Major League Rugby launched in US

Dubinusa · 02-11-2018 10:07pm

Good news.

RockBoysarewii · 02-11-2018 11:33pm

Would be great to see more teams join from Canada.

The Lost Sheep · 25-01-2019 8:08pm

New season starts this weekend
First round games are
NOLA Gold v Toronto Arrows
Austin Elite Rugby v Houston SaberCats
San Diego Legion v Rugby United New York
Seattle Seawolves v Glendale Raptors

FACECUTTR · 25-01-2019 8:21pm

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

New season starts this weekend
First round games are
NOLA Gold v Toronto Arrows
Austin Elite Rugby v Houston SaberCats
San Diego Legion v Rugby United New York
Seattle Seawolves v Glendale Raptors

Any ideas if it's televised ?

The Lost Sheep · 25-01-2019 8:23pm

FACECUTTR wrote: »

Any ideas if it's televised?

It is.
On one of the ESPN channels. full tv schedule is on website
https://www.usmlr.com/schedules/

Thrashssacre · 25-01-2019 9:59pm

Anyone know anything about how ticket sales were going some of the new teams have big enough stadiums, be interesting to see if they can get people to turn out

Dubinusa · 25-01-2019 10:45pm

My Sgt is a coach for the new Massachusetts team. Apparently. Connacht A and Leinster A will be over to play in April. Me so happy.

The Lost Sheep · 25-01-2019 10:51pm

Thrashssacre wrote: »

Anyone know anything about how ticket sales were going some of the new teams have big enough stadiums, be interesting to see if they can get people to turn out

Not sure. stadiums are 3000-10000 which isnt that big in terms of sport venues in states and im fairly certain sides last year did ok in terms of getting fans and newer sides are in places with plenty of expats from here etc which should help attendances especially with irish players involved

Dubinusa wrote: »

My Sgt is a coach for the new Massachusetts team. Apparently. Connacht A and Leinster A will be over to play in April. Me so happy.

No apparantly.
All 4 provinces are playing in states. Annnounced back in November

https://www.the42.ie/provincial-a-teams-competition-usa-4332238-Nov2018/

Dubinusa · 26-01-2019 12:56am

It just gets better!!!!!

RockBoysarewii · 26-01-2019 10:03pm

The first MLR Canadian team ( Toronto Arrows ) are losing to New Orleans 24-7 at halftime.
Not looking good.

RockBoysarewii · 26-01-2019 10:34pm

Pulled it back to 24-19 you can watch it on Toronto Arrows Facebook page.

Peregrine · 27-01-2019 11:30pm

New York United 7-0 up in their first competitive game.

Dylan Fawsitt, Paddy Ryan, John Quill and Cathal Marsh all playing for NYU.

Mc Love · 28-01-2019 12:02am

Surprised Quill left the raptors, they did well last year

The Lost Sheep · 28-01-2019 12:08am

Mc Love wrote: »

Surprised Quill left the raptors, they did well last year

Lot more irish connections in New York i suppose

The Lost Sheep · 28-01-2019 12:43am

Anyone watching the stream of game on the leagues facebook page

realhorrorshow · 28-01-2019 1:13am

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

Anyone watching the stream of game on the leagues facebook page

Caught the last 20, was pretty entertaining. Watched a lot last year, the best games are a similar standard to AIL 1B maybe, but the games involving Houston/Austin/NOLA were often dire.

realhorrorshow · 28-01-2019 1:14am

Peregrine wrote: »

New York United 7-0 up in their first competitive game.

Dylan Fawsitt, Paddy Ryan, John Quill and Cathal Marsh all playing for NYU.

Ross Deacon as well, former Leinster sub academy.

Mc Love · 28-01-2019 9:27am

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

Lot more irish connections in New York i suppose

Yeah a lot more pull in New York I'd imagine. Thought it might be 1A standard from what I've seen, from some of the better teams

Thrashssacre · 30-01-2019 9:20pm

Just caught the one minuite highlights on YouTube. A real rivalry brewing between the Seawolves and Glendale rapids.

The Lost Sheep · 08-03-2019 12:10am

Should hopefully see squads named for first of the games between irish provinces and new MLR side, New England Free Jacks, as first game is next week

Connacht play them on 16th, then Connacht play Ulster on 20th and then Free Jacks play Ulster on 24th before Munster and Leinster travel out in early April

The Lost Sheep · 08-03-2019 5:13pm

Connacht squad to be named on Monday

The Lost Sheep · 11-03-2019 4:20pm

Connacht squad for the two games
Forwards
Declan Adamson, Peter Claffey. James Connolly, Robin Copeland, Jordan Duggan, Cillian Gallagher, Cian Huxford, Conor Kenny, Joe Maksymiw (c), Sean Masterson, Neal Moylett, Jonny Murphy, Conán O’Donnell, Liam Winnett.

Backs
Mark Balaski, Luke Carty, Conor Dean, Colm de Buitlear, Conor Hayes, Kieran Joyce, Stephen Kerins, Huge Lane, Oran McNulty, Sean O’Brien, Corey Reidy, Colm Reilly.

The Lost Sheep · 13-03-2019 7:13pm

5 of the 6 games to be shown live on tv.
https://www.thefreejacks.com/news/nesn-free-jacks-announce-television-partnership/?fbclid=IwAR2PE2oFlNN0lPfsDyB_KO-thKCJO73wHPMcpU9JaQjlKd2qeI_pJBQhG_I

The Lost Sheep · 16-03-2019 9:08pm

Connacht win 38-7

The Lost Sheep · 17-03-2019 2:47pm

Ulster Squad
Forwards (14)
Claytan Milligan, Zack McCall, Callum Reid, Corrie Barrett, Peter Cooper, Ross Kane, Jack Regan, Bradley Luney, JJ McKee, Charlie Clarke, Joe Dunleavy, David McCann, Marcus Rea, Caleb Montgomery
Backs (10)
Michael Stronge, Lewis Finlay, Graham Curtis, Bruce Houston, Johnny McPhilips, Jack Owens, Ben Power, Stewart Moore, Iwan Hughes, Ben McCaughey

The Lost Sheep · 22-03-2019 7:48pm

CONNACHT 44
Tries – C. Hayes 2 (13’, 69’), J. Murphy 2 (20’, 38’), S. O’Brien (50’), H. Lane (55’), R. Copeland (60’)
Cons – C. Dean 3/7 (21’, 39’, 61’)
Pens – C. Dean 1/1 (4’)

ULSTER 21
Tries – J. Dunleavy (42’), G. Curtis 2 (62’, 65’)
Cons – J. McPhillips 1/1 (43’), B. Houston 2/2 (63’, 66’)
Yellow cards – C. Reid (78’)

The Lost Sheep · 02-04-2019 5:12pm

Munster squad named
Alex McHenry is one of 12 Greencore Munster Rugby Academy players in the Munster A squad.
Alex McHenry is one of 12 Greencore Munster Rugby Academy players in the Munster A squad.
A 27-man Munster A squad has been announced for the upcoming Cara Cup fixtures in Boston against the New England Free Jacks and Leinster A.
A mix of senior, Academy and club players have been selected and the squad depart for the USA tomorrow.

Six senior players have been selected – Liam O’Connor, Conor Oliver, Dave O’Callaghan, Duncan Williams, James Hart and Alex Wootton.

The 12 Academy players included are Keynan Knox, Eoghan Clarke, Seán O’Connor, Gavin Coombes, Jack Daly, Jack O’Sullivan, Jack Stafford, Ben Healy, Alex McHenry, Seán French, Alan Tynan and James McCarthy.

The nine club players travelling to Boston are David Jennings (Dolphin RFC), Paddy Kelly (Young Munster), Luke Kingston (Highfield), Luke Masters (Shannon), Shane O’Driscoll (Midleton RFC), Ross O’Neill (Cork Constitution FC), Conor Phillips (Young Munster), Cian Reale (Old Crescent RFC) and Billy Scannell (Young Munster).

Munster A face the New England Free Jacks, who are joining US Major League Rugby next year, in the first of two Cara Cup games this Saturday at the Irish Cultural Centre (ICC) in Canton, Massachusetts.

Munster A then face Leinster A at Union Point Sports Complex in Weymouth, Massachusetts, next Wednesday.

The Lost Sheep · 08-04-2019 5:22pm

Leinster squad named
Vakh Abdaladze (Clontarf FC)
Jack Aungier (Terenure College RFC)
Ryan Baird (DUFC)
Ruadhan Byron (Clontarf FC)
Giuseppe Coyne (DUFC)
Oisín Dowling (Lansdowne FC)
Mark Flemming (UCD)
Gerard Hill (Old Belvedere RFC)
Ronan Kelleher (Lansdowne FC)
Conor Kelly (Clontarf FC)
Jack Kelly (DUFC)
Gavin Mullin (UCD)
Shane Murphy (UCD)
Jimmy O’Brien (UCD)
Brian O’Donnell (Lansdowne FC)
Max O’Reilly (DUFC)
Aaron O’Sullivan (UCD)
Paddy Patterson (UCD)
Rob Russell (DUFC)
Roman Salanoa (Old Belvedere RFC)
Dan Sheehan (DUFC)
James Tarrant (UCD)

The Lost Sheep · 11-04-2019 9:21am

https://munsterrugby.ie/2019/04/11/munster-a-beaten-by-leinster-a-in-cara-cup-thriller/

53-49 in Leinster Munster game.

11-04-2019 11:19am

Why are all these squads going over to the states

Tarf1234 · 11-04-2019 11:58am

Deleted User wrote: »

Why are all these squads going over to the states

A combination of money and pissing off the clubs. Certainly not for any actual rugby value.

Squidgy Black · 11-04-2019 12:18pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Why are all these squads going over to the states

Pretty much all to do with the financial gains. MLR will gladly fling a load of quid at the provinces in the hope of bringing the 'Irish-American' diaspora to games, and the provinces are happy to get their pockets lined for the hassle.

Hence the whole "Cara Cup" thing

11-04-2019 12:27pm

Mc Love wrote: »

Yeah a lot more pull in New York I'd imagine. Thought it might be 1A standard from what I've seen, from some of the better teams

I wonder if you will see the teams come scouting the AIL for academy players who got cut prematurely? Very hard to come back when you are out, that young.
Darragh Fanning and Robbie Copeland managed it recently enough (will be more but I knew them from the club) but had to take long routes to it.
Getting paid well to play for a few years, in America, would be tempting to a load of youngsters.
Surprised that they have not grabbed Gavin Hickey, currently with Navy College Team and National Colleges, to do some promo here.

Ireland has plenty of players there who would be playing professionally in lower teams, if we were able to field more than 4 teams.

The Lost Sheep · 11-04-2019 1:35pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Why are all these squads going over to the states

got offer to go. Chance of a teams(younger player) on tour and in pro set up during the tour

Tarf1234 wrote: »

A combination of money and pissing off the clubs. Certainly not for any actual rugby value.

don't see why they'd want to puss them off but saw benefits of this for provinces and players long term

LeinsterDub · 11-04-2019 8:04pm

https://www.usmlr.com/news/major-league-rugby-growth-continues-with-season-3-expansion/

3 new teams next year and a conference system. Great to see it doing so well

Tarf1234 · 12-04-2019 8:47am

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

got offer to go. Chance of a teams(younger player) on tour and in pro set up during the tour

don't see why they'd want to puss them off but saw benefits of this for provinces and players long term

If you don't see why Nucifera would want to piss off or fire a shot against the club you are being willfully ignorant.

12-04-2019 8:54am

Tarf1234 wrote: »

If you don't see why Nucifera would want to piss off or fire a shot against the club you are being willfully ignorant.

Why don't you explain your point that just throwing insults?

Tarf1234 · 12-04-2019 10:57am

Deleted User wrote: »

Why don't you explain your point that just throwing insults?

Anyone who has followed this at all will understand. The clubs (or majority of) went against him and this was his way of getting back at them.

12-04-2019 11:10am

Tarf1234 wrote: »

Anyone who has followed this at all will understand. The clubs (or majority of) went against him and this was his way of getting back at them.

Again you are claiming without backing up how you know that this is true (his getting back at them)

Tarf1234 · 12-04-2019 1:44pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Again you are claiming without backing up how you know that this is true (his getting back at them)

Do you expect him to have sent emails to that extent or made a press release....

12-04-2019 2:03pm

Tarf1234 wrote: »

Do you expect him to have sent emails to that extent or made a press release....

So it's your opinion. Fine, just not cool to attack people because they don't share your opinion (especially when you can't point to anything to back it up)

The Lost Sheep · 15-04-2019 12:05am

Leinster win 55-12

Stainalert · 15-04-2019 8:48am

The Lost Sheep wrote: »

Leinster win 55-12

Am sure the Leinster players will have learnt a lot from that game

Tarf1234 · 15-04-2019 8:55am

Stainalert wrote: »

Am sure the Leinster players will have learnt a lot from that game

Ye, particularly all the lads who have no chance of getting a contract.....

15-04-2019 9:00am

Tarf1234 wrote: »

Ye, particularly all the lads who have no chance of getting a contract.....

Might get American contracts now, better chance of a professional career than they had this time last week.

Irish provinces are not the be-all and end-all of playing opportunities

Stainalert · 15-04-2019 9:09am

Deleted User wrote: »

Might get American contracts now, better chance of a professional career than they had this time last week.

Irish provinces are not the be-all and end-all of playing opportunities

And that should be considered a success for Irish rugby?

15-04-2019 9:39am

Stainalert wrote: »

And that should be considered a success for Irish rugby?

Yes because we are missing out of depth, because we onky have 4 teams. The more Irish eligible players, playing prifessionally, that we can call home the better.

Not all players develop by the time academies cut them

thomond2006 · 15-04-2019 9:44am

Stainalert wrote: »

And that should be considered a success for Irish rugby?

If they are surplus to requirements at the provinces, then absolutely.

15-04-2019 9:54am

thomond2006 wrote: »

If they are surplus to requirements at the provinces, then absolutely.

We have dozens of players culled from the provinces each year. Some of whom are potentially Pro14/Internationally standard, in their mid/late 20s but were cut from the academies for whatever reason.

So we have all these players, end up playing AIL and never develop beyond that whereas if they were in Pro leagues would be viable options for a call back to Provinces/International should they develop to their potential.
As I threw out earlier, in the past decade I trained with two such lads in Darragh and Robbie.

Stainalert · 15-04-2019 10:05am

Deleted User wrote: »

Yes because we are missing out of depth, because we onky have 4 teams. The more Irish eligible players, playing prifessionally, that we can call home the better.

Not all players develop by the time academies cut them

Pretty one eyed view of looking at things through professional rugby goggles.
Ignoring your own domestic game and exporting players certainly hasn't worked for the FAI. In rugby terms it has hurt South Africa badly. For me a strong domestic club league would be a far more preferable solution for a whole host of reasons.

Major League Rugby launched in US

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