Major League Rugby: Five things we learnt as Saracens swoop for coach, push into play-offs and win streak ended
Credit: NOLA Gold - Craig Boudreaux Photography (LEFT), Utah Warriors - Davey Wilson (RIGHT)
Week 17 of the 2024 Major League Rugby (MLR) season confirmed the eight teams that would be competing for the Shield this summer.
There were close encounters, high-scoring matches and surprise victories from start to finish as the regular season reached its penultimate weekend.
Here are five things we learnt this week in MLR.
Legion end SaberCats win streak
San Diego Legion dug deep on Sunday night to end the Houston SaberCats’ eight-match winning streak with a 37-24 win at Snapdragon Stadium.
Replacement playmaker Harris Rutherford kicked 14 points for Danny Lee’s team as they ended the Western Conference leaders’ winning run that stretches all the way back to April.
Tiaan Loots crossed the whitewash on two occasions for the Southern California side, the South African dotting down for the fifth and sixth time this term.
It is not a result that will dictate where either team finishes in the Western Conference.
Six points separate Legion from second place in their division, while there is also a six-point buffer between leaders Houston and the Seattle Seawolves.
Even so, for a San Diego team subjected to a 33-nil loss to the same opposition, it is a result that can banish some demons and build confidence.
Sharks end play-off push with a win
There were mixed emotions for the Miami Sharks after they wrapped up a 17-12 win over Old Glory DC.
Closely contested from start to finish Miami’s inability to gain a bonus point, and letting DC register one in the process, wiped out their play-off hopes.
In stark contrast to their visitors, Old Glory could take plenty of solace from defeat.
That losing bonus point was enough to fire the Maryland club to the post-season for the second year running.
Defence optional in Salt Lake City
On Saturday night the Utah Warriors and Dallas Jackals played out a frankly obscene 50-46 clash.
After the try-line was breached 16 times by the two teams, it was the Warriors who finished the 80 minutes the happiest.
Ex-New Zealand U18 sprinting supremo Michael Manson registered four tries for Utah and set a new team record for points scored in one game.
A once-in-a-blue-moon encounter, it becomes startling to think that it is the Jackals who are the play-off side and are eight points behind the post-season places.
It is not even the highest-scoring MLR game of all time.
That came in 2022 when Old Glory DC and the now-defunct Rugby New York.
Gold beat reigning champions
NOLA Gold’s 2024 season just keeps on getting better.
After reaching the knockouts at the seventh time of asking, the Louisiana club wrapped up Week 17 with a 27-17 win over the New England Free Jacks.
Jonah Mau’u, Taniela Filimone, Jordan Jackson-Hope and Cam Dolan all dotted down to pick up a first win over the current champions for the first time since 2021.
News of NOLA’s success has clearly also bled into Bourbon Street, with the club confirming that numerous sections at Gold Mine on Airline had sold out for their final regular-season game of the season.
It is a victory which has opened a number of doors for Cory Brown’s side.
With a home play-off match already confirmed, a win in Week 18 against Old Glory DC and a shock loss for the Free Jacks against Anthem RC could take the Gold top of the Eastern Conference.
Still plenty to be playing for.
Hounds interim coach snapped up by Saracens
An already whirlwind year for former England hooker Rob Webber continued this week as the Chicago Hounds interim head coach was confirmed as Saracens assistant forwards coach and transition coach from next season.
It caps off an already remarkable 12 months for the former Sale Sharks, Wasps, Bath Rugby and Leeds Tykes man.
Head coach of Championship winners Jersey Reds at the start of the European season, the 37-year-old was left looking for other work when the Channel Island club folded.
Winding up with second year MLR side Chicago in the New Year, Webber was handed added responsibility when the club parted ways with their head coach, Sam Harris, a fortnight ago.
Securing a play-off place at the weekend thanks to a 38-29 win over a spirited Anthem RC in North Carolina, Webber will move to London after the MLR season has concluded.
“I am delighted to be joining Saracens, a club I have admired for a long time,” Webber said.
“I would like to thank Chicago Hounds who gave me a fantastic opportunity after the demise of Jersey Reds.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in Chicago and MLR but the opportunity to come back to the Premiership is one I could not turn down.”