Major League Rugby launched in US

aedanknight

LA Giltinis will be playing at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum - https://www.giltinis.com/news/the-new-home-of-rugby-giltinis-confirm-los-angeles-memorial-coliseum-as-home-venue/

Will be interesting to see how it goes and what sort of crowds they can get for the games.

realhorrorshow

Austin Gilgronis
18. Paddy Ryan*

Houston Sabercats
3. Charlie Connolly
10. Sam Windsor

LA Giltinis
16. Sean McNulty
22. Luke Carty

New England Free Jacks
9. John Poland
19. Ronan McCusker

Rugby ATL
20. Ross Deacon

Rugby United New York
2. Dylan Fawsitt*
8. Evan Mintern
12. Will Leonard

San Diego Legion
3. Cronan Gleeson
4. Ben Mitchell

Seattle Seawolves
23. Kieran Joyce

Lost Ormond

realhorrorshow wrote: »

Austin Gilgronis
18. Paddy Ryan*

Houston Sabercats
3. Charlie Connolly
10. Sam Windsor

LA Giltinis
16. Sean McNulty
22. Luke Carty

New England Free Jacks
9. John Poland
19. Ronan McCusker

Rugby ATL
20. Ross Deacon

Rugby United New York
2. Dylan Fawsitt*
8. Evan Mintern
12. Will Leonard

San Diego Legion
3. Cronan Gleeson

Seattle Seawolves
23. Kieran Joyce

Surprised Paul Mullen not picked for Utah
Nice number of irish involved.

Wil try catch as many of the games online as possible

realhorrorshow

Lost Ormond wrote: »

Surprised Paul Mullen not picked for Utah
Nice number of irish involved.

Wil try catch as many of the games online as possible

Assume he's injured, prop is definitely the weakest position across the league.

Can't really put my finger on why but I really enjoy the games, will be interesting to see the law variations in action too.

Lost Ormond

5 rounds in
LA Gilintis only unbeaten side so far.
Anyone watched any games?

Thrashssacre

Lost Ormond wrote: »

5 rounds in
LA Gilintis only unbeaten side so far.
Anyone watched any games?

Been dipping in and our, its not the full shilling yet. The commentary for some of the games is absolutely abysmal.

Lost Ormond

Thrashssacre wrote: »

Been dipping in and our, its not the full shilling yet. The commentary for some of the games is absolutely abysmal.

Well you would expect that about the commentary tbf...
Wouldnt expect it to be full shilling but hopefully can get there in time as could be huge for world rugby if it does get to a good standard.

ridonkulous

Lost Ormond wrote: »

5 rounds in
LA Gilintis only unbeaten side so far.
Anyone watched any games?

I've trying to watch one of the evening games each week and while the standard is questionable I find it incredibly entertaining for the most part. Some of the matches are real end to end stuff with little to no let up.

I've noticed a lot of the pitches tend to be quite hard and firm which makes for a fast game but kicking can be a problem with the hard bounces etc. But overall I'm really liking it so far, I will definitely be tuning in for the foreseeable.

Have you been watching it as well yeah?

Dubinusa

I've watched a few. Entertaining fare.. probably not a high standard.. But its rugby!!!

realhorrorshow

I have watched plenty of MLR since 2018, the on-pitch product has improved immensely, to the point where it's nearly unrecognisable from season 1. The teams are largely well matched and the games are quite entertaining, 4 of 6 at the weekend were single score games. Plus there's plenty of Irish players to keep an eye on.

Unfortunately the broadcast quality has not improved along the same lines, and the product is often made to look bush league as a result. The commentary is atrocious, camerawork is shaky, and the directors have no concept of which shots to use at any given time.

realhorrorshow

Rory Best off to Seattle as a coach.

Losty Dublin

Dubinusa wrote: »

I've watched a few. Entertaining fare.. probably not a high standard.. But its rugby!!!

Where can it be viewed on TV?

Lost Ormond

Losty Dublin wrote: »

Where can it be viewed on TV?

Online. On the Rugby Network.

AbusesToilets

realhorrorshow wrote: »

Rory Best off to Seattle as a coach.

Wow, that's a great deal for everyone.

BlueAndWh1te

Does anyone know what Cathal Marsh's story is? Haven't seen him for RUNY this season so far

Lost Ormond

BlueAndWh1te wrote: »

Does anyone know what Cathal Marsh's story is? Haven't seen him for RUNY this season so far

Was asked earlier in the thread.... he's finished playing and is back in Ireland

Podge_irl

Purist98 wrote: »

He's actually retired from pro rugby, back working in Dublin and playing with Terenure

Apparently Marsh isn't playing anymore.

Squidgy Black

BlueAndWh1te wrote: »

Does anyone know what Cathal Marsh's story is? Haven't seen him for RUNY this season so far

Back home, finished up in New York after last season and is playing with Terenure

Lost Ormond

final is tonight

https://www.americasrugbynews.com/2021/07/31/mlr-championship-final-preview-la-giltinis-vs-rugby-atl/

Podge_irl

https://www.therugbynetwork.com/videos/atl-rugby-la-giltinis-final-live

Live stream here

Podge_irl

Pitch looks extremely narrow. Is that normal in MLR?

Podge_irl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117692947#Comment_117692947

Its **** ruining the game. You wouldn't find space on this pitch in 7s

Lost Ormond

2022 season starting on same weekend as 6 nations opening round

13 teams and 18 weekends of games including the finals.

Good number of irish involved again.

RuPi

See Mick O’Gara from St Marys is signed to the Utah Warriors.

PMC83

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118451248#Comment_118451248

Anyone been to a game? Some of the smaller arenas look like a good day out. A mate living in Atlanta says they get a good crowd to Rugby Atlanta, decent day out apparently

Lost Ormond

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118451507#Comment_118451507

Hope to get over to game soon enough. Have few friends playing in league

Theyve done well and kept to smaller stadiums and are building slowly. not expanding too far too fast

Dubinusa

Been to the freejacks! Good amount of fans.

PMC83

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118451559#Comment_118451559

are the lads semi pro?

PMC83

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118451670#Comment_118451670

cool, decent match day experience? expats or a healthy mix?

Dubinusa

Mostly college kids. Some ex pats. It's getting popular in this area.

Lost Ormond

Only 4 rounds before playoffs.

Austin and New England leading each of conferences at the moment...

PMC83

Anyone been to an MLS match yet? A friedn went to watch Atlanta play, decent small stadium and looked like a pretty good match day experience

Lost Ormond

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119041306#Comment_119041306

Have been looking into it but covid put things on hold. might do it for next seasons competition

Lost Ormond

League Update: Due to a violation of league rules, the LA Giltinis have been disqualified from the 2022 Major League Rugby competition. https://t.co/QWopH5NUzm

PMC83

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119170457#Comment_119170457

Any details on that? I see Quade Copper arrived, ran about and legged it. Wonder if its related.

Lost Ormond

Noel Reid joining Toronto Arrows

https://twitter.com/TorontoArrows/status/1585666489759195139

PMC83

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119802138#Comment_119802138

Interesting move, I wonder is this a reflection of how tight things are out there. You'd assume he could get in a stronger league if he wanted.

CIARAN_BOYLE

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119803288#Comment_119803288

He hasn't been tearing up trees in the last few years.

Last year he split time between being a depth option in the prod2 (getting 5 appearances) and a loan spell in the premiership (getting 2 appearance.

He didn't have a club for this season.

Maybe it will put him in the shop window or maybe its a desperate search for a pro deal.

realhorrorshow

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119805131#Comment_119805131

Didn't the owner of that French club basically come out and say they were sold a pup?

Lost Ormond

2023 Schedule released

Regular season Starts February 17 and ends June 18

CIARAN_BOYLE

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119878631#Comment_119878631

It seems like a very short season to fund pro rugby.

Looking at those dates makes me think.

Someone could feasibly play the Major League Rugby season and the NPC Cup in New Zealand and still get a decent break.

I wonder if there are any players following that path.

Lost Ormond

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119879021#Comment_119879021

Similar length season as few other pro leagues. Japan.

They play 16 games in 16 weeks. No breaks for international rugby or any other competitions. Has been a few players who have played both Mitre 10 and MLR in same year

CIARAN_BOYLE

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119879132#Comment_119879132

I know with the MLR salary cap that its rather hard to support yourself fully rugby in America and I was reading recently about how the NPC is becoming more semi professional and amateur every year and when I noticed that the dates lined up for a player to play both I just thought it might make sense for a player struggling to stay as a professional rugby player to play both.

I suppose one could play NPC cup and Currie Cup or Top League in Japan too depending on visas lining up and foreign player quotas.

PMC83

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119805136#Comment_119805136

yikes really??? Rough

Lost Ormond

Bit of change in teams for next season

rugby atlanta have been purchased and will move cities

league expands to 14 teams in 2024 with a Miami side entering.

PMC83

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121009708#Comment_121009708

I've a mate who lived in Atlanta and went to see them a bit. Looked a great day out. Must be so harsh being a fan there though, team up and gone with the click of a finger. In Atlantas case leaving some bad blood too. Massive rebrand 8 months ago, new logos, jerseys and whole lot. Fans bought in only for the team to move on and rebrand again a short time later

ersatz

The MLR is having zero positive impact on the grassroots game in the US, and by extension very little positive impact on the Eagles. They host the RWC in 8 years and I expect they'll have to build a team by bringing in and qualifying players through residency to build a competitive team.

sprucemoose

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121035966#Comment_121035966

can you elaborate? i dont want that to sound sarcastic or anything, im genuinely interested

ersatz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121039254#Comment_121039254

MLR initially had a US qualified player quota for each team in the league but it was quickly dropped and from what I can see the recruitment and academy system is hodge podge and incoherent. The 2 Main MLR owners are rich guys who can't stand each other and the US union has very little power within that structure (which was endorsed by world rugby insanely). Rumor is that USA Rugby (the union) is hiring a director of rugby from abroad with a view to gearing up the team for 2031 and given the disarray of the system I'm guessing they'll have to recruit players too.

sprucemoose

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121039703#Comment_121039703

i didnt know they dropped the player quota, that seems like not the best idea in fairness. i know they basically let the gilchrist guy do what he wanted too since it looked like he was positive but that obviously worked out how it did

i only have a passing knowledge of the league tbh but it sounds like a few of the teams are based kinda far from the actual places they are named after, which is probably understandable in terms of access to facilities, but still, if someone is travelling to a game its probably not great to have to travel a further hour or two to get to the game.

needs more canadian teams too. its not the easiest because the existing facilities are in a strange location but B.C for example needs a team.