Major League Rugby kicks off in the US
The highly anticipated inaugural season of North America’s newest professional rugby league is underway.
Major League Rugby kicked off with back to back fixtures on Saturday afternoon (EST), with the New Orleans Gold and Glendale Raptors claiming the first victories of the competition. Both games were streamed live on Major League Rugby’s official Facebook page.
The New Orleans Gold and the Houston Sabercats officially got the competition started with their clash in Houston.
Former Fijian Olympic sevens captain Osea Kolinisau picked up the first try of the competition, barrelling over from a quick tap close to the line to put the Sabercats on the board.
Fellow Fijian Josua Vici followed up Kolinisau’s effort as he set off on a 60-metre try scoring scamper, beating several defenders on his way to giving the Sabercats a 12-3 lead.
The Sabercats hit back before halftime, with No. 8 Sebastian Kalm crashing over after a quick tap from a scrum penalty on the Sabercats five-metre line. JP Eloff added the extras to close the gap to just two points heading into the sheds.
Sabercats loosehead prop Jake Turnbull received the competition’s first card after he was shown yellow for repeated infringements at scrum time.
The Gold struck twice after halftime and slotted a penalty to take a commanding 25-12 lead entering the final quarter, but the Sabercats refused to lay down.
Turnbull, who was yellow carded earlier in the match, scored for the Sabercats to pull the scoreline back to 25-19 with 13 minutes to play.
The Gold all but sealed the match in the 74th minute, as JP Eloff scored and converted a try to give his side an insurmountable 32-19 lead.
The Sabercats scored shortly after the kickoff to bring the score to 32-26 with two minutes remaining and make things interesting, but they were unable to conjure a miracle and steal a famous home victory.
Another Eloff penalty before the final hooter settled the final scoreline in a thrilling opening match.
The second fixture was a little more one-sided, with the Glendale Raptors putting in a huge effort at home.
It took less than two minutes for the Austin Elite to receive a yellow card, as lock Ben Mitchell was sent off for a no-arms off the ball tackle.
Cards would be a recurring theme over the afternoon.
Despite being a man down, the Elite were able to hold off the Raptors and score the first try of the match, with winger Reece Czarnecki dotting down after a break from captain Andrew Suniula.
Great team try!@Austin_E_Rugby is on the board first. #MLRugby pic.twitter.com/LEaa0RpwQj
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) April 21, 2018
Glendale responded with three tries and 24 unanswered points before the break to give themselves a 24-7 lead.
After their strong finish to the first half, it was all Glendale to start the second 40.
Fullback Maximo de Achaval kept the Raptors’ momentum going, opening the second half scoring by splitting a pair of Austin defenders to cross the chalk.
The local boy! Maximo de Achaval scores. @glendaleraptors add a 2nd Half try. #MLRugby pic.twitter.com/IYTSFar5v5
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) April 21, 2018
The Raptors kept their foot on the throat of the Elite as they put up their fifth unanswered try to push the scoreline out to 38-7.
Discipline let both sides down as Elite winger Sani Taylor was shown yellow and try-scoring Raptors lock Ben Landry received a red card for a tip tackle on USA Eagle Hanco Germishuys.
The Elite scored three tries in reply against their undermanned opponents, including a stunning sideline dart from Germishuys.
The Big Unit! Hanco Germishuys with power for @Austin_E_Rugby. #MLRugby pic.twitter.com/QiwrjCSg4W
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) April 21, 2018
The Raptors finished the game with just 12 men after flanker Connor Cook was handed a red for a tip tackle and prop Kelepi Fifita took an early shower after repeat infringements close to the try line.
With a final scoreline of 41-26, the Raptors look like strong contenders to claim the inaugural Major League Rugby title if they can get a handle on their discipline.
The first weekend of competition will be rounded off tomorrow when the Seattle Sunwolves host the San Diego Legion in front of a sold-out crowd.
All games in the competition’s ten-week regular season will be broadcast live on Facebook, with one game each week broadcast on CBS Sports.
Comments on RugbyPass
The game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
21 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
12 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
12 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
5 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
25 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
5 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
37 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
37 Go to comments