The August 8 game between the Leicester Tigers and the NRFL Rough Riders has reportedly been called off after USA Rugby refused to sanction the game.

Already the accusations have flown as Leicester chief Simon Cohen saying USA Rugby refused to sanction because they weren't part of the action. But USA Rugby is expected to release a statement saying, in part, that they, as the National Governing Body, can only sanction a match if the teams are in good standing with their respective NGBs. The Tigers are, of course, in good standing with the RFU. But the Rough Riders don't really exist yet, and neither the team nor the players have registered with USA Rugby. So, they won't sanction the game.

USA Rugby is expected to sanction the NRFL-promoted game between Saracens and the Canterbury Crusaders, because both teams are in good standing with their respective governing bodies. But the August 8 game at Lincoln Financial Field (home of the Philadelphia Eagles) won't be, and because USA Rugby won't sign off (thus providing key liability coverage), neither will World Rugby, so neither will the Leicester Tigers.

The Rough Riders team is expected to be made up of some well-known rugby players, a few football players making the transition, and some other hopefuls. 

With the lack of a sanction for the game, the Tigers won't be playing the game.  They will be running some camps and clinics in August. However, the club is upset in part because tickets have been sold already.

Why the NRFL didn't register its team with USA Rugby has not been made clear, although, according to USA Rugby, the NRFL, which is owned by Minneapolis-based RugbyLaw, LLC., a intends to operate separate from USA Rugby and World Rugby.