Major League Rugby announced Monday its schedule for the 2024 season, with the 11-team league opting for a single-table setup for its upcoming seventh season. 

It’s the first time since the 2019 that North America’s top professional rugby league has done away with the two-conference format, likely done out of necessity after two clubs, the Toronto Arrows and Rugby New York, folded in the offseason. 

All teams will play six opponents twice and four opponents once across an 18-week regular season with two bye weeks, with the top eight teams at season’s end qualifying for the Championship Series (the league’s playoffs), per a league release. 

Teams will play an even number of eight home matches and eight away matches.

Week 1 will take place March 2-3 and will kick off when New Orleans Gold hosts Old Glory DC at 3 p.m. (ET) on March 2. 

The reigning league champions, the New England Free Jacks, have a bye during Week 1 and will begin their season at home against Old Glory DC at 2 p.m. on March 9 in Week 2.

Nine of the 11 clubs in the league return from last season with their identities unchanged. 

The expansion Miami Sharks, who will play at AutoNation Sports Field in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, will make their club debut at home at 9 p.m. Eastern on March 2 against the Chicago Hounds. 

An unnamed Los Angeles-based club — which has taken over the identity of the former Rugby ATL franchise — is scheduled to begin play at home at 10 p.m. Eastern on March 3, hosting the Utah Warriors.

“As we head into our seventh season, there is plenty of energy, excitement and enthusiasm behind Major League Rugby, particularly after adding a new club in the Miami Sharks and seeing our league move back into the Los Angeles market,” MLR CEO Nic Benson is quoted as saying in the league’s news release. “Opening weekend promises to kick off another exciting season for our fans as we capitalize on our progress and continue to grow rugby for new generations of fans across North America. 

"This season, we shifted to a single-table format for our competition, ensuring all teams would play each other in an effort to determine who truly is the best of the best in our league.”

The regular-season schedule is expected to go until late June, with the Championship Series taking place in July.