Major League Rugby MLR
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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) -
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) -
Ma'a slotting droppies at age 41...
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Ma'a slotting droppies at age 41...
@Wurzel said in Major League Rugby MLR:
Ma'a slotting droppies at age 41...
Surely we can bend some rules to get him back for the RWC?
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Ma'a slotting droppies at age 41...
@Wurzel said in Major League Rugby MLR:
Ma'a slotting droppies at age 41...
“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.
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@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.
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Jayson Potroz named MLR Player of the Year
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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.
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Instagram post with the new competition structure:
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New England Free Jacks have announced their squad for the 2024 MLR season.
Kiwis
Malakai Hala-Ngatai (Manawatū)
Sean Ralph (Waikato)
Mitch Jacobson (Waikato)
Seta Baker ( Ta$man)
Reece MacDonald (BOP 2018)
Jayson Potroz (Taranaki)
Danyon Morgan-Puterangi (North Harbour)Not returning:
Joel Hintz
Kianu Kereru-Symes
Mils Sanerivi
Sam Fischli
Joe Johnston
Slade McDowall
Kieran McClea
Beaudein Waakahttps://freejacks.com/news/new-england-free-jacks-announce-2024-roster/
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Geez, another one. All's going well in the MLR. :confused_face:
@Stargazer There is a large NZ contingent at NY. The coaches include James Semple, Ben Afeaki and Andy Ellis plus about a dozen players.
Those who say that NZR should also look to North America to build partnerships might be concerned too.
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Does this mean a number of MLR players will return to New Zealand and could play Super Rugby next year?
@SBW1 That depends. The MLR organisation will try to find another MLR club for them first (there may still be spots available). Only if they don't succeed (or the player doesn't agree with the move or the conditions), they'll either return to NZ or sign somewhere else (if possible). Obviously, if they return home and don't sign somewhere else, they may be available for SR replacement contracts.
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I wonder where they find the money to buy all those players. Stadiums are empty and I guess that TV incomes are very low.
@cgrant The clubs are all privately-owned, so my guess is that it all depends on how deep into their pockets those private owners want to go and how many other sponsors there are who are willing to pay. I understand there are also salaray caps to be taken into account.
It must be a very difficult situation for the players and their families.
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@Bovidae He's been joined by Matt Giteau who has come out of retirement to sign for San Diego.
He said in February that he had milked the game and his contracts dry, when saying he was retiring. Apparently not, there is still a place to milk a bit more.
It's almost a shame, hard to take the comp too seriously with these fellas still playing. He and Nonu must be having a laugh when they meet, 41 and still getting paid to waddle around the field?
