Major League Rugby has appointed to senior figures ahead of their upcoming season. Alex Magleby and Graeme Bradbury were named co-presidents by the American competition on Tuesday. They will be tasked with revitalizing a brand facing an existential crisis after losing five of its 11 teams since the conclusion of the 2025 campaign in July.
Both are internal hires. Magleby, whose focus is defined as ‘strategy and communications’, is a co-founder and minority owner of the three-time defending champion New England Free Jacks. He previously acted as that club’s CEO and most recently served as their Executive Chairman. The former US Eagles flanker has also previously held a senior position on the competitions side of MLR.
Bradbury is effectively being promoted from his standing role as Chief Operating Officer for the league. His new objective will be to guide ‘operations and competition’ according to MLR’s media release. The Welshman has previously served in senior positions with the Dragons, a professional team that currently competes in the URC. In 2023 he represented a group of overseas investors in becoming part of a consortium takeover of the Newport-based club.
Magleby and Bradbury take over senior leadership responsibility from outgoing CEO Nic Benson. The latter had previously served as deputy under MLR’s inaugural commissioner Dean Howes. Benson took over the senior executive role ahead of the 2023 season, when the league had 12 teams. The media release indicates he will stay on temporarily as an advisor to aid the transition.
At the same time, MLR has confirmed the format for the 2026 campaign, which is set to kick off in early April. The six remaining teams – only one of whom, Seattle, is a founding member – will be a 10-game regular season followed by two semi-finals. The top-ranked side will play the 4th-ranked team, with the 2nd place side hosting the 3rd-place finisher.