GLENDALE, Colo.(USA Rugby Release) – On behalf of the organization, the USA Rugby Board of Directors today announced the appointment of Bill Goren as USA Rugby Chief Executive Officer, beginning on Monday, March 18.
Goren most recently served as Deputy Commissioner to Major League Rugby, heading up Rugby Marketing and Business Operations for the professional league in North America. With over 20 years of senior leadership experience in sports marketing and development, Goren joins a USA Rugby organization eyeing substantial growth over the next decade with two of the world’s largest sporting events coming to the United States, the 2028 Summer Olympics and the Men’s and Women’s Rugby World Cups in 2031 and 2033, respectively. As the National Governing Body for the sport, USA Rugby aims to galvanize the rugby community around these events and expand participation coast to coast. Goren steps into the role with high aspirations.
Goren said of the new role, “It is truly an honor to join USA Rugby. I eagerly anticipate immersing myself in the rugby community, focusing on genuine alignment as we work towards expanding the game, driving participation and interest at all levels of play and enhancing the USA Eagle’s prominence on the global stage. There is a significant opportunity for our community to grow the game together, I am excited to be a part of it.”
Goren brings a wealth of sports business experience stretching across Major League Baseball, the NBA and Major League Lacrosse before landing with Major League Rugby in 2020. In the four years since joining MLR, Goren has been fundamental in the evolution of the league’s commercial impact and key partnerships poised to support long-term success on and off the pitch. Notably the launch of The Rugby Network in 2021, a bespoke rugby media platform that has accumulated one of the larger rugby subscriber bases in the world. As USA Rugby continues to focus on participatory growth, member value and fan engagement ahead of such major events as the Olympic games and Rugby World Cup, Goren’s experience will be important during a critical period of opportunity.
Goren added, “The Olympics and upcoming Rugby World Cups in the United States hold immense potential, offering a prime opportunity to bring rugby to the forefront of American sports culture. The legacy impact these events offer on the future of our sport is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that we are ready to harness. With numerous passionate organizations, groups, and individuals dedicated to success, our goal is to unite this fervor and align stakeholders towards our shared objectives. Through coordinated efforts and collaboration, I am confident that we can turn our aspirations for rugby growth into reality.”
