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Five key matches to look out for after the 2021 Major League Rugby schedule release
Professional rugby is one step closer to returning to North America’s shores with Major League Rugby revealing their schedule for the 2021 season on Tuesday.
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The competition was suspended and later cancelled last season due to COVID-19 after five rounds had been played.
Speaking following the schedule release, MLR Commissioner George Killebrew admitted that he’s “really excited” about having rugby back.
“All of the economic indicators that sports leagues and sports teams are judged by, were on their way up. From ticket sales to sponsorship to broadcast, our TV ratings were greater,” Killebrew said on MLR’s Voices Around The League.
“It was really frustrating after week five to have to shut down which makes us even more excited to be here today getting ready for 2021.”
The season is set to begin on March 20th and run through until August 1st, where the third ever MLR champion is set to be crowned.
“If we’re having a discussion on August the 2nd, it means that we got through 16 weeks of matches, and we played the final on August the 1st on CBS, and that gets me the most excited.”
Following the #MLR2021 schedule release, MLR held a live Media Q&A to discuss Season 4!https://t.co/QCNr78CV27
Hosted by @DaniWex w/ @GeorgeKillebrew, @DallasJackals Assistant GM & Assistant Coach @ElaineVassie, @TorontoArrows Lucas Rumball, & @utwarriorsrugby Lance Williams.
ADVERTISEMENT— Major League Rugby (@usmlr) December 9, 2020
Colorado Raptors withdrew from MLR following last season, but the league has still managed to expand, welcoming both the LA Giltinis and Dallas Jackals as the 12th and 13th franchises.
It’s an exciting time for American rugby, and with so many great fixtures lined up, it’s set to be the best season of MLR to date. With just 100 days between now and the start of the season, we picked out five of the key games for you to look out for.
Los Angeles Giltinis vs Dallas Jackals – Week 1, March 20th
This might just be the most intriguing fixture ahead of the 2021 season with competition newcomers in the LA Giltinis and Dallas Jackals set to go head-to-head in the opening weekend.
George Killebrew described the addition of both franchises as a “very significant” moment for MLR, as the competition now has a team representing the top five media markets in the US, and seven of the top 10.
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MLR announced their decision to award the competitions 12th franchise to Los Angeles in late May, while Dallas were revealed to be the other expansion side eight days later.
Dallas had the first pick in the inaugural MLR Collegiate Draft, selecting utility back Conner Mooneyham from Life University. Three other players were also drafted, which on top of some exciting signings and an experienced coaching staff means that there’s plenty to like about how the Jackals are shaping up.
The Giltinis announced their first signings last month, Draft Pick Watson Filikitonga, and have since revealed some of an already impressive squad. Arguably Canada’s best player in DTH van der Merwe is set to make the move from Glasgow Warriors, teaming up with former Wallaby Dave Dennis and exciting Australian prospect in Mahe Vailanu.
Both LA and Dallas are two of the most notable sporting cities in the country, so seeing them represented in MLR for the first time is going to be incredible in itself.
San Diego Legion vs Toronto Arrows – Week 2, March 28th
This very well could have been the 2020 Championship Final that we never got to see.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves here, last season was only five matches in before it was cut short, but this matchup was certainly a possibility.
Over the past couple of seasons, Toronto have proven themselves to be the quiet achiever of the league. While most of MLR’s attention has followed two-time champions Seattle, or the Legion’s marquee signings, the Arrows made the 2019 finals series and were well on their way to do it again last season.
Toronto were second on the standings with four wins and one loss, but had the best points difference of any team in the competition. This came despite playing all of their matches being played on the road.
After an opening round bye, their first match of the new season will be against the Legion, who were the form team ahead of the COVID-19 break last season.
A win against arguably the favourites for the title, away from home, would go a long way to proving how much of a contender they really are.
Austin Gilgronis vs Houston SaberCats – Week 3, April 3rd
Austin claimed bragging rights over their rivals Houston last season, running out 24-20 winners to take out the Texas Cup. That was their only victory that season, with Houston also winning just the one match out of five.
But rivalries never disappoint, and both teams have been busy in the off-season getting their sides ready for such an occasion.
Texas does everything bigger! Last season the @Gilgronis took home the Texas Cup over the @Hou_Sabercats, but with the @DallasJackals joining the mix things are heating up in Texas ?
Who you do you think will reign the three Texas teams in #MLR2021? pic.twitter.com/YV9JFp9O6e
— Major League Rugby (@usmlr) October 20, 2020
Austin Gilgronis have announced plenty of signings already, including lock Sebastian de Chaves, Canadian internationals Jeff Hassler, Cole Davis and Reegan O’Gorman, former Waratah Mack Mason, and USA Eagle Paddy Ryan.
The SaberCats have also done a great job in bringing back talent from last season, and signing some new players from around MLR and the world.
But both teams are set to host MLR powerhouse Seattle across the opening two weekends, which could add some extra feeling to an already big occasion. With both Austin and Houston set to carry the underdog tag into their clash against the Seawolves, a win against their Texan rivals in round three might be needed to make sure that they don’t begin to slip away from the rest of the competition.
New England Free Jacks vs Rugby United New York – Week 3, April 3rd
New England is the most successful and arguably well-known region in American sport, and after an introduction to rugby that was cut short last season, rugby is finally is finally set to get in on the action.
The Free Jacks are set to face-off against rivals New York in their first MLR home match, having not had the chance to host a match at Union Point Sports Complex in their inaugural season. They made their MLR debut as the ‘home’ team against Rugby United in the MLR Vegas Weekend, before rounding off that campaign with four away fixtures.
???| Free Jacks 2021 Major League Rugby kit is here!#collarcollar #FreeJacks2021
? Get shopping at https://t.co/pRHLxMCuRt@usmlr @PaladinSprts pic.twitter.com/MGb7VhHVcq
— New England Free Jacks (@NEFreeJacks) November 17, 2020
Having got the win over their north-east rivals last season, led by Canadian second-rower Josh Larsen, the Free Jacks will be looking to do it again to cap off an historic occasion.
But for New York, it’s a must win as well.
The week before their trip to New England they face Old Glory DC away. They’ll have to avoid back-to-back losses against their Eastern Conference rivals if they’re to remain in the hunt for the number one seed.
Seattle Seawolves vs San Diego Legion – Week 15, June 27th
An absolutely crucial match awaits both the Legion and Seawolves in week 15, with the two fierce rivals set to go head-to-head with playoffs less than a month away.
These are the two most decorated teams in the history of MLR already, with the Seawolves having won both titles in 2018 and 2019.
But after losing the big dance last year before, the Legion were well on their way to going one step further in 2020, before the season was cancelled. Their impressive five from five start to the season included a 33-24 win over Seattle.
Both of these teams are expected to be battling it out for the top seed in the Western Conference, and this match might just end up being the deciding match.
Mark your calendars! The 2021 schedule is official here.
Which matchups are you most excited for in #MLR2021? ? #RugbyIsBack
Full schedule ? https://t.co/MWHls7Ryj5
Key dates and March lineup ? pic.twitter.com/r1iGjV7RJI
— Major League Rugby (@usmlr) December 8, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
Anna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
61 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
8 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
61 Go to comments