Rugby in Seattle

Seattle has a new professional sports team - the Seattle Seawolves - and the sport is rugby.

Rugby union (there are two different codes for rugby) has been popular in England since it started in 1839. It has been described as "football without the helmet and pads." Players run with the football-shaped ball. They cannot be blocked but are tackled. The ball can only be passed laterally or backwards. Wikipedia has an article on the sport which includes the rules.

Games will be broadcast locally and nationally. (See schedule)

The ownership group is led by Seattle-based entrepreneurs Adrian Balfour and Shane Skinner. The club was formed in 2017 and is a founding member of Major League Rugby (MLR). The inaugural season kicks off Sunday, April 22, 2018 and the team’s home games will be played at Starfire Stadium in Tukwila, Washington.

The Sunday game against the San Diego Legion has already sold out its 3,500 seats. The 1,800 season tickets have also sold out.

Besides Seattle and San Diego, the other MLR teams are from Austin, Houston, New Orleans, Glendale, Colorado, and Utah. A New York team is planning to join next year.