Major League Rugby MLR

[Stargazer]

New England Free Jacks

https://www.americasrugbynews.com/competitions/2023-major-league-rugby/mlr-2023-new-england-free-jacks/

Kiwis:
Kianu Kereru-Symes
Mills Sanerivi
Joel Hintz
Sam Fischli
Mitch Jacobson
Joe Johnston
Kieran McClea
Reece MacDonald
Jayson Potroz

Semisi Paea played for Bay of Plenty in 2021.
Taniela Filimone attended Rotorua BHS and has played for Manawatū (2021-2022). He also played for Bay of Plenty Development team, Chiefs Under 20s, Tonga Under 20s and Chiefs Development XV.

[Stargazer]

San Diego

https://www.americasrugbynews.com/competitions/2023-major-league-rugby/mlr-2023-san-diego-legion/

Kiwis:
Shilo Klein (born in USA, so eligible for that country, too)
Tom Franklin
Isaac Ross
Dan Pryor
Richard Judd
Ma'a Nonu
Tomas Aoake

Blair Cowan was born in NZ (cousing of Pek Cowan), but hasn't played in NZ as far as I know.
Tupou Ma'afu Afungia plays for Hawke's Bay. He represented Tonga at an U16s level and 2 years at U20s level.
Sama Malolo was born in NZ, but grew up in Australia. He has never played in NZ.
American Chris Bauman has played for Wellington.
Fijian Filimone Waqainabete has played for Canterbury.

[Stargazer]

Seattle Seawolves

https://www.americasrugbynews.com/competitions/2023-major-league-rugby/mlr-2023-seattle-seawolves/

Kiwis:
Sam Matenga
Charles Elton

AJ Alatimu (Samoa) played for Counties Manukau, this year.

[Stargazer]

Toronto Arrows

https://www.americasrugbynews.com/competitions/2023-major-league-rugby/mlr-2023-toronto-arrows/

Kiwis:
Lolani Faleiva
Gene Syminton
Isaac Salmon
Micaiah Torrance-Reid
Sam Malcolm

Tautalatasi Tasi is NZ born, but Aussie raised, and has never played in NZ.
Aussie Will Grant has played for Northland.
Irishman Conán O'Donnell has played for the Highlanders, Counties Manukau and - in 2022 - Northland.

[Stargazer]

[Stargazer]

Watching San Diego Legion v Utah Warriors at the moment. Amazing to see Nonu still playing. Obviously, far over his top, but he'll always be class.

https://www.therugbynetwork.com/videos/utah-warriors-san-diego-legion-round-1-mlr-2023-live

[Bovidae]

A lot about his time coaching women's rugby too.

https://www.mooloo.co.nz/newsarticle/125025?newsCarouselId=680599

[antipodean]

https://twitter.com/r_MLRugby/status/1650223486676381696

[Machpants]

All sounds a bit shit!

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/jun/06/major-league-rugby-players-union-owners

[Stargazer]

https://twitter.com/therugbynetwork/status/1670220051268640768

All resulting from one fight. You can find the clip of what happened on the legendofmartybanks instagram account.

There were also two yellow cards in that game.

[Stargazer]

New England Free Jacks have won the Eastern Conference Final, and San Diego Legion the Western Conference Final, last weekend. This weekend they'll play each other in the MLR Final.

NE Free Jacks has Kiwis Tomas Aoake, Sam Fischli, Joel Hintz, Mitch Jacobson, Joe Johnston, Kianu Kereru-Symes, Reece MacDonald, Kieran McClea, Slade McDowall, Jesse Parete, Jayson Potroz, Mills Sanerivi and Beaudein Waaka on the books, while Tom Franklin, Richard Judd, Shilo Klein, Ma'a Nonu, Dan Pryor, Isaac Ross and Tupou Ma'afu Afungia play for San Diego.

Sunday 9 July 2023
Kick-off 7.00am
Live on the Rugby Network (outside USA only; free registration required)

[Higgins]

@Stargazer They could save a lot of money by simply staging the games at places like the Hunterville Domain, Lyndhurst Park, Bathgate Park or, especially for @Bones, HW Short Memorial Park.

[Wurzel]

Ma'a slotting droppies at age 41...

https://twitter.com/usmlr/status/1675631936667279360?s=20

[Machpants]

@Wurzel said in Major League Rugby MLR:

Ma'a slotting droppies at age 41...

https://twitter.com/usmlr/status/1675631936667279360?s=20

Surely we can bend some rules to get him back for the RWC?

[MN5]

@Wurzel said in Major League Rugby MLR:

Ma'a slotting droppies at age 41...

https://twitter.com/usmlr/status/1675631936667279360?s=20

“Ma’a Nonu taking his chance from downtown !”

That one line is better than anything I’ve ever heard Nisbo say in about 25 or whatever years.

[Bones]

@Higgins how's the serenity

[Daffy Jaffy]

Jayson Potroz named MLR Player of the Year

[mikedogz]

https://www.majorleague.rugby/news/major-league-rugbys-atlanta-team-to-relocate/?fbclid=IwAR3zjj4gtcxhX22AkWR6N8S_3jeOIwUBa2eu-FtP2GPvE_iQomUvhOE742o

[Stargazer]

From a Americas Rugby News article:

... behind the scenes MLR is set to reveal significant changes in the 2024 schedule. ...
As revealed ... the new campaign will begin two weeks later in the year with a March 2 weekend kickoff. That change will help alleviate some concerns with troublesome weather for northerly-based teams, but will also necessitate a two-week pause in the season – during the playoffs no less – to accommodate the July international window.

If this happens, it could mean that the NZ players in the MLR who will play NPC, may be back late and not able to play for their NPC team from the start of the season. That's also assuming they will have a break in-between both competitions.

Obviously, not all teams will make the finals, but it could still affect quite a few players.

[Stargazer]

Instagram post with the new competition structure:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Czwap0Tg5vI/?img_index=1