MLR Readies For Launch Of Sunday Night Rugby

New broadcast talent lineup announced for fan-focused show

Mar. 20, 2026 at 5:37pm

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Major League Rugby, the premier professional rugby league in North America, has announced its full lineup of broadcast talent for the new Sunday Night Rugby show in the 2026 season. The fan-focused program will feature in-studio hosts, analysts, and play-by-play commentators to provide detailed analysis, storytelling, and content to viewers.

Why it matters

Sunday Night Rugby represents MLR's ongoing efforts to elevate the sport's profile in the US and North America, with the goal of becoming the most accessible and community-driven sports league by 2035. The new broadcast show will also help advance rugby storytelling ahead of the 2031 and 2033 Rugby World Cups, which will take place in the US including many MLR markets.

The details

The Sunday Night Rugby broadcast team includes former USA Eagle and MLR star Will Hooley as in-studio host, CBS Sports' Claudia Bellofatto as in-studio analyst, and Ben Holden as play-by-play commentator. Former Old Glory DC staffer and rugby broadcaster Brianna Kim will also be part of the broadcast crew. Additional talent includes Dallen Stanford, Alex Corbisiero, Christian Dyer, Alycia Washington, Joey Lindstrom, Mike Petri, and Marc Stcherbina.

  • Sunday Night Rugby will launch in the 2026 season.
  • The full schedule includes 9 regular season matches and both rounds of the postseason.

The players

Will Hooley

The former USA Eagle and MLR star will continue his stint in the broadcast booth, where he'll host SNR's pregame and postgame shows. He'll be tabbed for additional live-match duties, including sideline reporter, through the season.

Claudia Bellofatto

An on-air host and analyst whose career journey has taken her across the country covering some of the biggest moments in sports. Currently with CBS Sports, she has built a national presence with appearances on Netflix, MLB Network, MSG Networks, NBC Sports and New England Sports Network. She brings energy and credibility to every broadcast and is known for connecting audiences across a wide range of sports.

Ben Holden

One of professional rugby's most authoritative voices returns to the mic in 2026 after serving as the play-by-play announcer for a number of matches last season, including the 2025 MLR Championship.

Brianna Kim

The former Old Glory DC staffer, All-American collegiate rugby player and rugby broadcaster will make up the third leg of the SNR broadcast crew. Kim made MLR history in 2023 as part of the league's first all-female broadcast crew.

Lucas Reid

The Chief Revenue Officer at Major League Rugby.

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What they’re saying

“This year's roster of broadcasters represent the best and brightest in our nation's sport, and we're excited to create consistent and high-quality broadcasts with the world's most noticeable sports network in ESPN.”

— Lucas Reid, Chief Revenue Officer at Major League Rugby

What’s next

Sunday Night Rugby will combine in-studio analysis with an elevated production value to provide a top-tier experience for die-hard and casual fans alike. Streaming on ESPN+, the broadcast will feature a pregame show to set up the night's match before sending the show to the in-stadium broadcast crew. After the conclusion of the match, a postgame studio show will recap all of the action from the night and weekend.

The takeaway

The launch of Sunday Night Rugby represents MLR's commitment to elevating the sport of rugby in the US and North America, providing fans with high-quality, consistent programming that will help grow the game's popularity ahead of the 2031 and 2033 Rugby World Cups.