Major League Rugby (MLR) has announced a free streaming and digital content platform, The Rugby Network, delivered in collaboration with RugbyPass.

The Rugby Network comes ahead of the start of the 2021 season on March 20 and will see all MLR rugby content, including live streaming of select matches, international matches, highlights, and exclusive behind-the-scenes content featured for North America fans.

Major League Rugby commissioner, George Killebrew, said the digital platform will work to develop closer relationships with all rugby fans and is part of a long-term commitment by MLR.

“The Rugby Network provides rugby fans access to high-quality content for free as well as generates awareness of the sport to create the next generation of fans,” Killebrew said.

“The Rugby Network will be an exciting development for MLR and North American rugby as a whole.

“We are looking forward to working with RugbyPass to launch this platform that will be the definitive home for rugby fans across North America,” he said.

RugbyPass global CEO, Neil Martin, said with an estimate 1.3 million rugby participants, and a further 8.8 million active fans across North America, the new platform will help those numbers increase drastically over the next decade.

“We share a joint vision with MLR to create a community of rugby fans and remove the hurdles they face across North America by providing them with the best news, highlights, podcasts, live matches and live blog feeds,” Martin said.

“The Rugby Network will be an interconnected network of digital properties that will drive both interest and engagement with rugby.

“Our goal is to create an inclusive platform with MLR that will bring together and expand North America’s rugby community and also serve the international rugby fans,” he said.

For the start of the season, domestic US fans will be able to stream four of six matches live on the opening weekend, while overseas fans can stream all six matches live.

The platform will be powered by the ViewLift end-to-end digital solutions platform, which will also guide the future expansion of The Rugby Network to all OTT devices.