MLR 2022 – Week 6

MLR Week 6: Weekend Results & Standings – Canadians in the Rosters – Match Highlights

Matches are streamed live at therugbynetwork.com

March 12

Rugby ATL 29 v Austin Gilgronis 14
@ Silverbacks Park – 12pm PT

The top two teams in the league go head to head.

Atlanta at 3-1 feature Matt Heaton at openside with Conor Keys on the bench.

Austin don’t have any Canadians in the side.

Matt Heaton scored a try in the game for Atlanta.

Continue reading

MLR 2022 – Week 5

Week 5 Results with Canadian Players Listed: Austin Remain Undefeated; Wins for New Orleans, Utah, Atlanta, Austin, New England, San Diego: MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

As we noted after Week 2, Austin look the team to beat this year and are the only undefeated side now. The following are the match results, Canadian players in the rosters, match highlights and the standings after Week 5.

Continue reading

MLR 2022 – Week 4

MLR Week 4 Results: Austin Still Looking the Team to Beat – Wins for Toronto, New York, Austin, San Diego, LA: MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

Austin still look the team to beat and this week they face a stern challenge as they travel to Seattle to play another undefeated side, the Seattle Seawolves. The result may give a hint as to who has edge in the race for the title this year.

Continue reading

MLR All Star Teams – Week 3

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.

Continue reading

MLR 2022 – Week 3

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.

Continue reading

MLR 2022 – Week 2

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.

Continue reading

MLR 2022 – Week 1

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.

Continue reading

MLR Updates – January 2022

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.

Continue reading

MLR Updates – January 2022

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.

Continue reading

MLR Draft – 2021

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.

Continue reading