Browsing: Major League Rugby

Major League Rugby is a professional USA league that began in 2018 and has teams in the U.S. and in Canada. Current MLR teams include Austin Elite Rugby, Glendale Raptors, Houston SaberCats, New Orleans Gold, Rugby United New York, San Diego Legion, Seattle Seawolves, Toronto Arrows, and the Utah Warriors. In 2020, teams in Atlanta, New England, and Washington, D.C. will join the league and have exhibition matches in 2019.

The Chicago Hounds added former USA international John Cullen for the 2023 Major League Rugby season after he was brought into camp last week on a trial contract. The 32-year-old lock/No 8 (33 in May) is 6’5″ and 260 lbs. John retired after the 2019 MLR season to concentrate on professional and family concerns and then played 400 minutes for the Utah Warriors in 2020. Since then, until his 2023 signing with the Chicago Hounds, he was a player-coach for Des Moines RFC. During the 2019 season, John played 900 minutes in 14 matches, starting 11, and scored 3 tries.…

The New England Free Jacks re-signed New Zealand Slade Mcdowall for the 2023 Major League Rugby season. The 25-year-old openside flanker is 6’0″ and 220lbs. Slade played 890 minutes in 13 matches, starting 11, and scored 3 tries for the Free Jacks in 2022. He then played 55 minutes for Manawatu in the National Provincial Championship. Slade is from Mataura, on the south island of New Zealand. He attended Otago Boys High School and his rugby performance led to his selection to the New Zealand Schools team in 2015 at the end of his high school career. Slade progressed through…

Rugby New York lost 33-18 to the New England Free Jacks on Sunday, March 19. As a result, the Free jacks moved into first place in the Major League Rugby Eastern Conference while the Ironworkers fell to third. This rivalry match was broadcast on MSG and NBCSB and streamed on The Rugby Network with a replay on the latter. Match Recap The rivalry between New York and New England continued in Mount Vernon where hard hits were the norm. It took only a minute before Canadian international Andrew Coe left the field for an HIA with Quinn Ngawati entering initially…

Rugby New York hosts the New England Free Jacks at 3 pm ET on Sunday, March 19. This rivalry match will be broadcast on MSG and NBCSB and streamed on The Rugby Network. A curtain raiser between Old Blue and Mystic River will kick off at noon. Get tickets at http://rugbynewyork.com/tickets. Rugby New York Ironworkers After an uncharacteristic performance in the second half of last week’s loss to NOLA  Gold, the Ironworkers will need to challenge the Free Jacks for the entire match, minimizing penalties, and excelling in set pieces, and at the breakdown. Expect the team to have a…

The Dallas Jackals surprised the rugby community by listing Nelson on the match day squad at #20 against the Chicago Hounds for March 18, 2023. Who is this mystery player, as he doesn’t appear on the team’s roster, nor was he announced as joining the team? Is he playing as a trialist on a short-term contract? If so, it is hoped that he performs well. Cameron Nelson will be a 25-year-old tomorrow. He’s a 6’0″ and 212 lb. back-row. He is from Wirt County, West Virginia, and attended Wirt County High School. He played football as a running back. In…

Major League Rugby Release Major League Rugby (MLR) announced today that the league has chosen to play the 2023 Championship Match at the home of MLR’s newest expansion team, the Chicago Hounds. SeatGeek Stadium will host the final on Saturday, July 8th in Bridgeview, Illinois. “Moving the Championship Match to a predetermined venue has long been a goal of Major League Rugby,” said Major League Rugby CEO Nic Benson. “As the league continues to show an exceptional pattern of growth, we believe this is the perfect time to plan an entire weekend of fun rugby and fan events around our…

The Utah Warriors have added Sione Mahe Nau to their squad for the 2023 season. The 23-year-old flyhalf is 6’0″ and 185 lbs. Sione was born in Provo, Utah, and his hometown is Herriman, Utah. He attended Kahuku High and Intermediate School, as well as Herriman High School, playing rugby at both schools. He began playing rugby in 2010 and was a USA High School All-American and also played at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2018. Sione attended Snow College in 2021 and is working toward’s earning an Associate of Science Degree in Construction Management. He…

The Utah Warriors added Jesse Hamilton for the 2023 season. The 22-year-old wing is 5’10” and  200 lbs. He grew up in San Bernardino where he has played rugby for the last 4 years. In high school, Jesse played for Eleanor Roosevelt High in Eastvale, California, and Southern California Griffins. He currently is attending Norco College and plays rugby, as well as for the U23 Legion Academy in 2022. He trained with the Legion team during the 2022 preseason and played against the Austin GIlgronis. In 2022 he also played for Casanovas in the Rugbytown 7s. Other Articles DJCoil Rugby articles…

The Utah Warriors have added Isaiah Caver to their squad for the 2023 season. The 19-year-old lock/back-row is 6’5″ and 200 lbs. Isaiah attended Herriman High School and played rugby, graduating in 2022. He played rugby with the Utah Warriors Academy, and the Utah Warriors Selects and is currently playing with the Hawks. He also played with the USA Rugby Academy. Other Articles DJCoil Rugby articles by Doug Coil are also available on Facebook. Other Social Media sites to follow or subscribe to include Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube for interviews.

Photo;: Craig Boudreaux Photo NOLA Gold won its first match of the season beating Rugby New York 31-5 on Sunday, March 12. The match replay may be viewed on The Rugby Network. The MLR Eastern Conference just got tighter with Rugby New York still in first place on point differential over Rugby ATL and New England Free Jacks, each with 10 points. NOLA Gold moved into fifth place with 5 points, with a point differential advantage over Toronto, while Old Glory is in fourth with 7 points. New week, NOLA Gold hosts the Utah Warriors at the Gold Mine on…

NOLA Gold hosts Rugby New York on Military Appreciation Day on Sunday, March 12 at 3 pm ET (2 pm local). For those who can’t attend, the match may be viewed on The Rugby Network, Yurview in the New Orleans area, and MSG in New York. Rugby New York enters the match in first place in the Eastern Conference, while NOLA Gold is 0-3 and is in sixth place. NOLA Gold Head Coach Kane Thompson has kept the starters intact and made two changes in the reserves with Dino Waldren at tighthead prop and Devin Short, as a flanker. He…

New England Free Jacks signed New Zealander Jesse Parete through the 2023 Major League Rugby season. The 29-year-old back-row (30 in April) is 6’4″ and 245 lbs. In 2022 he played 424 minutes in 8 matches, starting once, and scored one try. He then returned to Taranaki where he played 447 minutes in 7 starts. Prior to the 2023 season, the Free jacks announced that he was not returning for 2023, but circumstances change and he is back with New England. Jesse is from Manaia Town District, New Zealand, and attended New Plymouth Boys’ High School. He began playing rugby…

Rugby New York defeated Old Glory DC 34-8 on Sunday, March 5 at Memorial Stadium in Mount Vernon, New York. The Ironworkers are in first place in the Eastern Conference, while Old Glory moves to fourth. A replay of the match May be viewed on The Rugby Network. In another Eastern Conference match that took place on Saturday, second-place Rugby ATL defeated NOLA Gold 29-16. Match Recap Rugby  New York took advantage of an Old Glory knock-on after the opening kick, winning the ensuing scrum and kicking to touch instead of for points after a DC penalty. Instead, the Ironworkers…

The 2023 Old Glory DC squad is listed below along with player article links. Young Glory U23 hooker Tristan Cole is playing with the USA Hawks. Props: Alex Balladares, Jack Iscaro, Quentin Newcomer, Ramiro Herrera, Cali Martinez, Kyle Stewart Hookers: Facundo Gattas, Koi Koi Nelligan, Nic Souchon Locks:  David Beach, Apisai Naikatini, Tevita Naqali, Stan South Back-row: Lautaro Bavaro, Fintan Coleman, Alejo Daireaux, Brady Daniel, Cory Daniel, Collin Grosse, Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz Scrum-half: Gardy Lebon, John LeFevre, Jose Reyes, Danny Tusitala Flyhalf: Joaquín “Tito” Díaz Bonilla, Gradyn Bowd, Mike Weir Center: Doug Fraser, Fermín Martínez, Thretton Palamo, William Talataina Back three:…

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