Rugby fans, unite! USA Rugby hosting international matches in Charlotte
In the past few months alone, Charlotte has stretched its horizon as a sports city.
An ACC tournament in March. A PGA major championship in May. An uptown-invasion for a sport called Bananaball in June. Some FIFA Club World Cup contests last week.
Soon, another sport will be added to that list:
Rugby.
Charlotte will host the United States men’s national rugby team for two matches at American Legion Memorial Stadium later this month. USA will face Belgium on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The USA Eagles will then face Spain the next weekend: Saturday, July 12, also at 7:30 p.m.
You can purchase tickets via the USA Rugby website starting at $21.
Head coach Scott Lawrence said that these two upcoming matches in Charlotte represent a massive opportunity for not only his team’s development but also for the fertile fandom that’s in the city.
“When you look at rugby in the Carolinas, it’s growing in terms of the youth, in terms of the high school rugby that’s in the Carolinas,” Lawrence said. “We’ve seen really good support with the Anthem (Rugby Club) in Charlotte this year, the Major League Rugby franchise. The city, as you know, is growing very fast...
“From the playing perspective, from the rugby-playing base, from the age and entertainment perspective in this city and then the ability to tap into growth partners — I think it’s a really good place for us. It was a good choice for the Anthem and a good choice to play test matches.”
Here are four quick things you need to know ahead of the matches.
Another ‘first’ for Charlotte as a sports town
This pair of matches will mark the first time USA Rugby will compete in the Queen City.
Still, Charlotte and USA Rugby are intertwined
Charlotte is home to Anthem Rugby Carolina, the local Major League Rugby team. It’s the top league in America.
Anthem RC already is home to several players on the USA national team. That is by design. Anthem RC was established as an expansion team to foster and develop more American talent for the national team.
Its roster is comprised of the fewest international players in the league — with its website saying the team will “predominantly be made up of the most exciting young American talent available and will solidify MLR as the primary pathway for America’s best rugby players who have aspirations to play for their country.”
The qualification process for the 2027 Rugby World Cup will take place later this year.
Is this an audition for Charlotte’s World Cup dreams?
The United States will be the host nation for the men’s Rugby World Cup in 2031 and the women’s Rugby World Cup in 2033. Does Charlotte have a chance at scoring such a slot?
These next two weekends could be considered an audition.
Charlotte is one of the 20-plus host cities being considered for the opportunity to host the matches. Other cities include Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas and others.
According to statistics from USA Rugby, there are more than 100,000 rugby players across the nation.
If you go, here are the players you should know
Here are three players to know ahead of the matches on the next two Saturdays.
▪ AJ MacGinty, USA. The 35-year-old flyhalf is one of the team’s veteran and most decorated players. He made his Eagles debut in 2015 against Samoa.
▪ Erich Storti, USA. Storti, a center, was selected by Charlotte’s own Anthem RC with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 MLR draft. He underwent season-ending hand surgery to prepare for the matches this summer.
▪ Joel Merkler, Spain. The 23-year-old prop has had a breakout season for Stade Toulousain, a squad based in France that is considered one of the best clubs in Europe.
This story was originally published July 3, 2025 at 2:04 PM.
