The Houston SaberCats have become the latest team to withdraw from Major League Rugby, despite reaching this year’s championship final.
The Texas-based franchise announced on Thursday that it will not compete in the 2026 season and will refund supporters who had already bought season tickets.
Founded in 2017, the SaberCats initially played at Houston ISD’s Dyer Stadium and the Sugar Land Space Cowboys’ Constellation Field before moving into their purpose-built SaberCats Stadium in 2019.
They struggled in their early years, only posting their first winning record in 2022 under coach Heyneke Meyer when they went 9-7 and reached the Western Conference final.
The SaberCats qualified for the playoffs in each of their last four seasons, culminating in a loss to the New England Free Jacks in the 2024 final.
“Thank you for supporting the SaberCats over the past eight seasons,” a message on the team’s website said. “We have shared some incredible experiences together, from our patchy start in the early years at a minor-league baseball stadium to the successful squad of the last four years, playing at the best rugby facility in the country. We can be proud of this journey and celebrate many of the experiences we shared together.”
The SaberCats are the third team to exit the MLR this off-season, following the Miami Sharks and Nola Gold, while the Los Angeles and San Diego franchises have announced a merger.
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