PRO Rugby chief evecutive Doug Schoninger issued a statement to players today, Dec 20 that casts serious doubt on whether the one-season-old league can survive a second year.

The email said this:

As some of you may or may not know, we have been having serious issues with the cooperation and the enforcement of our agreement with USA Rugby. We have been actively trying to resolve our issues with USA Rugby for over four months and, unfortunately, it appears that USA Rugby will not honor the commitments they made to us.

Because of this, we are notifying all presently agreed players of PRO Rugby that we are exercising the Voluntary Termination clause in your contract (section 5(b)). We are hopeful, but with no assurances, that we will be able to resolve all issues with USA Rugby prior to end of the termination clause period. We will keep you up to date with any progress or news as it becomes available.

Please remember, until the end of the termination clause, you are still an employee of PRO Rugby and all duties and obligations should be adhered to.

Because of the above, payment for the period ending on December 15th was delayed.  These payments will be issued tomorrow, December 21st for receipt no later than December 22, 2016.

I am very sorry that we were forced to take this action and we are trying to do everything we can to ensure that PRO Rugby, its players, coaches, and employees are all treated fairly. 

Soug Schoninger

USA Rugby quickly responded:

USA Rugby categorically denies any and all allegations purported by PRO Rugby Tuesday, Dec. 20, and is saddened to hear of the planned termination of all valid contracts signed by athletes that have fulfilled their playing duties for season one and were scheduled to be paid through the duration of their 12-month contracts.

USA Rugby's policy is to not speak to disputes in the media, and will have no further comments regarding this particular issue at this time.

So PRO Rugby, which is now essentially one person (Doug Schoninger), in an effort to get leverage over USA Rugby in their dispute, has fired the players less than a week before Christmas. This is the latest in a series of disputes, disagreements, and issues between the league and players, coaches, employees, and governing bodies. Those disputes have remained off the record and as a result, Goff Rugby Report has chosen not to write about them. Schoninger did acknowledge that his league has been late in paying bills and paying players and coaches. 

Now it seems clear that things are coming to a head.