The first unified rugby league season in the United States, now under the auspices of the USARL, will comprise of fourteen teams split into three divisions over two conferences, North and South. The competition, which includes three clubs from the former AMNRL, will see sides participate from Boston in the north to Daytona in the south.

USA Rugby League chairman, Peter Illfield (pictured, handing over the 2014 USARL trophy), commenting on the new competition format noted, “Today is a significant one for rugby league in America. On the heels of becoming a member of the Rugby League International Federation, the 2015 season will see a record number of clubs take the field, exposing even more players and fans to the game.”

The former AMNRL sides - NY Knights, Connecticut Wildcats and Bucks County Sharks – join newly-formed Wilmington Black Foxes and, after the respective champions in the Northern divisions have played-off, the winners of each conference will meet in the Grand Final for the National Championship.

Illfield confirmed, “The USARL board voted in 10 clubs from our 2014 season, with all agreeing to improve standards by recruiting participants for match officials and coach education training, youth development and multi-level grades of participation. The Baltimore Blues were unsuccessful with their bid and their survival depends on the viability of a proposed second-grade competition in the mid-Atlantic region.”

USARL format 2015:
North
Division A - North-East: 
â–  Boston 13s
â–  Brooklyn Kings
â–  Connecticut Wildcats
â–  New York Knights
â–  Rhode Island Rebellion

Division B - Mid-Atlantic:
â–  Bucks County Sharks
â–  DC Slayers
â–  Northern Virginia Eagles
â–  Philadelphia Fight
â–  Wilmington Black Foxes

South
â–  Jacksonville Axemen
â–  Central Florida Warriors
â–  Atlanta Rhinos
â–  Tampa Mayhem

One match-up expected to draw plenty of attention is the battle of New York City, with Brooklyn Kings taking on the New York Knights in what many expect to be the two teams to watch in the North-East division. In the Mid-Atlantic, last year's USARL champions Philadelphia Fight will face even stronger opposition in their quest to win three titles in a row with the addition of Bucks County and Wilmington Black Foxes. The Black Foxes have already signed former Fight star Kevin Wiggins to their roster.

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