Major League Rugby: Five things we learnt as ex-Bulls flyer grabs four, Ma’a Nonu and co head into the play-offs
Just three rounds are left to play in the Major League Rugby regular season.
All of a sudden, there are just three weeks of the 2024 Major League Rugby season remaining.
Very soon, we will say goodbye to four clubs as the play-offs take centre view.
But while anticipation for knockout rugby builds, there is ample opportunity for a twist or two in the tale of this campaign.
After Week 15, here are another five things we learnt in MLR…
Nola lock up play-offs for the first time
For the first time ever, the NOLA Gold will be playing their rugby beyond the regular season.
Travelling to Florida to take on the Miami Sharks, tries from Malcolm May and Augusto Bohme and a 10-point haul from Dorian Jones helped the team to a 20-13 win.
Also enough to push the Louisiana club beyond the threshold to play play-off rugby, it is a significant achievement for Cory Brown in his first season as head coach.
Consistently knocking on the door of knockout rugby since the league’s first season in 2018, the club’s long-held ambition of this milestone has finally been achieved.
Hounds and Harris partways
Following the Chicago Hounds’ 22-20 loss to the Dallas Jackals, the Midwest club and head coach Sam Harris have parted ways.
A mutual agreement between the two parties, ex-England hooker Rob Webber will lead the club as interim head coach between now and the end of the season.
The departure of Harris, who also coached the now-defunct Austin Gilgronis, comes at an unusual time in the current league season. Still with three weeks of action left to play, Chicago currently sit within the post-season places and have clashes with the San Diego Legion, Anthem RC and Miami Sharks to look forward to.
“Sam has been an invaluable partner in building the Hounds organization from the ground up,” James English, Chicago Hounds CEO and General Manager, said.
“I respect Sam tremendously and am grateful for the time and dedication he gave to the Hounds over the past two years. Sam will always have a special place with the Hounds family, and we wish him nothing but success.”
Meanwhile, former Springboks head coach Heyneke Meyer expressed his interest in returning to South Africa at the end of the season, having joined Houston SaberCats back in 2022.
‘I want to return to South Africa’ – Ex-Springboks coach eager to ‘make a difference’ on home soil
Seawolves and Legion secure post-season place
It was a busy week of MLR action as two more pieces of the post-season puzzle were put in place.
With Week 15 victories, the Seattle Seawolves and San Diego Legion both confirmed their Major League Rugby play-offs spots.
Wrapping up a 68-29 win over the Utah Warriors, the Seattle Seawolves left nothing to chance.
Crossing the try line on 10 occasions at the Starfire Sports Complex, there was clear distance between the two clubs.
For his four-try effort, ex-Bulls flyer Jade Stighling was also awarded the league’s Player of the Week award as the 31-year-old South African continued a fine individual season.
💰💰💰💰
Jade Stighling receives Player of the Week honors for leading a dominant @SeawolvesRugby attack in Sunday’s match. @ollisalumeria | #MLR2024 pic.twitter.com/j9tXEEkvat
— Major League Rugby (@usmlr) June 11, 2024
Several hundred miles down the West Coast the San Diego Legion also stamped their place in the play-offs with a 34-24 win over Anthem RC.
A lively contest between the two clubs, Legion were able to rest seasoned campaigners Matt Giteau and Ma’a Nonu in SoCal.
Registering five tries, arguably San Diego made hard work of an Anthem RC side still on the hunt for a first-ever MLR win, but when it comes to the pay-off there will certainly be no complaints.
Three spots remain
With only three more weeks of regular season action, there are three more play-off places left.
In the Western Conference, there is just one spot available, with the Houston SaberCats, Seattle Seawolves, and San Diego Legion having reserved their places.
As things stand it is the Dallas Jackals leading the charge for that final spot, and the Texans could confirm their place as soon as this weekend if other results go their way.
The Eastern Conference throws up a slightly similar situation.
With the New England Free Jacks and NOLA Gold qualified for the knockouts, it is the Chicago Hounds and Old Glory DC that are most likely to lock up the final places.
With both teams on 31 points, it is possible the two clubs can clinch the play-offs this weekend, but the Miami Sharks are lurking in murky waters, waiting to strike.
Four matches to be nationally broadcast in Week 15
For the first time, four MLR matches will be broadcast live on FOX.
Taking place on four consecutive days, it is a first for the league and a major achievement too.
An opportunity to showcase the league on one of the biggest broadcasting platforms in the country, it continues the growth of broadcast fixtures from 23 matches to 29.
Perhaps with the Championship Final taking place in the midst of Olympic fever gripping the world it has been decided that the time is right to get live rugby on the screen as much as possible.
Additionally, the league is broadcasting three more games on its YouTube channel.
Starting with RFC Los Angeles’ visit from the NOLA Gold this weekend, Old Glory DC’s trip to the Miami Sharks will be a watch-a-long with former Saracens playmaker Will Hooley, and in Week 18, the Sharks will be primetime viewing again when they face Chicago.
It all adds up to a scintillating finish to the seventh season of MLR action. Mark your diaries; there are some late nights ahead.
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