History
Fourteen of the top rugby clubs in the United States formed the USA Super League, which began play in 1997 with two divisions of seven teams each. The original members were: Belmont Shore (CA), Chicago Lions, Dallas Harlequins, Denver Barbarians, Gentlemen of Aspen (CO), Kansas City Blues (MO), Life University (GA), Old Blue (NY), Old Blues (CA), Old Puget Sound Beach (WA), Old Mission Beach AC (CA), Potomac Athletic Club (DC), San Francisco-Golden Gate, and Washington (DC).
In 1998, the Boston and Philadelphia Whitemarsh Rugby Football Clubs joined the league. The New York Athletic Club (NYAC) entered the league in 2002. The Olympic Club of San Francisco merged with the Golden Gate club and the merged team began play in in 2003 under the Olympic name.
The Gentlemen of Aspen and the Olympic Club dropped out after the 2005 season. They were replaced by the St. Louis Bombers and the Charlotte (NC) Rugby Football Club.
In the first two season, the two division champions played for the Super League championship. An eight-team playoff system was initiated in 1999 and has been used ever since, except in 2000, when there were four teams, and 2004, when there were six.
The USA Rugby Super League season begins in March and lasts into May. The playoffs begin in late May and end in early June.
