Elite, Major League Rugby open first season Saturday
The Austin Elite will be spotlighted Saturday with the launch of Major League Rugby.
Austin’s opener against the Glendale Raptors in suburban Denver will be the league’s featured game, airing on CBS Sports Network at 4 p.m.
“It’s exciting to be in that first nationally televised game,” Elite owner Richard Osborn said. “Obviously, we’re moving up in class, but so is everybody else. There are a lot of unknowns. We’ll start to find out how we stack up.”
Osborn said Austin has suffered some significant injuries in the run-up to the season.
As a result, the Elite are bringing back Todd Clever, the former USA Eagles national team star. Clever has been working with the Austin Huns and now the Elite for the past two years as a player, recruiter, mentor and ambassador. He helped the Huns win the USA Division I championship in 2017.
“I have really enjoyed the business side of rugby and thought my playing days were over, but I do have a rubber arm when it comes to playing,” Clever said.
Major League Rugby commissioner Dean Howes said he’s happy to have Clever in the fold.
“Todd Clever is the most recognized name and face in USA Rugby,” Howe said. “He has the most caps (76) in USA history. We look forward to seeing Todd receive his first MLR cap.”
The league wants to build up gradually and will have just seven teams, which will play eight-game regular-season schedules this year. In 2019, a New York franchise will join the fold.
The Elite announced last week they will play their home games at the new Round Rock Multipurpose Complex. Austin’s home opener will be Thursday, May 3, against NOLA Gold.