Dallas Jackals
The Dallas Jackals were a professional rugby union team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex of Texas that competed in Major League Rugby (MLR), North America's premier professional rugby competition. Founded as an expansion franchise, the team debuted in the 2022 MLR season after delays from its initial announcement in 2018.[1] Owned by the investment group Top Tier Sports, the Jackals were led by key figures including director Bill Yates, chief operating officer and part owner Rodd Newhouse, and part owner Neil Leibman, who also serves as COO of the Texas Rangers baseball team.[1] The franchise operated under a modest salary cap of $600,000 for a roster of up to 38 players, with a maximum individual salary of $35,000, and provided furnished housing for its largely international roster.[1] Playing home matches at Choctaw Stadium in Arlington, Texas—shared with the Arlington Renegades of the United Football League—the team aimed to build a local fanbase in a region with growing interest in rugby.[2][1] The Jackals' inaugural 2022 season was challenging, finishing winless with 22 consecutive losses, marking the worst record in MLR history at the time.[1] Progress came in 2023 with two victories, including their first win.[1] In 2024, the team held a competitive 4–4–0 record by mid-season, reached the postseason for the first time, securing a notable upset victory over the Houston SaberCats in the quarterfinals before their campaign ended.[1][2] In September 2024, the Jackals announced their withdrawal from the 2025 MLR season, citing an inability to complete a controlling interest transfer in time for league planning amid financial challenges, including a key investor's departure without replacement.[3][2] This made them the fifth MLR team to fold since 2022, highlighting ongoing instability in the league's expansion efforts.[2] Major League Rugby stated it would collaborate with the Jackals' leadership on transition plans, including a forthcoming player dispersal process.[3]History
Formation and entry into Major League Rugby
The Dallas Jackals were established in 2020 as an expansion franchise for Major League Rugby (MLR), North America's premier professional rugby union competition. The team drew its origins from the longstanding Dallas rugby scene, particularly building on the legacy of the Dallas Rugby Football Club—known as The Reds—which served as a charter member of the Texas Rugby Football Union since the 1960s and was affiliated with USA Rugby. This connection aimed to integrate the professional outfit with the region's established amateur and club-level traditions to foster community growth in the sport.[4][5] Major League Rugby announced the addition of the Dallas franchise on June 5, 2020, positioning it as the league's 13th team with an intended debut in the 2021 season. Initial plans included home games at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas, but the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic prompted a deferral; on January 19, 2021, the Jackals confirmed their entry would be postponed to 2022 to allow better preparation amid logistical and health challenges. The team name "Jackals" was unveiled alongside the announcement, inspired by the rugby tactic of "jackaling"—a breakdown maneuver where a player competes fiercely for possession to win turnovers—reflecting the qualities of resilience and opportunism essential to the sport.[6][7][8] Early personnel hires focused on building a strong foundation, with Allen Clarke appointed as the franchise's first head coach and director of rugby on June 12, 2020, bringing experience from coaching stints in Europe and North America. Player recruitment emphasized a balanced roster, combining American prospects selected via the MLR Collegiate Draft—such as the team's first overall pick, Sam Golla from the University of California—and international signings like Samoan lock Theo McFarland to inject global expertise and depth.[9][5][10] In preparation for their 2022 debut, the Jackals engaged in pre-season activities, including exhibition matches such as a January 2022 friendly against the Houston SaberCats, which helped integrate the squad and test strategies under the delayed timeline. These efforts underscored the franchise's commitment to developing a competitive team while navigating the uncertainties of the pandemic.[11]Ownership and operational challenges
The Dallas Jackals were initially owned by an investment group led by Donnie Nelson, former president of the Dallas Mavericks, and Neil Leibman, a co-owner of the Texas Rangers and co-founder of the sports investment fund Top Tier Rugby, which held a majority interest in the franchise; the ownership was announced in June 2020 with commitments to upholding professional standards in Major League Rugby (MLR).[12][13][14] Operational turmoil emerged prominently in 2022 during the franchise's inaugural season, exacerbated by an off-field incident on March 20 when a walkway collapsed at a team outing, injuring nine players and forcing the club to urgently sign emergency replacements from other MLR teams.[15][16] This event compounded logistical strains, including travel disruptions and roster instability, contributing to broader performance issues amid the league's expansion pressures.[17] Financial challenges persisted from the outset, driven by high operational costs at Choctaw Stadium—a former Major League Baseball venue with a capacity exceeding 25,000—where setup and maintenance expenses far outpaced revenue in a saturated Dallas sports market dominated by established teams like the Cowboys and Mavericks.[16][13] Fan engagement proved difficult, with average home attendance averaged 2,300 in 2023 and rising to approximately 4,000 in 2024 despite a record single-game high of 3,152 at the 2022 opener, well below the venue's potential and insufficient to offset league fees exceeding $500,000 annually.[16][18][19] To address these issues, leadership underwent changes in 2022, including the appointment of Steve Violetta as team president, bringing over three decades of experience from NHL and MLB operations, followed by Rodd Newhouse's transition to co-managing partner and COO to bolster internal stability.[20][21][16] Efforts to strengthen community ties included pathway partnerships with local Division I rugby clubs like Dallas Rugby Football Club and DFW Paras, announced in 2021, aimed at talent development and grassroots promotion, though persistent low turnout highlighted the challenges of building a rugby fanbase in North Texas.[22][4] These difficulties reflected wider MLR expansion growing pains, as rapid franchise growth strained resources and investor confidence, with the Jackals facing investor pullouts and unmet financial deadlines by 2024 amid league-wide sustainability concerns.[2][23]Withdrawal from the league
On September 19, 2024, Major League Rugby (MLR) issued an official statement announcing that the Dallas Jackals would not participate in the 2025 season.[3] The franchise cited ongoing evaluations of a controlling interest transfer that would not be completed in time to allow for adequate planning and competition.[3] This decision followed earlier challenges, including the withdrawal of a key investor earlier in 2024 and the failure to secure a replacement, which compounded financial evaluations and leadership instability amid league-wide contraction pressures.[2] The withdrawal had significant repercussions for the Jackals' players and staff. MLR initiated a player dispersal process, holding a draft on September 25, 2024, to redistribute contracted players to other teams, with full results finalized and announced in early October.[24] Notable players such as lock Sam Golla and flanker Jerónimo Gómez Vara were among those affected, with some securing contracts elsewhere, including Lucas Bur joining an Italian club.[2] Coaching staff, including head coach Agustín Cavalieri and assistant Nate Osborne, faced contract releases as operations paused.[2] In response, MLR adjusted its 2025 schedule to accommodate the absence, proceeding with 11 teams in a 16-match regular season format.[25] The league committed to supporting transition efforts with Jackals leadership, emphasizing continuity for the sport's growth. As of November 2025, following the completion of the 2025 season, no confirmed plans for the franchise's return, relocation, or rebranding have been announced, leaving its future uncertain.[2] Despite operating for only three seasons (2022–2024), the Jackals contributed to the expansion of professional rugby in Texas by fostering local talent development and community engagement in a region with a growing rugby base.[2] Their tenure highlighted both the potential and the operational hurdles of establishing a stable franchise in Major League Rugby.[3]Identity and facilities
Name, colors, and logo
The Dallas Jackals name was selected and unveiled on June 4, 2020, for Major League Rugby's expansion franchise in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, originally slated to debut in 2021 before a delay to 2022.[8] The name evokes the rugby "jackal" technique, a defensive turnover at the breakdown where a player steals possession, symbolizing the team's aggressive and resilient playing style.[26] The franchise's primary colors are teal as the main hue, complemented by black and white, providing a modern contrast to conventional rugby kits and reflecting the urban energy of Dallas.[26] These colors were established with the initial branding reveal and carried through all seasons.[27] The logo, designed by Dallas-based firm Torch Creative, depicts a profile silhouette of a jackal's head rendered in teal with black outlines and white accents, introduced in 2020 and used without alteration until the team's withdrawal after the 2024 season.[27][26] It embodies speed, tenacity, and the predatory nature of the jackal animal, aligning with the rugby-inspired nomenclature.[26][28] The Jackals partnered with Paladin Sports as their initial kit supplier for the 2022 and 2023 seasons, featuring home jerseys in predominantly teal with black accents and a subtle gradient at the hem, while away kits reversed to white bases with teal details.[29][30] For 2024, Kappa became the supplier under MLR's league-wide agreement, introducing jerseys with a bold teal star pattern as a tribute to Texas's Lone Star State identity.[31][26] Branding initiatives emphasized local ties through merchandise lines, including Texas flag-themed trucker hats and a popular special-edition teal-and-white hooped jersey, fostering fan engagement with Dallas's cultural heritage.[32][26]Home venue
The Dallas Jackals' primary home venue was Choctaw Stadium in Arlington, Texas, a multi-purpose facility formerly known as Globe Life Park that served as the home of Major League Baseball's Texas Rangers from 1994 until 2019.[33] The stadium, owned by the city of Arlington, is shared with other professional teams including North Texas SC of MLS Next Pro and the Arlington Renegades of the United Football League.[34] With a total seating capacity of 48,114, the venue was configured for rugby by placing the pitch in the outfield area and using temporary seating along the sidelines, reducing the effective capacity for Jackals games to around 4,000.[35] This setup provided strong sight lines from the existing grandstands, fostering an intimate atmosphere despite the stadium's scale, and was particularly vibrant during Texas Cup rivalry matches against regional opponents like the Houston SaberCats.[36] The Jackals first used the stadium for their inaugural Major League Rugby season in 2022, with the opening day game against the Houston SaberCats on February 19 drawing 3,152 spectators and establishing a single-game attendance record for the 2022 MLR season at that point.[19] For rugby play, a natural grass surface of Tifway 419 Bermuda turf was installed over the baseball infield and outfield, with the pitch dimensions adjusted to meet international standards of 100 meters by 70 meters, including proper in-goal areas beyond each try line.[37] Operating in a former baseball stadium posed logistical challenges for the franchise, which contributed to broader financial strains amid consistently low overall attendance figures.[16] Following the team's withdrawal from Major League Rugby after the 2024 season, the venue's role in the Jackals' short history underscores its place in the franchise's legacy, though future availability for the team became moot.[2]Organization and staff
Ownership structure
The Dallas Jackals were privately held by a consortium of investors organized under Top Tier Sports, a Dallas-based sports investment fund, with no public shares available.[38][39] A subsidiary, Top Tier Rugby, held majority equity in the franchise.[40] Key figures in the ownership included Neil Leibman as managing partner, who also served as chief operating officer for the Texas Rangers MLB team, and Donnie Nelson as co-founder, bringing experience as a former general manager of the Dallas Mavericks NBA franchise with a minority stake.[12][41] Other notable investors encompassed local business leaders such as Rodd Newhouse, who acted as chief operating officer and co-owner, John P. Dwyer as co-managing partner, and Bill Yates as a director of Top Tier Sports.[42][41][1] Governance was managed through a board with oversight emphasizing community integration in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, though financial details remained largely non-transparent to the public.[5][38] The ownership structure originated from 2020 commitments by the investment group, which secured the franchise's entry into Major League Rugby; by 2024, amid ongoing losses, the group shifted focus toward evaluating a potential sale of controlling interest.[5][23] Owners played a direct role in operations, including influencing key hires such as the 2022 appointment of Steve Violetta as team president to drive revenue growth.[43][20]Coaching staff
The Dallas Jackals' coaching staff evolved significantly over the franchise's three seasons in Major League Rugby, reflecting efforts to build a competitive team through international expertise and player development. In 2022, Elaine Vassie served as head coach while also holding the role of general manager, guiding the expansion team through a challenging inaugural season with a 0-16 record as the foundation for future growth was established.[44][45][26] Following Vassie's departure in June 2022, the Jackals prioritized coaches with international pedigrees to accelerate the development of American talent, appointing Argentine Agustín Cavalieri as head coach in August 2022 for the 2023 season.[44][46] A former professional player and forwards coach for Italy's men's under-20 national team, Cavalieri led the team to a 2-14 record in 2023, securing the franchise's first wins and marking a shift toward more dynamic, attacking strategies.[47][48] In 2024, under Cavalieri, the Jackals improved to 6-10, demonstrating enhanced competitiveness and player progression before the team's withdrawal from the league.[49][2] Assistant coaches complemented the head coaches' visions, with key hires emphasizing specialized roles. Mario Ledesma, a renowned Argentine coach and former Wallabies and Pumas hooker, joined as assistant coach and consultant for the 2023 season to bolster forward play and tactical depth.[50] In 2024, Nate Osborne was hired as attack and backs coach, bringing experience from Old Glory DC to refine offensive structures.[51] Elaine Vassie returned to the staff as attack coach and assistant general manager, contributing to the strategic evolution that yielded the team's most successful season.[52] After the Jackals' withdrawal from MLR in September 2024, the coaching staff dispersed to new opportunities, with Cavalieri appointed head coach of Anthem RC to continue his work in North American rugby.[2][53]Players
Roster composition
The Dallas Jackals maintained rosters of up to 38 players across their three seasons in Major League Rugby, adhering to league regulations that limit match-day squads to 23 players with up to 10 international slots per team.[54][1][55] Positional composition emphasized balance between forwards and backs, with approximately 8–10 players per group in active squads to support both scrummaging power and backline speed. Forwards included robust front rows (around 12 players in 2023), versatile locks (4–5 per season), and dynamic loose forwards (7–9), while backs featured multiple scrum-halves (6–7) for tactical flexibility and a mix of fly-halves, centers, and outside backs (14–20 combined). This structure highlighted an emphasis on adaptable locks capable of lineout leadership and mobile scrum-halves to drive quick ball distribution.[56][55] Recruitment blended domestic talent from USA Rugby pathways, including collegiate drafts and experienced MLR players, with international signings primarily from Argentina and South Africa to add proven skill and physicality. The roster featured a mix of domestic and international players, such as 13 Argentines in 2023. The team established a development academy in 2023 to cultivate local North Texas talent through structured training, serving as a pipeline for domestic recruitment and community growth.[57][55][58] The 2022 inaugural roster leaned heavily on rookies and first-year professionals, featuring four collegiate draft picks and numerous new domestic signings alongside international newcomers, totaling around 61 players in an extended squad with limited prior MLR cohesion. By 2024, the composition evolved toward a more experienced core, with over a dozen returning players from previous seasons providing stability, including key forwards who had matured within the league.[59][55][1] Captaincy employed a rotating leadership model among senior players, with Jerónimo Gómez Vara serving as a primary captain alongside co-leader Sam Golla from 2023 through 2024 to foster shared accountability in the forward pack.[1] Following the team's withdrawal, a dispersal draft in October 2024 allocated remaining player contracts to other MLR teams.[24]Notable players
Sam Golla, an American lock, emerged as a standout performer for the Dallas Jackals, earning the 2023 MLR Rookie of the Year award after being selected first overall in the collegiate draft.[60] In his debut season, he started all 16 matches, recording 213 tackles and scoring three tries, which contributed to his first call-up to the USA Eagles national team camp.[60] Golla went on to earn seven caps for the USA Eagles during his time with the Jackals, including appearances in international tests.[61] Jerónimo Gómez Vara, an Argentine flanker who occasionally captained the side, brought international experience from Jaguares XV and became a key leader in the forwards.[62] In 2024, he was named MLR Forward of the Year after a dominant season that included multiple try-scoring performances and helped propel the Jackals to their first playoff appearance.[63] His contributions extended to critical moments, such as scoring two tries in a May 2024 victory over San Diego Legion.[64] Juan Pablo Zeiss, an Argentine prop renowned for his set-piece expertise, anchored the Jackals' front row from 2023 onward and earned All-MLR First Team honors in 2023 for his scrummaging dominance.[65] Zeiss was also selected to the 2024 All-MLR Second Team, recognizing his continued impact in the pack alongside teammates Juan Dee Oliver and Sam Tuifua, marking the Jackals' three All-MLR selections that year.[66] Lucas Bur, an Argentine lock, provided consistent second-row stability across the 2022–2024 seasons, earning praise for his mobility and work rate in early matches, such as a lively performance in the Jackals' 2023 season opener.[67] The Jackals featured notable individual achievements, including Dewald Kotze scoring the first try in their landmark 2023 road win over Rugby ATL, a 27-19 upset that marked the team's initial away victory.[68] Overall, at least five players from the roster received international call-ups or earned caps for national teams like the USA Eagles during the franchise's tenure, highlighting the talent development pathway within the club.[61]Seasons
2022 season
The Dallas Jackals competed in their inaugural Major League Rugby season in 2022, playing a 16-match regular season schedule from February 5 to June 5. As an expansion franchise, the team finished with a winless record of 0-16, accumulating just 4 bonus points while conceding a league-worst points differential of -554, the poorest in MLR history.[26][69] This performance meant the Jackals did not qualify for the postseason playoffs, ending their debut campaign at the bottom of the Western Conference standings.[70] The season opened with a 43-7 road loss to the Austin Gilgronis on February 5, marking the Jackals' first points in franchise history via a penalty kick. The home opener followed on February 19 at Choctaw Stadium against Texas rivals Houston SaberCats, drawing a crowd of 3,152—the highest attendance for any MLR match at that point in the season—and resulting in a narrow 38-33 defeat despite the Jackals scoring five tries.[19] Other notable matches included a 69-22 loss to the Utah Warriors on March 5, which saw Utah set a then-MLR record for points scored in a single game, and the heaviest defeat of the year, a 74-7 rout by the Seattle Seawolves on May 8.[71] A significant milestone came in the Jackals' first tries of the season during the home opener, with the team showing early offensive promise before defensive lapses proved costly throughout the year.[72] The Jackals also participated in the Texas Cup rivalry series against Austin and Houston, going 0-4 across the four matchups: losses of 43-7 and 57-3 to Austin, and 38-33 and 31-6 to Houston.[73] The season was marred by challenges, including an off-field incident on March 20 following a loss to Seattle, where a walkway collapse at their team hotel injured nine players, ranging from sprains to more serious issues requiring surgery for some.[15][74] This injury crisis forced the club to sign emergency replacements and field weakened lineups for several subsequent games, exacerbating the expansion team's struggles with roster depth and cohesion.[17] Despite these setbacks, the Jackals demonstrated resilience in close contests, such as a 34-12 home loss to Seattle on March 19.[75]2023 season
The Dallas Jackals entered their second Major League Rugby season aiming to build on a challenging 0-16 debut, with new head coach Agustín Cavalieri emphasizing defensive structure and set-piece execution. The team played a 16-game regular season schedule, split evenly between home and away fixtures, and competed in the five-team Western Conference (due to the suspensions of the Austin Gilgronis and LA Giltinis) alongside the Houston SaberCats, San Diego Legion, Seattle Seawolves, and Utah Warriors. Despite incremental progress in competitiveness, the Jackals finished with a 2-14 record, earning 19 competition points and posting a points differential of -180 (278 scored, 458 conceded).[48] The Jackals secured their first franchise victory on April 1, 2023, edging the Toronto Arrows 14-11 at Choctaw Stadium in a tense defensive battle that snapped their 16-game losing streak from the prior season. This win, achieved through a late penalty kick, highlighted early improvements in game management but was followed by four straight losses, preventing any winning streak. Their second and final triumph came on May 20 against Rugby ATL, a 27-19 road upset at Silverbacks Park that marked the team's first away success and demonstrated growing attacking cohesion with multiple try contributions from backs and forwards. Key matches included a lightning-shortened 3-7 home loss to Old Glory DC on May 6, called at halftime due to severe weather, which counted as a full result under league rules. The home record stood at 1-7 across eight games at Choctaw Stadium, with the lone victory over Toronto providing a rare highlight amid consistent struggles against Western Conference foes.[76][68][77] Finishing last in the Western Conference, the Jackals missed the playoffs, which featured the top four teams from each conference; they ended 11th overall, one point ahead of the Toronto Arrows but behind the Chicago Hounds. The season represented modest strategic gains, including a significantly improved points differential from -554 in 2022, though offensive output remained limited at an average of 17.4 points per game. In intrastate play, the Jackals went 0-2 against the Houston SaberCats in Texas derby matches, losing 12-33 at home on February 19 and 21-33 away on April 15, forgoing a formal Texas Cup competition in the absence of the suspended Austin Gilgronis.[48][78]2024 season
The 2024 Major League Rugby season represented a breakthrough for the Dallas Jackals, as the team compiled a regular season record of 6 wins, 10 losses, and 0 draws, accumulating 43 points to finish fourth in the Western Conference. This performance marked the franchise's highest win total to date, surpassing their 2-14 mark in 2023 and 0-16 finish in their inaugural 2022 campaign. The Jackals remained in playoff contention throughout much of the season, showcasing resilience in a competitive conference that included powerhouses like the Houston SaberCats and Seattle Seawolves. Key highlights included a pivotal 14-7 upset victory over the Seattle Seawolves on May 19 at Choctaw Stadium, a defensive masterclass that propelled Dallas into the top four and highlighted their growing rivalry with the Western leaders. The team also swept aspects of the Texas derby series against the Houston SaberCats, despite narrow regular-season losses of 30-27 on March 29 and 29-28 on June 30; their postseason triumph over Houston provided a measure of redemption in the intrastate matchup. At home, the Jackals posted a 3-5 record across eight games at Choctaw Stadium, while their defense showed marked improvement, allowing an average of fewer than 30 points per game compared to over 40 in prior seasons, enabling gritty performances in tight contests. The Jackals' postseason run culminated in their first-ever playoff appearance, defeating the top-seeded Houston SaberCats 34-22 in the Western Conference semifinal on July 20 at SaberCats Stadium—a stunning upset against the regular-season champions. Their momentum carried into the conference final, where they fell 28-25 to the Seattle Seawolves on July 28 at Starfire Stadium in a hard-fought battle that went down to the final play. Despite the strong late-season surge and historic achievements, the campaign was ultimately overshadowed by mounting ownership uncertainties, which led to the franchise's announcement of withdrawal from the 2025 season just weeks after the playoffs concluded.Records and statistics
Season standings
The Dallas Jackals have competed in Major League Rugby's (MLR) Western Conference since joining the league as an expansion team in 2022. MLR divides its teams into Eastern and Western conferences, with each regular season consisting of 16 matches per team; the top four finishers in each conference qualify for the postseason playoffs. Standings are determined by total points, awarded as 4 for a win, 2 for a draw, 0 for a loss, plus 1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match or for losing by seven points or fewer. The Jackals' regular season performances are summarized below.| Season | Position (Western Conference) | Record (W-L-D) | Points | Point Differential (PD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 7th | 0–16–0 | 4 | –554 |
| 2023 | 6th | 2–14–0 | 19 | –180 |
| 2024 | 4th | 6–10–0 | 43 | +32 |