Category Archives: MLR

MLR All Star Teams – Week 3

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Summary of MLR First XV Picks by Country After Three Weeks

We took a look at the Country of Origin/Eligibility for the weekly MLR All Star picks, called the First XV. We’ve seen, from Canada’s example, that selecting a national team from those who simply make the MLR isn’t sufficient to qualify for the World Cup. The MLR, currently, isn’t of high enough quality compared to other professional leagues in Europe and the southern hemisphere. Players have to consistently excel in the MLR to be competitive at the international level. Players who get regular game time in leagues like France’s Top 14 should be considered ahead in development.

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MLR 2022 – Week 3

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MLR Week 3: Wins for Seattle, Toronto, Austin, New England, New York, Houston

After two weeks Austin Gilronis look to be the dominant team. The Giltinis won the title last year, is it the Gilronis turn this year? Both teams are owned by Australian business man Adam Gilchrist and his Loyals Rugby group. The formula seems the same, seed the team with top level Tier 1 players in key positions. Last year it was Matt Giteau and Adam Ashley-Cooper leading Giltinis to the title. The Gilronis this week feature 5 South African, New Zealand, Australia players in the forwards and a halfback pairing of South Africa and Australia, add in an Argentinean on the wing and an Irishman in the centres to complete a dominant international roster. We’ll see how they do this week against last year’s semi-finalists Utah.

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MLR 2022 – Week 2

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MLR Week 2 Results: Seattle Defeat Utah, Nakai Penny Try Video; LA Down Arrows; Wins for Austin, Atlanta, San Diego, New York

Week 2 kicks off Thursday evening in Seattle, on Friday the Toronto Arrows host LA in Langford. There are four games slated for Saturday. We’ll track the Canadians in the team lists.

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MLR 2022 – Week 1

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MLR Week 1 Results: Wins for Seattle, San Diego, New England, Houston, Austin, Atlanta – List of Canadian Players in Rosters

The MLR kicked off this weekend with six matches, four on Saturday. We’ve highlighted the Canadian players who are in the match day 23 for the various teams.

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MLR Updates – January 2022

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Seattle Seawolves Sign Burnaby Lake Scrumhalf Reid Watkins

Reid Watkins first shows up in our database in 2017 when the BC Bears won the national title over the Ontario Blues, the precursor to the Toronto Arrows. Reid Watkins was the backup #9 behind player/coach Phil Mack. Phil Mack would go on to be player/coach for Seattle in their two championship seasons. There’s a MLR/Seattle connection already.

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MLR Updates – January 2022

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Conor McCann Signs with Toronto Arrows: Former Youth Rugby Star Returns to National Team Pathway

Conor McCann was one of the bright stars in Canadian rugby a decade ago. He came into our view in the summer of 2011 when he helped Ontario win the Victoria International 7s U18 division. He made the tournament all-star team along with another top player, Justin Douglas, who went on to be a mainstay on the national 7s team. He played for the invitational DHL XV (Derek Hyde-Lay) that year, along with John Moonlight, Connor Braid, Conor Trainor, against the Canada U20 team, he would have been 17 or 18 at the time. He would go on and play for the Canada U20 team the next two years, 2012 and 2013. He compiled 60 points over the two tournaments making him Canada’s all-time leading scorer in the JWRT at the time, a record that may still stand.

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MLR Draft – 2021

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Three BC University Players Picked in Top Two Rounds: Logan Martin-Feek, James O’Neill, Bryce Worden

The MLR Draft for the 2022 season took place today. There were 3 rounds with university players from USA and Canada eligible.

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MLR All Star Teams

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MLR Release All Star Team With 2nd Team and Honourable Mentions

MLR have released their all-star team and runners up. They released a 1st team, 2nd team and Honorable Mention. It’s interesting to note where the best players are from, here is a breakdown by country.

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MLR Final 2021

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LA Giltinis Win MLR Title: Four Canada Capped Players in Match – DTH Scores 2nd Half Try

The MLR title match between LA and Atlanta had Canadian players on each team. On the Atlanta side were Matt Heaton, openside, and Conor Keys, second row. On the LA team were DTH on the wing and Corey Thomas at #8.

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MLR Semi-Finals 2021

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MLR Semis: NY @ Atlanta and Utah @ LA

The MLR season is close to wrapping up with the semis taking place this weekend. On Saturday it will be the East final with NY @ Atlanta. Quinn Ngawati is on the wing for NY and Matt Heaton will be openside for Atlanta, Conor Keys is in the reserves for Atlanta.

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