth in the standard of rugby on the field.

Fast forward to now, and I’m continuing to live out my American dream, still living in San Diego, not lacing up my boots, but instead forging a path in a new career with a mic in hand, aiming to grow the game through broadcasting for MLR.

This will be my third season involved in broadcasting, and this one in particular feels different.

I can’t take much of the credit, but a huge amount of work has been done behind the scenes in the ambition to make the MLR product worthy of the incredibly challenging American sports media market. In a compact season starting on March 28th and finishing on June 21st, there is a real push to make every game count. We may not have the budgets of the major sports here in the US, but in MLR we are truly trying to make the best of our situation.

One of those ambitions is the launch of MLR’s brand new on-air product with ESPN called Sunday Night Rugby. This one is personal. Since the end of the 2025 season, there’s been a desire to help build a brand within the brand, showcasing one of the biggest matchups of the week while also highlighting the other great rugby from across the weekend. With a pre-match, halftime, and post-match show, Sunday Night Rugby, making its first appearance on April 12th, will aim to bring fans closer to the action, deliver analysis and storylines that meet the expectations of the American sports fan, and hopefully bring a level of entertainment that appeals not only to rugby fans, but also to someone flipping channels who stops and thinks, “This looks interesting.”

Announced last week, I will have the great honor…and pressure…of hosting the show, joined by some fantastic people on the desk in New York City, as well as announcers on site at the Sunday Night Rugby match venue. Planning is still ongoing, and more personalities and features will be revealed as we build up to April 12th. I’ll save more about that, and my excitement around SNR, for another article.

This weekend will give a small glimpse of the MLR 2.0 product and what’s to come. Game 1 sees the new franchise, California Legion, host Anthem Rugby Carolina in Orange County, California on Saturday. I’ll be there with mic in hand on the sidelines alongside my fellow broadcasters, eagerly watching the matchup unfold on ESPN.

The new era of MLR will kick off. And much like the game of rugby itself, no matter how much preparation, how many new ideas, and how many rehearsals, things are bound to go wrong. I won’t sugarcoat that. No matter how much everyone in MLR is chasing perfection this year, it won’t be perfect. But this year feels different. There’s a real drive toward creating the best product possible and showcasing Major League Rugby in its best possible light.

So as I sit here at 1:30am typing away, I’m looking at the new era ahead, while also looking at my own new perspective right in front of me. I’m incredibly grateful to do what I do, here in America, working in Major League Rugby broadcasting. I’m grateful for the opportunities that lie ahead.

But ultimately, my most important job this season won’t be what happens on the big screen, it will be the little girl lying in the bassinet beside me. She won’t care if I mess up live on ESPN. She won’t care if the camera misses a shot. And she definitely won’t care who wins the Shield. She will just want her dad.

And honestly, knowing that gives me the best perspective I could ask for heading into this season. It reminds me to enjoy every moment (on screen and off) to chase excellence in my work, but also to be the best father and husband I can possibly be. Hopefully one day she’ll understand what I do and be proud.

So with a new perspective and a new era ahead, I’m ready for MLR 2026. I hope you’ll come along for the ride.

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One of those people was Eddie Hearn, the chairman of Matchroom Boxing. A notorious showman, Hearn has built his reputation on promoting some of the biggest boxing events in the world and pushing the sport into the public eye.

I was reminded of that when I met him in September 2024 in Los Angeles. The USA were playing Canada in the Pacific Nations Cup at the home of LA Galaxy, but just next door, in the tennis stadium, Matchroom were hosting a boxing event. It was impossible to ignore where the spotlight was. Boxing dominated the day, and Hearn was right at the center of it. Whatever you think of him, he understands promotion…and he’s very good at it.

Last weekend, Hearn attended a Six Nations match at the Principality Stadium, watching Wales secure a long-awaited win over Italy. He shared his thoughts on Instagram after taking in the full round of fixtures. His takeaway was simple but striking: he loved the sport—but he didn’t know the players:

“Thoughts from the weekend. I got the chance to watch some rugby. My first live International - shout out to Wales what a remarkable atmosphere - love the passion. Anyway, I watched all three Six Nations matches and loved it all. When I was watching the England game, I only knew one player. I hope those in charge can start to give these players and the sport the profile, storytelling and noise it deserves. Like boxing, tough people and a sport built on discipline and respect - can and should be much bigger. That is all.”

That’s the issue.

Hearn has made similar comments before, including on podcasts. His message is consistent: rugby isn’t marketed as well as it could be.

And he’s not entirely wrong.

Rugby is a sport built on tradition. Respect for the referee. Respect for the opposition. Physicality on the field, humility off it. It’s a team-first culture, there’s no “I” in rugby. But in the modern media landscape, especially with the rise of social media, that same humility can become a limitation. In a world driven by personality, storytelling, and visibility, rugby’s resistance to individual spotlight can hold it back.

It hasn’t always been that way.

Take Ilona Maher. Since the 2020 Olympics, she’s built a massive following by bringing fans behind the scenes and showcasing her personality as much as her performance. I’ve been fortunate enough to be around Ilona, and her approach has always been intentional.

As she said in early 2024 on the show I host on The Rugby Network, called The Rugby Rundown: “There is not enough money for me to earn in rugby for me to build a career. Social media is my way of engaging people with the sport—but also making a living while playing full-time.”

It worked.

From Dancing with the Stars to launching her podcast The House of Maher, she’s become the most followed rugby player in the world. She has over 5 million followers on Instagram, far ahead of players like Antoine Dupont, widely considered the best in the men’s game, or Maro Itoje, England’s captain.

Even at the recent HSBC SVNS event in New York, she was arguably the star of the show…and she wasn’t even playing.

Her success isn’t just about performance. It’s about personality, storytelling, and embracing the modern media landscape. And the impact she’s had on women’s rugby has been enormous.

Which brings us back to Hearn’s point.

Where are the characters in rugby? Where is the storytelling? Where are the rivalries being built and sold?

Does rugby truly embrace its physicality and edge? Does it promote individual matchups and narratives that draw in casual fans?

The sport is growing globally, but it still struggles to connect with the average sports fan. There are many reasons for that, but one stands out: rugby often fails to lean into its own identity as a high-impact, emotional, human sport, and to tell the stories of the individuals within it.

There are signs of change. Players like Siya Kolisi are building global profiles, and younger names are beginning to understand the value of personal branding. But these examples remain the exception, not the rule.

Traditionalists may not like it, but Hearn’s critique is worth listening to.

From my perspective in the U.S., working around Major League Rugby, there’s a real effort to experiment. To be a blank canvas, try risks and not hold on to every traditional rugby view. To try new ideas, both on and off the field, in the aim to grow the game in a competitive sports market.

Whether those ideas succeed remains to be seen.

But as I reflect on a brilliant Six Nations, one that showcased rugby at its very best, I can’t help but think Hearn’s comments are a timely reminder.

It’s what fans, pundits and media instinctively do. And after England’s recent Six Nations defeats, head coach Steve Borthwick has been the man under the microscope.

But having been inside international rugby environments myself, I can tell you the truth is often far more complicated.

I was fortunate to play under some brilliant coaches in successful teams. But there were also periods in my career when I was part of teams that struggled, moments where players and coaches didn’t always agree, and when accountability for poor performances became blurred.

Plenty has already been said by pundits, sofa-pundits, former players and journalists about England’s recent Six Nations performances, so I have no desire to dissect England’s problems in detail.

What stands out to me instead is the visible lack of confidence in how England are playing, while at the same time the players continue to publicly back both their process and their head coach.

After the loss to Italy, England back-rower Ben Earl said in the post-match press conference, “the noise is actually bonkers. I think it’s crazy. If anyone is letting Steve down, it’s us — the group.”

I can imagine the frustration some England fans felt hearing that statement.

But I also understand Earl’s point.

Let me give my own example.

In 2018, playing for the USA Eagles under head coach Gary Gold, we were performing better than we ever had before. Earlier that year we won the Americas Rugby Championship. That summer we won all of our Test matches, including defeating Scotland for the first time ever. In November we beat Samoa and Romania before taking on Ireland in Dublin, where we trailed only 21–14 at the 60-minute mark (we were sadly outclassed in the final 20 minutes). We were at a historic high, 12th in the World Rankings.

We had a game plan and real confidence in who we were as a team. As players, we were fully bought in. Our set piece gave us a strong platform, and we were putting together consistent passages of quality play. Most importantly, from 1 to 23, we were performing.

As a result, we won 10 of our 12 Test matches that year, losing only to Ireland and the Māori All Blacks.

Then came 2019.

We were aiming to defend our Americas Rugby Championship title, but as a team we didn’t adapt. Could some of that have fallen on the coaches? Maybe. But injuries and logistical challenges disrupted our rhythm, and the reality is that as players we massively underperformed.

I’ll be the first to admit, in one of our poor performances during that difficult campaign, I had one of my worst performances in USA colors, against Uruguay in Seattle.

I gave away two stupid penalties, kicked terribly and was inaccurate throughout the match. Our set piece struggled. Our defence was poor. Our discipline was worse than it had been the year before, and we lost the game.

And I can tell you this now: we knew that loss was on us…the players!

The coaches didn’t ask for those mistakes. We were just as motivated as we had been in 2018. But we didn’t execute. We didn’t adapt on the field. The whole campaign was a complete contrast to the year before.

We let ourselves down.

As a professional player, you have to be accountable for your performances. And as senior players, you also have to be accountable for the game plan and how it is executed.

When you step onto the field in a Test match, it’s on you.

If the environment is right — and I’ll come back to that later — most international teams operate something like a 40/60 rule during a Test week.

For roughly the first 40% of the week, the coaches lead the process. This consists of reviewing the previous performance, identifying areas to improve, analysing the upcoming opposition and developing possible game-plan scenarios alongside the senior players.

But for the remaining 60%, the messaging and leadership has to come from the players.

It has to.

They’re the ones taking the field.

Steve Borthwick, or any other head coach, can’t control ill-discipline, yellow or red cards, poor kicks or dropped balls. These are the kinds of errors that have hurt England recently. And players should be the first ones to put their hands up and take responsibility.

To me, it’s clear that England has quality players. It’s also clear they have the ingredients to be a good team, as shown by their 12-match winning streak in 2025.

But at this point I want to go back to what I said about “environment”. As I have argued as to why players should be responsible, I also see the other side where maybe blame can be directed towards the coaches, and in this case Steve Borthwick.

What do I mean by that ‘environment’?

An environment is only as strong as the vision everyone buys into, and perhaps more importantly, whether it allows players the freedom to make mistakes.

The best environments give players the confidence to express themselves, adapt the game plan on the field, and try things when Plan A isn’t working.

And that’s my question about England, because from the outside, I simply don’t know.

In recent performances it has looked as though they haven’t had much of a Plan B.

Is that because players are worried about going off script? Have the senior players been part of the game plan meetings and expressed their wishes? Are they concerned about what coaches might say afterwards? Do they fear being dropped if they make mistakes?

I’m not in the team. I’m not around the camp. So I genuinely don’t know. But if that is part of the issue, then that responsibility would largely sit with the coaching group and the culture they’ve helped create.

At the end of the day, results in international rugby are never down to one person. Coaches can guide, plan, and inspire, but it’s the players who take the field, execute the game plan, and make the split-second decisions that win or lose matches. Accountability starts with them, just as it does with every professional athlete I’ve ever played alongside. If England are to find their way back to consistency, it won’t just be about fixing tactics or reviewing coaching, it will be about the players owning their performances, every minute of every Test, and shaping the environment that makes success possible. We’ll likely learn Steve Borthwick’s fate as England head coach soon after the Six Nations, and perhaps a win against France could shift headlines and public opinion. One thing is certain: if that is to happen this Saturday, Borthwick will need his players to make smart decisions, execute the game plan, and deliver on the field.

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There’s plenty of rugby to get excited about in America ahead of the World Cups. Starting this month, a new Major League Rugby season kicks off on March 28, followed by the All Blacks taking on South Africa in Baltimore this September. Before long, rugby sevens will hit the Olympic stage in Los Angeles in 2028. Rugby in the U.S. is gaining real momentum. From the outside, some might roll their eyes. But having played rugby in the UK and overseas, and now working in the U.S. game, I can tell you this: rugby needs a foothold here. Not to rival the NFL, NBA, or MLB — as that’s just fantasy — but to connect with millions of fans, markets, and brands that can secure the sport’s future.

My American Rugby Dream started long before I ever stepped on US soil. It started in Hollywood. My grandmother, was born there. Her dad, my great-grandfather, had sailed from the UK in the early 1900s, chasing his own American Dream. On a recent trip to Ellis Island, I saw the immigration records myself. His destination? Not New York, but Hollywood. He became a traveling filmmaker, even working alongside a young Charlie Chaplin. Eventually, they had my grandmother, born in a Hollywood Hospital on Hollywood and Vine. Today, that hospital is gone, replaced by a parking lot. Not quite the glamour it once had.

My grandmother eventually moved to the UK and met my grandfather, a WWII army officer, in Liverpool. Little did she know, the door she opened would lead her grandson decades later to… Worcester, UK, in 2016.

I was playing for Exeter Chiefs against Worcester Warriors in the English Premiership. In the stands were my dad, son of an American-born mother, and my girlfriend, Molly, now my wife. Fortunately for me I happened to play okay that day. Sitting next to my dad was an American couple, chatting about America and rugby. Eventually, they asked, “Who’s your son?” My dad pointed to me on the field. The man leaned in and said:

“So that’s your son? You have an American-born mother? Well…my name is Mark Lambourne. I’m on the Board of Directors for USA Rugby. I’d like to speak with your son.”

Yep. The Hollywood story continues.

After talking to my family, agent, and some USA Eagles I knew in Cam Dolan and Chris Wyles, the opportunity was clear. My dad had been quietly ready all along. In an office drawer sat a folder with everything needed, including my grandmother’s birth certificate, to show as evidence to USA & World Rugby. It was like he had preempted this whole story would unfold!

For me, the choice was simple: make my family proud, aim for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, and be part of American rugby’s growth.

Fast forward to November 2017: a training camp in Frankfurt with the Eagles, and my debut in early 2018. 20 appearances, 18 caps, winning Americas Rugby Championships, beating Scotland, a Rugby World Cup, injuries, memories I’d never trade.

I’ll be honest, despite my accent, America feels like home. I’m proud to have represented the US. I owe a lot to USA Rugby. They gave me an opportunity that shaped my life. So when my Saracens contract ended in 2021, I wanted to give back. I joined Major League Rugby, signing with San Diego Legion for two seasons leading to the 2023 World Cup. Convincing my wife to move? Not exactly hard — California does have a nice ring to it.

MLR was tougher than I expected. Physical. Tactical. Travel-heavy. But the rugby was real, the competition sharp, and I loved every second, playing alongside Eagles like Ryan Matyas, Nate Augspurger, Marcel Brache — and legends like Chris Robshaw and Ma’a Nonu.

Sport isn’t always romantic, though. We failed to qualify for the 2023 World Cup — a tough pill to swallow while sitting with my arm in a sling after shoulder surgery. Even in my final game in the MLR Championship Final in July 2023 I continued to experience the harsh realities of sport. San Diego leading, I convert a sideline try…then my hamstring goes. I hobble off. Fifteen minutes later, New England scores and wins. Gutting.

Even before retiring, I’d been plotting the next chapter. Writing, media work, a BA in Sports Journalism, Broadcast & Media from Staffordshire University — all while playing professionally. It was undoubtedly one of my proudest achievements.

After expressing interest in full-time media work with MLR, the stars aligned. By the time I hung up my boots, I had a job with Major League Rugby in September 2023 and I was into my next career. Now, I get to help grow the game in the US from a different angle. Challenging, but also hugely exciting.

We stayed in San Diego — Carlsbad, to be precise. My wife’s words were firm: “You can take the job, but we’re not leaving here.” California feels like home.

I gave my all on the pitch, and now I give it my all in other ways — though perhaps I’ll save those stories for another article. The story continues: my wife and I are expecting our first child next month, a daughter born here in California, just as my grandmother was born in Hollywood over a century ago. The American Dream, and the American Rugby Dream, marches on.

One day, I hope she sees the journey that brought her here. From the UK to Hollywood, from Worcester to San Diego. I hope she finds her own version of the American Dream.

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