Major League Rugby: Five things we learnt as Travis Kelce picks his side for Springboks v Ireland series while Fiji star shines bright
San Diego Legion's Filimoni Waqainabete and Travis Kelce in Ireland jersey.
Week 18 of the 2024 Major League Rugby season saw the end of the race for the play-offs, with close games galore as the competition now takes a two-week break.
Here are five things we learnt as the 2024 MLR regular season came to a close.
Play-off line-up locked in for 2024
It’s play-offs time, America.
That is the league’s rallying cry as MLR turns its attention to who will lift the Shield early in August.
After 18 weeks of helter skelter action, the Utah Warriors, RFC Los Angeles, Miami Sharks and Anthem RC are no longer in the championship conversation.
Moving into the Conference semi-finals when the league returns towards the end of July, there is much to look forward to.
Whether it is an all-Texas clash between the Houston SaberCats and Dallas Jackals or another repeat of a the 2019 Championship Final as the Seattle Seawolves and San Diego Legion meet in Washington, there is intrigue wherever you look.
In the Eastern Conference it is a complete unknown. NOLA Gold and Chicago Hounds are competing in the post-season for the first time ever, while there is a repeat of last year’s Eastern Conference Final as Old Glory DC travel to current champions New England Free Jacks.
So, yeah, bring on the play-offs.
July 20
New England Free Jacks v Old Glory DC
Houston SaberCats v Dallas Jackals
July 21
NOLA Gold v Chicago Hounds
Seattle Seawolves v San Diego Legion
Warriors end season on a high at America First Field
At the end of a difficult 2024 campaign, the Utah Warriors ended their season in front of a bumper 10,900 crowd.
Regarded as one of the USA‘s rugby hotbed, this fixture takes place less than a year after the Eagles hosted Stade Toulousain at the same venue, the fixture another example of the buy-in needed locally to help rugby become an established sport long term.
Temporarily moving down the road to the home of Major League Soccer franchise, Real Salt Lake, Utah were unable to end their season with a win too.
Playing RFC Los Angeles, tries for Ben Strang, Semi Kunatani, Will Leonard and Derek Adams added up to a handsome victory on the road for the Californians.
It was a bittersweet win for LA, who parted ways with head coach, Stephen Brett, after the result after establishing a strong mentality with the new franchise.
Waqainabete runs riot for Legion
It was a Week 18 to remember for San Diego Legion’s Filimoni Waqainabete.
The Fijian has had a disrupted 2024 season and only made his return from injury in Week 14.
At the weekend the 27-year-old was in frankly ridiculous form in his team’s 45-33 win over the Seattle Seawolves at Snapdragon Stadium.
Running for 220 metres in 11 carries and scoring one try, the back was rightly awarded the Player of the Week award and is in a rich vein of form heading into knockout rugby.
Time for some Tests
The world over we are gearing up for the centrepiece attraction of rugby.
But while England are readying themselves New Zealand and Wales are gearing up for Joe Schmidt’s Australia, in North America the sense of anticipation is no different.
Friday night will see the USA host Romania at SeatGeek Stadium in Chicago, Illinois, in their first Test since last November when the nation played Brazil and Spain.
Forced to watch on as other nations like Romania took part in last year’s Rugby World Cup, Scott Lawrence’s side have named a new-look squad for these internationals.
Seattle Seawolves’ JP Smith is named for his international debut at scrum-half, the South Africa-born half-back seven years into his journey in America after joining the competition in its inaugural season.
There is also a debut for France-based Renger van Eerten, while Anthem RC’s Jake Turnbull starts at loosehead prop and Bristol Bears’ AJ MacGinty is back at fly-half.
Canada too failed in qualifying for last year’s World Cup and start their summer with the visit of Scotland to Ottawa, Ontario.
Gregor Townsend has handed 11 Scotland players their debut in this fixture, while Canada have named a largely familiar team for the fixture at TD Place.
Captained by Chicago Hounds’ Lucas Rumball in a squad staked with MLR talent.
There is even a place for New England Free Jacks lock forward Conor Keys, who was born to Scottish parents and inspired to take up rugby after watching a touring Scotland side in his home town of Ottawa.
Following this weekend’s Test match Canada will play Romania next week, while the USA will host Scotland at Audi Field in Washington DC.
Kelce dons Ireland jersey ahead of Springboks series
Speaking of Test rugby.
This week the mid-year Tests will truly get underway the world over and NFL superstar Travis Kelce has thrown his support behind Ireland.
About to embark on a full-blooded series with South Africa, the image is of the 34-year-old wearing an Ireland jersey while hosting the New Heights podcast after spending time in the United Kingdom and Ireland with his partner, Taylor Swift.
No doubt a welcome sight for Ireland supporters ahead of a hotly anticipated series, you must spare a thought for Kelce’s new Kansas City Chiefs teammate and ex-Wales international Louis Rees-Zammit.
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