U.S.-Based Pro Rugby Initiative Announces New Opportunity for American Football Athletes

MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Rugby Football League today announced a major event that could benefit American football athletes recently released by their professional teams as well as those who began their collegiate seasons this past weekend. The startup rugby union XVs circuit will hold a January combine in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for the purpose of evaluating talent eligible for placement on teams that could start play as early as the summer of 2015.

"America has so much elite football talent surplus that it would be shameful not to utilize it," said NRFL founder Michael A. Clements. "In fact with this talent we can create a competitive major league right now - no question. We began contacting those athletes and their representatives immediately after this past week's roster cutdowns."

NRFL personnel will conduct the combine January 12-15 at the Coliseum. The league is currently taking player applications at nationalrugbyfootballeague.com.

"We hope to engage the American rugby community," said Clements. "More than 20 million Americans currently express an interest in the sport and we look forward to welcoming some of the best domestic rugby performers to our combine and league."

The NRFL began its evaluation process with an April combine in Minneapolis. Former USA and Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan ran on-field activities and the NRFL expects to retain coaches of similar pedigree for January's event. Holding 2015's event in the Coliseum will enable the league to accommodate more competitors than April's limit of 180 in a venue with an ongoing contact-sport tradition.

"The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is excited to host the NRFL's elite athletes in January," said Coliseum General Manager Joe Furin. "We very much look forward to an involvement now and in the future with what could be America's next major-league sport."

The NRFL will open the combine to evaluators from professional rugby teams worldwide. The previous combine drew representatives scouting for twelve European sides.

Sponsorship opportunities are available. The NRFL is also in the process of evaluating potential investors for both the league and its franchises.

ABOUT THE NRFL
The National Rugby Football League is owned by RugbyLaw, LLC, a Minneapolis/St.Paul based corporation. It is leading the market in the creation of a professional rugby union fifteens league in the United States.         

SOURCE National Rugby Football League