The Rugby Super League (RSL) was developed in 1996 as a result of the need for more visibility and higher competitive structure for the sport of rugby throughout the United States.

It was created by the management of 14 of the best rugby organizations in the United States. The hope was to create a high level, national rugby competition in America. Now, years later, there can be no doubt Rugby Super League has reached that goal.  As the premier division of men's rugby in the United States, the Super League has placed rugby at the fingertips of the American audience. 14 teams represent 11 major markets across the US, and present opportunities for broad exposure of the sport.

The Rugby Super League was operational for the 1997 rugby season with two seven club divisions; the Western-Pacific Conference and the Midwestern-East Conference.  The original members were;
Belmont Shore (CA)
Chicago Lions (IL)
Dallas Harlequins (TX)
Denver Barbarians (CO)
Gentlemen of Aspen (CO)
Kansas City Blues (MO)
Life (GA)
Old Blue (NY)
Old Blues (CA)
Old Puget Sound Beach (WA)
OMBAC (CA)
Potomac Athletic Club (DC)
San Francisco-Golden Gate (CA)
Washington (DC)
 

The league expanded for the 1998 season to include teams from Boston (Boston Rugby) and Philadelphia (Philadelphia Whitemarsh RFC) - both joining the Eastern Conference with the Dallas Harlequins moving to the Western Conference.

In 2001 the Super League was separated from the USA Rugby Division 1 club competition and officially recognized by USA Rugby as the premier rugby competition in the United States. 

In 2002, the league changed slightly with two of the most prestigious athletic clubs in the country joining the competition.  The New York Athletic Club (NYAC) and the Olympic Club (CA) both entered the league.  Olympic gained entry as the result of a merger with the San Francisco based Old Blues RFC.  NYAC played their way into the league, gaining promotion from USA Division 1.

In 2002, the geographic format was also abandoned in favor of a more national format - furthering the ideal of national competition for the country's best teams.  Life departed from the league after the 2002 season due to changes at the institution and a revamping of the athletics program but returned in 2009 to make it all the way to the RSL Final.

Since then four of the original teams have dropped out due to varying reasons, Aspen, Kansas City, Washington and Belmont Shore. Philadelphia, St Louis, Olympic and Santa Monica all joined and subsequently left the league. The Boston Irish Wolfhounds and the Chicago Griffins joined and still remain today to make up the current 14 Teams in 2010 RSL.

The Rugby Super League is a spring competition, with weekly matches leading to a playoff with quarterfinals, semifinals, and the championship match in June. The 2010 season features an East-West format with Dallas moving to the West as they did back in 1998. The 2010 seasons kick-offs on March 13 and finishes with the championship match on June 4 in Glendale, CO.

The Super League is proudly sponsored by Gilbert Rugby Balls, the official ball of the USA Rugby Super League.