SNY and RUNY Announce Television Partnership

Rugby United New York Release

New York City’s First Professional Rugby Franchise to be Televised on SNY

Coverage Begins Sunday, January 27, 2019

New York, December 20, 2018 – SNY, the official television home of the New York Mets, New York Jets and all things New York sports, is now also the home of New York City’s first professional rugby franchise, Rugby United New York (RUNY).SNY will televise nine games of RUNY’s inaugural season, with the premiere game airing LIVE Sunday, January 27^th at 5:00 PM EST.

“As the home of New York Sports, we are excited to team up with Rugby United New York on their inaugural year in Major League Rugby,” said Marie DeParis, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Business Development, SNY. “We are confident our viewers will enjoy the addition of rugby to our professional sports coverage.”

RUNY is set to join Major League Rugby after the League’s successful launch in 2018 with seven teams. The expansion franchise played an exhibition schedule last season as an affiliate member, finishing with an undefeated record. MLR’s second season of play will kick off with nine teams with the inclusion of two of the largest media markets in North America in RUNY and the Toronto Arrows.

“We believe that Rugby United New York can elevate the sport of rugby in the region in new and exciting ways. That all starts with building a fan base and we couldn’t be happier with the fact we can now do that with SNY,” says James Kennedy, Owner, Rugby United New York.

“The partnership with SNY is a big moment for rugby in New York,” added RUNY General Manager James English. “Delivering our games to our fans on a major platform that reaches 11 million homes, promoted with other major sports in the region, has been a huge goal of ours and we are thrilled to put RUNY on the map in this deal.”

RUNY has assembled talent from a number of club teams in the tri-state area, including New York Athletic Club and Old Blue Rugby Football Club, two of the most competitive clubs in New York City. RUNY also focused resources on international scouting, highlighted by the addition of English star Ben Foden and Irish Fly Half Cathal Marsh.

The team has been training together for nearly a month under the leadership of head coach Mike Tolkin and is playing a rigorous preseason schedule in anticipation of their MLR debut in January.

2019 Rugby United New York Programming Schedule on SNY

Day	Date	Opponent	Time
Sunday	27-Jan	San Diego	5:00 PM
Saturday	16-Feb	Nola	3:00 PM
Saturday	2-Mar	Houston	8:00 PM
Saturday	9-Mar	Utah	9:00 PM
Friday	15-March	Toronto	7:00 PM
Sunday	14-Apr	San Diego	TBD
Saturday	11-May	Seattle	4:30 PM
Sunday	19-May	Austin	TBD
Sunday	26-May	Nola	TBD

All RUNY’s home games will be played at MCU Park in Coney Island. Tickets for RUNY’s 2019 campaign are now on sale and available at http://www.rugbyunitedny.com/tickets/single-game.