Decision Expected Soon on RSL Expansion

A decision is expected within the next week on whether the US Rugby Super League will be expanded by two additional teams for the 2002 season.

Under a plan nutted out between USA Rugby and the Super League, invitations to apply to join the League have been extended to Division 1 champions San Mateo of northern California and runners-up the New York Athletic Club (NYAC).

The rationale for the move is twofold; to give more players the opportunity to play at a higher level and to provide an incentive to clubs to strive for promotion to the top tier of club rugby in this country.

NYAC has already indicated that it will be applying to join because it sees this as a golden opportunity to showcase its abilities week in and week out on the national level, however, San Mateo is not so enamored to the idea citing prohibitive travel costs as a major obstacle.

USA Rugby has made it clear that even if both clubs were to respond positively to their invitations, there are no guarantees that they would be admitted to Super League. The sport's governing body has set out certain criteria that must be met before a club's application will be ratified.

A decision on whether or not one or both teams will be added to the League next year is expected on August 17th.