Major League Rugby

McCarthy and crew give their final wrap up for 2023 with some behind the scenes coverage.

Interesting article that is worth the read about which of the basement dweller teams of the 2023 season will be on the rebound. It's way to early considering we are only days post MLR championship and the offseason hasn't started yet. It is a good in depth analysis though.

Huge for the league. Doesn't hurt that it was an amazing tightly contested game.

Your 2023 Champions:

Congratulations to the New England Free Jacks

(CHICAGO) July 8, 2023 – Major League Rugby (MLR) today announced Daniel Kriel of the Seattle Seawolves as the recipient of the S. Marcus Calloway Community Impact Award presented by Fastenal. At halftime of the MLR Championship Final today in Chicago, Kriel was presented with a commemorative trophy and a $10,000 donation to “Happy Bundles,” a nonprofit originally founded in South Africa and brought to the U.S. by Kriel and his wife Candice,with the mission of bringing a smile to children battling cancer.

Where my fellow #USMLR fans at today? Join us over at @usmlr! Looking forward to seeing a new team #RaiseTheShield. As a founding team who has been in the final before, I'm rooting for #SanDiegoLegion.

Really positive interview with MLR CEO Nic Benson

Benson said that MLR saw an 18% increase in fan attendance across the board for teams at an average of 2,600 more fans in stadiums and a 70% increase in subscribers for their digital media platform Rugby Network with more than 170,000 new subscribers.

He also talks about continued expansion

Benson said the league is currently in active discussions with potential markets including Nashville, Orlando, L.A., Raleigh and "somewhere overseas."

What does everyone think? Also who does everyone think is going to win today?

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 7, 2023) – Old Glory DC is proud to announce that Simon Cross has been named its new Head Coach. Cross will lead Old Glory’s coaching staff from the 2024 through the 2026 Major League Rugby seasons. Cross will succeed former Head Coach Josh Syms, who led Old Glory to its first MLR playoff appearance and playoff win in 2023.

No real surprises other than Beaudein Waaka not making the lineup. However it's not too big a surprise given his early exit due to injury in round 18 against Houston.

CHICAGO, IL – With the Major League Rugby Championship battle between the star-studded San Diego Legion and no-name New England Free Jacks just hours away, MLR Weekly has you covered. New England hooker Andrew Quattrin discusses his questionable NHL affiliations, being a Tier 2 golfer and facing the vaunted Legion in The Windy City.

ALSO INCLUDED:
-MLR headlines from Rugby Morning’s John Fitzpatrick
-Predictions from Bryan Ray of Americas Rugby News
-Rugby’s Best Recap

cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/780331

Who do you think will win ? I think San Diego Legion will win.

With the federation lags we've been seeing, I'm posting this early and will fill in details as game day approaches.

Standings: San Diego 1st in West (15-1-0, 74 pts), New England 1st in East (14-2-0, 68 pts)
Kickoff: 3:00 PM Eastern, 12:00 PM Pacific
Location: Seat Geek Stadium, Bridgeview, Il
Where to watch: Fox TV, The Rugby Network
Referee: Joe James
Assistant Refs: Cam Stone, Lex Weiner
TMO: Nick Hannon

Lineup

Legion	Pos	Free Jacks
Pifeleti	1	Kianu Kereru-Symes
Malolo	2	Andrew Quattrin
Green	3	Joel Hintz
Grant	4	Semisi Paea
Franklin	5	Conor Keys
Poidevin	6	Mitch Jacobson (C)
Ma'afu Afungia	7	Joe Johnston
Tameilau	8	Wian Conradie
Judd	9	John Poland
Hooley	10	Jayson Potroz
Augspurger (VC)	11	Paula Balekana
Nonu	12	Le Roux Malan
Brache (C)	13	Ben LeSage
Aoake	14	Mitch Wilson
Te'o	15	Reece MacDonald
Klein	16	Mills Sanerivi
Sylvia	17	Kyle Ciquera
Barumann	18	Cole Keith
Turori	19	Sam Fischli
Ross	20	Cam Davidowicz
Smith	21	Holden Yungert
Henderson	22	Spencer Jones
Matyas	23	Zach Bastres

#USMLR #rugby

The champions are...

Read more in the MLR's match writeup.

NEW YORK, NY - What a postseason it's been so far! Both Major League Rugby Eliminator Round matches were thrillers, soaked in subplots. Indeed, our exclusives with D.C. Owner Chris Dunlavey, New York's star #7 Brendon O'Connor and Washington's Kurt Baker (former All Blacks 7s star) will leave some eyebrows raised!

ALSO INCLUDED:
-MLR headlines from Rugby Morning’s John Fitzpatrick
-Predictions from Bryan Ray of Americas Rugby News
-Rugby’s Best Recap

Eastern Conference Champions are ...

Read more in the MLR's match writeup.

Congratulations for well played season and a franchise first conference title!

Standings: San Diego 1st in West (15-1-0, 74 pts), Seattle 2nd in West (12-4-0, 59 pts)
Kickoff: 6:00 PM Eastern, 3:00 PM Pacific
Location: Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego
Where to watch: FS2, The Rugby Network (live international, 24 hr delay domestic)
Referee: Cam Stone
Assistant Refs: Luke Rogan, Kahlil Harrison
TMO: Chris Assmus

Lineup

Legion	Pos	Seawolves
Pifelti	1	Majola
Malolo	2	Malcolm
Green	3	Matenga
Grant	4	Manoa
Franklin	5	Herbst
Poidevin	6	Landry
Ma'afu Afungia	7	Elton
Tameilau	8	Hattingh (C)
Judd	9	Smith
Hooley	10	Chat
Augspurger (VC)	11	Iosefo
Nonu	12	Alatimu
Brache (C)	13	Kriel
Aoake	14	Futi
Te'o	15	Carelse
Klein	16	J. Malcolm
Sylvia	17	Turnbull
Baumann	18	Pedersen
Turori	19	Foley
Ross	20	Penny
Smith	21	Ferris
Henderson	22	Lopeti
Morani	23	Sio

#USMLR #rugby

Standings: New England 1st in East (14-2-0, 68 pts), DC 3rd in East (7-8-1, 43 pts)
Kickoff: 5:30 PM Eastern, 2:30 PM Pacific
Location: Veterans Memorial Stadium, Quincy
Where to watch: FS1, The Rugby Network (live international, 24 hr delay domestic)
Referee: Joe James
Assistant Refs: Peter Pender, Federico Anselmi
TMO: Chris Assmus

Lineup

Free Jacks	Pos	Old Glory
Kianu Kereru-Symes	1	Jack Iscaro
Andrew Quattrin	2	Nic Souchon
Joel Hintz	3	Kyle Stewart
Conor Keys	4	Tevita Naqali
Reegan O'Gorman	5	Kyle Vaillie (CC)
Mitch Jacobson (C)	6	Jamason Fa'anana-Schultz (CC)
Joe Johnston	7	Lautaro Bavaro
Wian Conradie	8	Niko Jones
John Ploand	9	Danny Tusitala
Jayson Potroz	10	Gradyn Tusitala
Paula Balekana	11	Junior Sa'u
Le Roux Malan	12	Doug Fraser
Ben Lesage	13	William Talataina
Taniela Filmone	14	Marcos Young
Reece MacDonald	15	Kurt Baker
Mills Sanerivi	16	Facundo Gattas
Kyle Ciquera	17	Calixto Martinez
Cole Keith	18	Quentin Newcomer
Semisi Paea	19	Collin Grosse
Cam Davidowicz	20	Langilangi Haupeakui
Holden Yungert	21	John Rizzo
Spencer Jones	22	Thretton Palamo
Zach Bastres	23	Alejo Daireaux

#USMLR #rugby

Standings: New England 1st in East (14-2-0, 68 pts), DC 3rd in East (7-8-1, 43 pts)
Kickoff: 5:30 PM Eastern, 2:30 PM Pacific
Location: Veterans Memorial Stadium, Quincy
Where to watch: FS1, The Rugby Network (live international, 24 hr delay domestic)
Referee: Joe James
Assistant Refs: Peter Pender, Federico Anselmi
TMO: Chris Assmus

Lineup

Free Jacks	Pos	Old Glory
Kianu Kereru-Symes	1	Jack Iscaro
Andrew Quattrin	2	Nic Souchon
Joel Hintz	3	Kyle Stewart
Conor Keys	4	Tevita Naqali
Reegan O'Gorman	5	Kyle Vaillie (CC)
Mitch Jacobson (C)	6	Jamason Fa'anana-Schultz (CC)
Joe Johnston	7	Lautaro Bavaro
Wian Conradie	8	Niko Jones
John Ploand	9	Danny Tusitala
Jayson Potroz	10	Gradyn Tusitala
Paula Balekana	11	Junior Sa'u
Le Roux Malan	12	Doug Fraser
Ben Lesage	13	William Talataina
Taniela Filmone	14	Marcos Young
Reece MacDonald	15	Kurt Baker
Mills Sanerivi	16	Facundo Gattas
Kyle Ciquera	17	Calixto Martinez
Cole Keith	18	Quentin Newcomer
Semisi Paea	19	Collin Grosse
Cam Davidowicz	20	Langilangi Haupeakui
Holden Yungert	21	John Rizzo
Spencer Jones	22	Thretton Palamo
Zach Bastres	23	Alejo Daireaux

#USMLR #rugby