Major League Rugby

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Community to discuss US Major League Rugby.

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submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by baronvonj to c/usmlr
 
 

I’ll be linking to team-specific communities as I find them, so please reply in this post if you have one and I will link to it in the side bar.

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West: Houston, Utah, San Diego, Seattle, Los Angeles. East: New England, Chicago, Carolina, New Orleans, Miami, DC

16 match season, 8 home and 8 away. West 8 in-conference matches, 8 cross-conference matches. East 8-10 in-conference matches, 6-8 cross-conference matches

Postseason format: conference seminfinals > Conference Finals > Championship

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Three rounds of selections were undertaken with a total of 22 players selected. All 11 returning franchises took part though Chicago did not select any players, trading their first-round pick to Anthem. ARC was also acquired the second overall pick in a three-team exchange that saw LA receiving salary cap considerations and DC’s first round pick, and further cap considerations going to Old Glory.

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The Dallas Jackals have informed the league that they will not participate in the 2025 competition. They are continuing to evaluate a controlling interest transfer which will not be complete in time for them to plan for and compete in 2025. MLR will continue to work with Dallas leadership on transition plans in the days and weeks ahead.

Our focus is on the team, its players and planning for another successful MLR season in 2025. An announcement about the player dispersal process will be shared soon.

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I've had some individuals that are involved contact me, or vetting rumors right now. So it's not exactly written in stone, but all indications are that Dallas will not be coming back in MLR 2025. They're trying to figure out that situation now.
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From what I gather, this was just a, it was a bad situation in that the owners of the MLR were careful about accepting a new ownership group. And this ownership group in Dallas ticks all the boxes. They have cash, they have wealth, they're in sports, they're in sports entertainment, and then they just got tired of it.

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submitted 2 months ago by baronvonj to c/usmlr
 
 

DALLAS – Major League Rugby, the premier professional rugby league in North America, announced the results of the 2024 MLR College Draft on The Rugby Network on Wednesday.

The draft consisted of three rounds of 12 picks each, totaling 36 selections by MLR franchises.

The 2024 MLR College Draft was the fifth in league history, featuring the deepest talent pool to date. St. Mary’s College of California saw six players drafted, the most in this year’s draft, while a total of 22 schools were represented with selections.

Anthem RC selected Erich Storti with the first pick. Storti joins Rick Rose (Miami, 2023), Sam Golla (Dallas, 2022), Eric Naposki (Dallas, 2021), and Conner Mooneyham (Dallas, 2020) as the first overall players to be taken in the draft.

MLR uses a “Draft and Follow” approach where rights to drafted players will be assigned following the MLR College Draft. Teams may activate those rights at any point until the mid-point of the next competitive MLR season after the player is eligible to play in the MLR. Drafting teams may sign those players or trade player rights with other MLR teams.

The league hosted its first MLR College draft in 2020, which saw 24 players selected across two rounds, but commensurate with the growth of the league, the draft has grown into its current form today.

A complete breakdown of the each pick by round is available [in the link]

Round 1 picks

Round 2 picks

Round 3 picks

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The MLR College Draft for the 2025 Season is coming up at the end of August. Watch free on The Rugby Network. The table below shows the draft order for all three rounds. The "via " notation means that slot was traded (for a player, or salary cap considerations).

Round 1 Round 2 Round 3
Round 1 Graphic Round 2 Graphic Round 3 Graphic
Anthem RC Anthem RC Anthem RC
RFCLA New England Free Jacks (via LA) RFCLA
Miami Sharks Old Glory DC (via Miami) Miami Sharks
New England Free Jacks (via Utah) Utah Warriors Utah Warriors
Old Glory DC Old Glory DC Old Glory DC
NOLA Gold NOLA Gold Utah Warriors (via NOLA)
San Diego Legion San Diego Legion San Diego Legion
Houston SaberCats Houston SaberCats RFCLA (via Houston)
Dallas Jackals Seattle Seawolves (via Dallas) RFCLA (via Dallas)
Chicago Hounds Chicao Hounds Chicago Hounds
Seattle Seawolves Seattle Seawolves Seattle Seawolves
Anthem RC (via New England) New England Free Jacks New England Free Jacks
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First Team Second Team Honorable Mention
Cameron Orr (SEA) Jack Iscaro (DC) Ezekiel Lindenmuth (HOU)
Dylan Fawsitt (CHI) Andrew Quattrin (NE) Dewald Kotze (DAL)
Steven Longwell (DC) Juan Pablo Zeiss (DAL) Joe Apikotoa (ARC)
Rhyno Herbst (SEA) James Scott (CHI) Greg Peterson (SD)
Frank Lochore (UTAH) Kyle Baillie (DC) Sam Golla (DAL)
Jero Gomez Vara (DAL) Mason Flesch (CHI) Vili Helu (SD)
Cory Daniel (DC) Maclean Jones (CHI) Ben Bonasso (MIA)
Semi Kunatani (LA) Sam Tuifua (DAL) Seta Baker (NE)
Andre Warner (HOU) Juan Dee Oliver (DAL) JP Smith (SEA)
Jayson Potroz (NE) Mack Mason (SEA) Jason Robertson (DC)
Taniela Filimone (NOLA) Julian Dominguez (CHI) Paula Balekana (NE)
Jordan Jackson-Hope (NOLA) Dan Kriel (SEA) Billy Meakes (CHI)
Wayne Van Der Bank (NE) Tiaan Loots (SD) Junior Gafa (ARC)
Michael Manson (UTAH) Jade Stighling (SEA) Nate Augspurger (CHI)
Reece Macdonald (NE) Divan Rossouw (SEA) Davy Coetzer (HOU)
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https://www.majorleague.rugby/mlrplayoffs/

Seattle vs New England. Sunday, August 4th, in Snap Dragon stadium in San Diego, at 1:00PM Pacific, 4:00 PM Eastern, broadcast on Fox (not Fox Sports). Dig out your antennas or head to the pub.

It's Championship time.

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submitted 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) by baronvonj to c/usmlr
 
 

All matches this weekend are on FS1

Home Away Kickoff
New England Free Jacks Chicago Hounds July 27 @ 1:00 PM ET
Seattle Seawolves Dallas Jackals July 28 @ 4:00 PM ET
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All matches are broadcast on FS2 in USA/Canada, and The Rugby Network internationally.

NOLA Gold (2nd in East, 10-6-0) Chicago Hounds (3rd in East, 8-7-1)
New Orleans Match Roster Chicago Match Roster
Seattle Seawolves (2nd in West, 11-5-0) San Diego Legion (3rd in West, 11-5-0)
Seattle Match Roster San Diego Match Roster

Match Odds presented by SCCG

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submitted 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) by baronvonj to c/usmlr
 
 

All matches are broadcast on FS2 in USA/Canada, and The Rugby Network internationally.

New England Free Jacks (1st in East, 11-5-0) Old Glory DC (4th in East, 7-7-2)
NEFJ Roster OGDC Roster
Houston SaberCats (1st in West, 14-2-0) Dallas Jackals (4th in West, 6-10-0)
SaberCats Roster Jackals Roster

Odds by SCCG

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submitted 4 months ago by baronvonj to c/usmlr
 
 

This weekend, the Major League Rugby Playoffs presented by Sportsbreaks.com will be underway. After 18 weeks, just eight teams remain in the race to lift the MLR Shield at Snapdragon Stadium on Sunday, August 4. Ahead of kick-off this weekend live on FS2, here is how all four Western Conference teams staked their claim for Playoff rugby in 2024.

See the semifinals bracket post here for the full schedule.

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US MLR 2024 Playoff Brackets (www.majorleague.rugby)
submitted 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) by baronvonj to c/usmlr
 
 

Even though the standings are known at this point and the bracket is completed, they haven't updated their page with a filled in graphic yet. I'll update the post with the official graphic and keep it pinned throughout the playoffs.

US MLR 2024 Playoff Bracket Semis

All matches are broadcast on FS2

Western Conference Semifinals:

  • Houston SaberCats (1st) vs Dallas Jackals (4th), July 20th @ 7:00 PM ET
  • Seattle Seawolves (2nd) vs San Diego Legion (3rd), July 21 @ 8:30 PM ET

Eastern Conference Seminfinals:

  • New England Free Jacks (1st) vs Old Glory DC (4th), July 20th @ 5:00 PM ET
  • NOLA Gold (2nd) vs Chicago Hounds (3rd), July 21 @ 6:30 PM ET
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US MLR 2024 Week 18 Match Thread (www.majorleague.rugby)
submitted 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) by baronvonj to c/usmlr
 
 

US MLR 2024 Week 18 matchups

Home Away Kickoff Where to Watch
Utah Warriors (5th W, 5-10-0, 33 pts) RFCLA (6th W, 4-10-1, 27 pts) June 28 @ 9:30 PM ET TRN, FS2
New England Free Jacks (1st E, 10-5-0, 50 pts) Anthem RC (6th E, 0-15-0, 7 pts) June 29 @ 5:00 PM ET TRN
Old Glory DC (4th E, 6-7-2, 37 ptsth) NOLA Gold (2nd E, 10-5-0, 48 pts) June 29 @ 7:00 PM ET TRN
Chicago Hounds (3rd E, 7-7-1, 40 pts) Miami Sharks (5th E, 6-9-0, 31 pts) June 29 @ 7:00 PM ET TRN, YouTube
Houston SaberCats (1st W, 13-2-0, 62 pts) Dallas Jackals (4th W, 6-9-0, 41 pts) June 29 @ 8:00 PM ET TRN
San Diego Legion (3rd W, 10-5-0, 50 pts) Seattle Seawolves (2nd W, 11-4-0, 56 pts) June 29 @ 10:00 PM ET FS2

Last week of the 2024 regular season. The Western conference is all locked up, with Houston hosting Dallas and Seattle hosting San Diego. Interestingly almost that's the same matchups that we have for those 4 this weekend (San Diego is hosting tomorrow)! In the East NEFJ and NOLA will be competing for the #1 seed while Chicago and OGDC will be competing for the #3 seed. Though in my amateur opinion the current rankings will hold into the playoffs.

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US MLR 2024 Week 17 First XV (www.majorleague.rugby)
submitted 5 months ago by baronvonj to c/usmlr
 
 
  • LOOSEHEAD PROP, CAMERON ORR – SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
  • HOOKER, DYLAN FAWSITT – CHICAGO HOUNDS
  • TIGHTHEAD PROP, ISAAC SALMON – NOLA GOLD
  • LEFT LOCK, FRANK LOCHORE – UTAH WARRIORS
  • RIGHT LOCK, RHYNO HERBST – SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
  • BLINDSIDE FLANKER, DEVIN SHORT – SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
  • OPENSIDE FLANKER, CORY DANIEL – OLD GLORY DC
  • NO 8., SAM TUIFUA – DALLAS JACKALS
  • SCRUM-HALF, KIERAN MCCLEA – UTAH WARRIORS
  • FLY-HALF, HARRIS RUTHERFORD – SAN DIEGO LEGION
  • LEFT WING, JULIAN DOMINGUEZ – CHICAGO HOUNDS
  • INSIDE CENTER, JORDAN JACKSON-HOPE – NOLA GOLD
  • OUTSIDE CENTER, TIAAN LOOTS – SAN DIEGO LEGION
  • RIGHT WING,MICHAEL MANSON – UTAH WARRIORS
  • FULLBACK, MATIAS FREYRE – MIAMI SHARKS
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US MLR 2024 Week 17 Match Thread (www.majorleague.rugby)
submitted 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) by baronvonj to c/usmlr
 
 

US MLR 2024 Week 17 matchups

Home Away Kickoff Where to Watch
NOLA Gold (2nd E, 9-5-0, 43 pts) New England Free Jacks (1st E, 10-4-0, 50 pts) June 22 @ 6:00 PM ET FS2
Anthem RC (6th E, 0-14-0, 6 pts) Chicago Hounds (4th E, 6-7-1, 35 pts) June 22 @ 7:00 PM ET TRN
Miami Sharks (5th E, 5-9-0, 27 pts) Old Glory DC (3rd E, 6-6-2, 36 pts) June 22 @ 7:30 PM ET TRN, YouTube
Utah Warriors (5th W, 4-10-0, 28 pts) Dallas Jackals (4th W, 6-8-0, 39 pts) June 22 @ 10:00 PM ET TRN
Seattle Seawolves (2nd W, 10-4-0, 51 pts) RFCLA (6th W, 4-9-0, 27 pts) June 22 @ 10:00 PM ET TRN
San Diego Legion (3rd W, 9-5-0, 46 pts) Houston SaberCats (1st W, 13-1-0, 62 pts) June 25 @ 6:00 PM ET TRN

This weekend could solidify playoff seeds in both conferences, with Houston SaberCats the only team who has clinched a seed so far.

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US MLR 2024 Week 16 First XV (www.majorleague.rugby)
submitted 5 months ago by baronvonj to c/usmlr
 
 
  • LOOSEHEAD PROP, JAKE TURNBULL – ANTHEM RC
  • HOOKER, DYLAN FAWSITT – CHICAGO HOUNDS
  • TIGHTHEAD PROP, STEVEN LONGWELL – OLD GLORY DC
  • LEFT LOCK, JUSTIN BASSON – HOUSTON SABERCATS
  • RIGHT LOCK, WILLIAM WAGUESPACK – NOLA GOLD
  • BLINDSIDE FLANKER, CORY DANIEL – OLD GLORY DC
  • OPENSIDE FLANKER, JED MELVIN – NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
  • NO 8., LUKE WHITE – CHICAGO HOUNDS
  • SCRUM-HALF, CONNOR BUCKLEY – OLD GLORY DC
  • FLY-HALF, JAYSON POTROZ – NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
  • LEFT WING, TANIELA FILIMONE – NOLA GOLD
  • INSIDE CENTER, NICK GRIGG – MIAMI SHARKS
  • OUTSIDE CENTER, JP DU PLESSIS – NOLA GOLD
  • RIGHT WING,MICHAEL MANSON – UTAH WARRIORS
  • FULLBACK, DAMIAN HOYLAND – OLD GLORY DC
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submitted 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) by baronvonj to c/usmlr
 
 

SAN DIEGO (June 17, 2024) – Major League Rugby and the San Diego Legion announce that tickets to this year’s MLR Championship Match will go on sale Tuesday, June 18 at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT. The culmination of the eight-team MLR Playoffs presented by SportsBreak.com, the league’s annual title match is slated for Aug. 4, 2024, at 4 p.m ET/1 p.m. PT on FOX.

The full playoff schedule is here. The 4 teams in the west are now set with Houston, Seattle, San Diego, and Dallas though there is still a chance for the 2-4 seeds to change in the next two weeks. In the East we still only have NEFJ and NOLA with a spot secured and all four seeds able to change hands.

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US MLR 2024 Week 16 Match Thread (www.majorleague.rugby)
submitted 5 months ago by baronvonj to c/usmlr
 
 

US MLR 2024 Week 16 matchups

Fox will be airing four matches, one a day, from the week 16 matchups, which includes a match up Monday. Interestingly, Legion @ Hounds appears to be scheduled for live broadcast on both TRN and FS2 simultaneously. Additionally, the Sharks @ Anthem matchup will also be broadcast live on both TRN and YouTube, again simultaneously. This is a great weekend for Major League Rugby, there's never been more ways to watch.

Home Away Kickoff Where to Watch
Dallas Jackals (4th W, 6-7-0, 37 pts) Old Glory DC (4th E, 5-6-2, 31 pts) June 14th @ 8:30 PM ET FS1
Houston SaberCats (1st W, 12-1-0, 57 pts) Seattle Seawolves (2nd W, 10-3-0, 50 pts) June 15th @ 7:00 PM ET FS2
New England Free Jacks (1st E, 9-4-0, 45 pts) Utah Warriors (5th W, 4-9-0, 28 pts) June 16th @ 3:00 PM ET FS1
Anthme RC (6th E, 0-13-0, 6 pts) Miami Sharks (5th E, 4-9-0, 22 pts) June 16th @ 3:00 PM ET TRN, YouTube
RFCLA (6th W, 4-8-1, 27 pts) NOLA Gold (2nd E, 8-5-0, 38 pts) June 16th @ 6:00 PM ET TRN
Chicago Hounds (3rd E, 5-7-1, 31 pts) San Diego Legion (3rd W, 9-4-0, 45 pts) June 17th @ 8:00 PM ET TRN, FS2

In the West Houston, Seattle, and San Diego have secured a post-season spot.

In the East just New England and NOLA both having secured their spots (a franchise first for NOLA, the last founding team to make it to the post-season).

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US MLR 2024 Week 15 First XV (www.majorleague.rugby)
submitted 5 months ago by baronvonj to c/usmlr
 
 
  • LOOSEHEAD PROP, CHARLIE ABEL – CHICAGO HOUNDS
  • HOOKER, JOE TAUFETE’E – SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
  • TIGHTHEAD PROP, STEVEN LONGWELL – OLD GLORY DC
  • LEFT LOCK, KYLE BAILLIE – NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
  • RIGHT LOCK, WILLIAM WAGUESPACK – NOLA GOLD
  • BLINDSIDE FLANKER, MASON FLESCH – CHICAGO HOUNDS
  • OPENSIDE FLANKER, CORY DANIEL – OLD GLORY DC
  • NO 8., MARTIN SIGREN – NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
  • SCRUM-HALF, JUAN-DEE OLIVER – DALLAS JACKALS
  • FLY-HALF, DAVID COETZER – HOUSTON SABERCATS
  • LEFT WING, JAMES VAIFALE – SAN DIEGO LEGION
  • INSIDE CENTER, CONNOR WINCHESTER – DALLAS JACKALS
  • OUTSIDE CENTER, WAYNE VAN DER BANK – NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
  • RIGHT WING,JADE STIGHLING- SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
  • FULLBACK, MIKEY TE’O – SAN DIEGO LEGION
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Watch live for free at https://www.youtube.com/@usmlr

Date Home Away
June 16 @ 6:00 PM ET RFCLA NOLA Gold
June 22 @ 7:30 PM ET Miami Sharks Old Glory DC
June 29 @ 7:00 PM ET Chicago Hounds Miami Sharks
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Heyneke Meyer has confirmed his desire to take up a coaching role in South Africa when he returns from a stint in the USA at the end of this year.

Meyer currently serves as the director of rugby of the USA’s Major League Rugby side Houston Sabercats, having taken the team’s coaching reins in 2022.

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submitted 6 months ago by baronvonj to c/usmlr
 
 

Tries

Rank Team Tries Player
1 Dallas 10 Dewald Kotze
T2 RFCLA 8 Semi Kunatani
T2 NOLA 8 Taniela Filimone
T4 NEFJ 7 Wayne van der Bank
T4 Chicago 7 Dylan Fawsitt
T4 NEFJ 7 Reece MacDonald
T7 RFCLA 6 Jason Damm
T7 Houston 6 Ronan Murphy
T7 Anthem 6 Te Rangatira Waitokia
T7 Chicago 6 Nate Augspurger
T7 Utah 6 Michael Manson

Ball Carries

Rank Team Carries Player
1 RFCLA 126 Semi Kunatani
2 Utah 111 Dylan Nel
T3 RFCLA 111 Jason Damm
T3 Utah 111 Frank Lochore
5 Anthem 105 Te Rangatira Waitokia
6 NOLA 99 Jonah Mau'u
7 NEFJ 98 Wayne van der Bank
8 Anthem 91 Jake Turnbull
9 Seattle 90 Divan Rossouw
10 Miami 89 Nick Grigg

Tackles

Rank Team Tackles Player
1 OGDC 183 Cory Daniel
2 Utah 156 Frank Lochore
3 RFCLA 150 Jason Damm
4 NEFJ 141 Wayne van der Bank
5 Anthem 140 Jake Turnbull
6 Chicago 137 Maclean Jones
7 RFCLA 136 Matt Heaton
8 Seattle 132 Charles Elton
T9 RFCLA 131 Ben Strang
T9 OGDC 131 Rob Harley
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US MLR 2024 Week 15 Match Thread (www.majorleague.rugby)
submitted 6 months ago by baronvonj to c/usmlr
 
 

US MLR 2024 Week 15 Matches

Home Away Kickoff Where to Watch
Old Glory DC (5th E, 5-5-2, 30 pts) New England Free Jacks (1st E, 8-4-0, 40 pts) June 8 @ 7:00 PM ET TRN
Houston SaberCats (1st W, 11-1-0, 52 pts) RFC Los Angeles (6th W, 4-7-1, 27 pts) June 8 @ 8:00 PM ET FS2
San Diego Legion (3rd W, 8-4-0, 40 pts) Anthem RC (6th E, 0-12-0, 6 pts) June 9 @ 4:00 PM ET FS1
Miami Sharks (5th E, 4-8-0, 21 pts) NOLA Gold (2nd E, 7-5-0, 34 pts) June 9 @ 6:00 PM ET TRN
Dallas Jackals (4th W, 5-7-0, 33 pts) Chicago Hounds (3rd E, 5-6-1, 30 pts) June 9 @ 8:00 PM ET TRN
Seattle Seawolves (2nd W, 9-3-0, 45 pts) Utah Warriors (5th W, 4-8-0, 27 pts) June 9 @ 10:00 PM ET TRN
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