Miami Sharks vS Old glory dc | Saturday, February 15 at 5:00 PM ET

US TV: ESPN+

And on FanDuel Florida and Monumental Sports

Outside the US: The Rugby Network

Following a 72-hour tape delay, the match will be available to stream for all viewers on The Rugby Network.

NOLA Gold vs anthem rugby | Saturday, February 15 at 7:00 PM ET

US TV: ESPN+

And on Gulf Coast Sports + Entertainment Network

Outside the US: The Rugby Network

Following a 72-hour tape delay, the match will be available to stream for all viewers on The Rugby Network.

Houston sabercats vs CHicago hounds | Saturday, February 15 at 8:00 PM ET

US TV: ESPN+

And on CW39 and Fox Chicago Plus

Outside the US: The Rugby Network

Following a 72-hour tape delay, the match will be available to stream for all viewers on The Rugby Network.

RFCLA vs new england free jacks | Saturday, February 15 at 9:00 PM ET

US TV: ESPN+

FanDuel Sports Network SOCAL and NBC Sports Boston

Outside the US: The Rugby Network

Following a 72-hour tape delay, the match will be available to stream for all viewers on The Rugby Network.

san diego legion vs seattle seawolves | Sunday, February 16 at 5:00 PM ET

US TV: ESPN+

And KUSI and KZJO Fox 13+

Outside the US: The Rugby Network

Following a 72-hour tape delay, the match will be available to stream for all viewers on The Rugby Network.

The post How To Watch: February 15 – 16 appeared first on Major League Rugby.

After helping the Dallas Jackals make their debut Major League Rugby Playoffs appearance, Jero Gomez Vara has been named 2024’s Forward of the Year.

A leading light for Agustin Cavalieri’s team all season, Gomez Vara was perhaps the most important cog for the Texas club.

Whether it was his abilities as a player or leader, the Argentine was one of the first names on the teamsheet when it came to game selection.

Making 14 appearances for the team as they reached the postseason for the first time in franchise history, the 23-year-old spent the majority of his season as a blindside flanker.

Even when moved into the second row when necessity called for it, the former Argentina U20 and Argentina XV international did not let up.

In total, Gomez Vara made 128 tackles, arrived at 268 rucks, gained 604 meters, and beat 53 defenders.

Those statistics alone show the workmanlike attitude of the Forward.

His never-say-die attitude was a feature that could be seen across the Jackals.

This was never clearer than when Dallas stunned the league with their Playoffs presented by Sportsbreaks.com victory over top-seed Houston SaberCats.

AGAINST ALL ODDS

A first-ever trip to the #MLRPlayoffs presented by @sportsbreakscom for the @DallasJackals and they defeat @HOUSaberCats to move on to the Conference Finals pic.twitter.com/UXTv3eHC1r

— Major League Rugby (@usmlr) July 21, 2024

Traveling across Texas for the all-state clash, from minute one, Dallas smothered their opponents and picked up a 34-22 win to progress to the Western Conference Final.

Pouncing on mistakes from opponents and keeping disciplined, it was the perfect performance in the Jackals’ postseason debut.

A week later, Gomez Vara and his teammates were back asking questions.

This time, playing the Seattle Seawolves, Dallas posed questions of their opponents for the full 80 minutes. 

The visiting @DallasJackals have taken a 20-14 lead into the break against the two-time MLR Champion @SeawolvesRugby in an eventful opening forty minutes!

Check out the highlights.

@FS1 | #SEAvDAL | #MLR2024 pic.twitter.com/yGazDKxoht

— Major League Rugby (@usmlr) July 28, 2024

Losing out 28-25 at Starfire Sports Complex, it took Ryan Rees’ try with the game’s last play to wrap up a Seawolves win and give the Jackals great hope about what 2025 could bring.

Reaching the knockouts with a 6-10 record, the team had the odds stacked against them.

Leading by example and doing all the basics well, the youngster set the tone as an athlete and captain.

Even a year out, you can quickly imagine that Gomez Vara is going to be the key to that particular code, along with the doggedness that has quickly become associated with him.

Setting the standard with each and every outing, there is little doubt in the 23-year-old wrapping up this award.

Following on from Wian Conradie, Brendon O’Connor, and Johan Momsen in picking up the award, the South American maintains a track record of the hardest working forward getting the recognition they deserve.

The post 2024 Major League Rugby Forward of the Year – Jero Gomez Vara appeared first on Major League Rugby.

1. Cameron Orr (Seattle Seawolves)

2. Dylan Fawsitt (Chicago Hounds)

3. Steven Longwell (Old Glory DC)

4. Rhyno Herbst (Seattle Seawolves)

5. Frank Lochore (Utah Warriors)

6. Jero Gomez Vara (Dallas Jackals)

7. Cory Daniel (Old Glory DC)

8. Semi Kunatani (RFC Los Angeles)

9. Andre Warner (Houston SaberCats)

10. Jayson Potroz (New England Free Jacks)

11. Taniela Filimone (NOLA Gold)

12. Jordan Jackson-Hope (NOLA Gold)

13. Wayne Van Der Bank (New England Free Jacks)

14. Michael Manson (Utah Warriors)

15. Reece Macdonald (New England Free Jacks)

The post Closer Look: The 2024 All-MLR First Team appeared first on Major League Rugby.

The top 45 players throughout the season were selected to make up the first, second, and honorable mention All-MLR teams. The selections were voted on by a group made up of MLR media, referees, and stats specialists.

The post Major League Rugby Announces 2024 First and Second All-MLR Teams, and Honorable Mention appeared first on Major League Rugby.

Matches covered:
Eastern Conference Final: New England Free Jacks vs. Chicago Hounds
Western Conference Final: Seattle Seawolves vs. Dallas Jackals

To watch the full match replay for free, visit The Rugby Network

The post 2024 Conference Finals Extended Highlights | Major League Rugby appeared first on Major League Rugby.

The post HIGHLIGHTS | Western Conference Final | Seattle vs Dallas appeared first on Major League Rugby.

Ryan Rees’ last-gasp try helped the Seattle Seawolves win the Western Conference with a 28-25 victory against the Dallas Jackals.

The victory means that Allen Clarke’s team will play the New England Free Jacks in the Championship Final on Sunday, August 4.

In a blow-for-blow affair at Starfire Sports Complex, Divan Rossouw’s brilliance ultimately inspired the North Westerners to a fourth Championship.

Photo provided by the Seattle Seawolves

A quick start for Agustin Cavalieri’s team saw Dallas take an early lead.

Winning a scrum penalty, the side kicked a penalty through scrum-half Juan Dee Oliver to quieten the normally ferocious Starfire crowd with just three minutes played.

When Seattle’s Mack Mason missed a penalty moments afterward, it provided more confidence for the visiting team.

The pressure helped propel the Texas club back into their hosts’ 22m.

A lineout drive came to nothing, but the calm thinking of Oliver to go against the grain and send the ball to Jeronimo Gomez Vara, who fired an offload to Nic Benn to score in the corner.

Photo provided by the Dallas Jackals

Oliver’s conversion from the right touchline offered the small traveling contingent from Fort Worth greater cause from applause, although that jubilation soon turned to nervousness.

After their slow start, the Seawolves could not be subdued for much longer.
As the home side built phases of possession and trundled toward the try line,

Dallas continually gave away penalties within 10 meters of their own try line.
Eventually, the referee, Scott Green, saw no option but to send Juan Pablo Zeiss to the sin bin.

Photo provided by the Dallas Jackals

Within 30 seconds, the Argentine was joined by Makeen Alikhan on the sideline. The flanker dragged down Seattle’s maul, and a penalty try was awarded.

Following the water break, the Seawolves thought they had another try in the bag when Cameron Orr crossed the try line. However, his score was wiped off for Moni Ngakuru’s forward pass.

Even with two players down, Dallas found a way to keep on top.

A Martin Elias kick forward was mishandled by Sam Windsor and went forward into the arms of Conner Mooneyham. The accidental offside provided Oliver with another three points from the kicking tee.

Before half-time, more drama unfolded.

First, Ngakuru received a yellow card for a dangerous clear-out. Benn quickly took advantage of the extra space when Tomas Malanos offloaded to the wing in contact.

Joe Taufete’e registered Seattle’s second try of the game when he bulldozed beneath the posts, putting the teams six points apart at the break.

When each side was restored to its full numbers, the game became its most open and expansive.

On the stroke of 50 minutes, Seattle landed a hammer blow on the Jackals.
Carries from Tavite Lopeti and Windsor put the Seawolves two meters out, a
JP Smith show-and-go enough to offset the Jackals’ defenders and help the scrum-half stretch his body to score.

After the conversion, the home side took the lead for the first time in the game. Shortly after, if Smith had not fumbled the ball over the try line, they could have had another try.

Photo provided by the Seattle Seawolves

A long-range Oliver penalty missed the mark for Dallas. But, like all season, the South African was the catalyst to help his team cross the whitewash again.

Kicking a nonchalant 50:22 allowed Dallas to drive Tomas Bekerman over for his fifth try of the season, giving Dallas a four-point lead with just over 10 minutes still to play. The conversion clattered against the uprights.

Despite that late fightback, Dallas was forced to leave Washington heartbroken.

When Divan Rossouw received the ball in his own half, the Namibia international found a soft shoulder, drove into the Jackals’ 22m, and offloaded to replacement scrum-half Rees, who scored the deciding try.

After Windsor’s conversion put a little more daylight between the teams, that Starfire roar was back in full force and helped the side lock up a date with the New England Free Jacks next week in San Diego.

Buy tickets to the MLR Championship. 

The post Western Conference Final Review: Seattle Reach Championship With Last-Minute Score appeared first on Major League Rugby.

In Sunday’s Western Conference Final, postseason first-timers the Dallas Jackals will visit two-time champions the Seattle Seawolves at Starfire Sports Complex.

In two regular-season meetings, each side has won one and lost one.

Both the Week 6 and Week 12 games were close encounters, and the two teams’ upcoming encounter promises to be fascinating.

Coming into the Playoffs, the Dallas Jackals had the fewest wins and the most losses of any team.

Traveling to the Houston SaberCats, who have the most victories and the fewest defeats, looked like a tall order for Agustin Cavalieri’s men.

But what followed was nothing short of brilliant.

From start to finish at SaberCats Stadium, the Jackals relentlessly pursued and pressured their hosts.

Tries for Ronan Foley, Tomas Cubilla, Juan Dee Oliver, Jason Tidwell, and Connor Winchester contributed to Dallas’ 34-22 win in their first-ever knockout game.

With three weeks to stew on their loss to the same opposition in Week 18 before the international break, a positive result left the squad buoyant on Saturday night.

Photo by Sherry Milliken

“We were pretty stoked,” Dallas’ Juan Dee Oliver smiled.

“It was our first game ever in the Playoffs, so we were pretty happy to win over a top seed like Houston.

“Three weeks before that, we played Houston in the final game before the Playoffs.

“The weeks we had off made our team so much stronger.

“Going into the Playoff week and getting our boys back from Canada and the US made us so much tighter.

“We knew that if we did everything right, we stood a chance.

“Everyone out there has been doubting us, especially with the percentages we are given.

“It was our first time in the Playoffs, but we wanted to show that we are here to stay and not just to play one game.”

Seattle’s path to hosting the Western Conference Final saw them tested against a stern San Diego Legion team.

Finishing 30-28, there were tries scored by Duncan Matthews, Rhyno Herbst, and Pago Haini, while the boot of Mack Mason got Allen Clarke’s team over the finish line.

Battling hard against a Legion team capable of grinding down an opponent, the win showed great grit and determination.

Mason has been an influential figure all season at Starfire stadium and will be so again if his team wants to reach a fourth Championship Final.

Photo provided by Seattle Seawolves

“Quite relieved, to be honest,” Mason said.

“San Diego are a quality team with classy players from one to 23. A bit of relief coming through and getting the win.

“We spoke about it in the week that San Diego scored most of their points in the last 20 throughout the season.

“Their bench for whatever reason have come on and had an impact throughout the season and we spoke about that.

“Our first 40 minutes were really good.

“We went in at 18-9 at half-time, which is not as many points as we would have liked, but we were very clinical in that first half and set a standard for the second half.

Oliver has certainly enjoyed his debut MLR season.

Arriving in Texas in the offseason from the Toyota Cheetahs, the scrum-half has quickly established himself as one of the first names on the team sheet at Choctaw Stadium.

His good form has paid off in dividends for the Jackals.

Finishing with a 2-14 record last season, the team attached the league with a newfound belief and resolve.

The side took another step forward last time out by tripling their wins, reducing their losses, and even gaining a draw.

Now, just one game separates the club from a place in the Championship Final and another rich chapter in a memorable season for all in Fort Worth.

“I am just sitting here and getting goosebumps thinking of that game,” Oliver said.

“To have that focus of winning the plate and the final, we are not focusing on that right now; we are just focusing on Seattle.

“It would mean the world to us and our organisation. We have the confidence of last weekend’s game, but we have to forget about Houston now.

“We had three weeks to prepare for Houston but a few days to prepare for Seattle.

“The big thing we are focusing on this weekend is being physical and matching their physicality.

“Seattle is a two-time champion, so we are definitely going to have our work cut out for us.

Photo by Sherry Milliken

“It is not east going to Starfire, and you can’t rock up thinking you will win. Going there is going to be a big challenge for us.

“We are going in as the underdogs, so we have nothing to lose, but everything to gain.”

Since 2018, Seattle has established itself as MLR’s most prolific Playoff side.

The team only missed the postseason once in 2021, and it is vying to reach the Championship Final for the first time since 2022.

Lifting the Shield is at the top of Mason’s and the Seawolves’ agenda.

Photo provided by Seattle Seawolves

“The reason I came to Seattle was to win a Championship,” Mason said.

“It is an established and successful club, so for me personally, I came back to win a professional competition. We have got to get through this weekend—the Western Conference Final is a big deal—and then go on to the next one.

“For the team, it would be huge.

“We have worked too hard for too long in a weary winter for when the sun comes out to not take it all.

“We are chasing that title, and I know three other teams are doing that, too. We just have to show up on the day for 80 minutes.

“It is not spoken about, and everyone knows the expectations of this Seattle club.

“They have had a lot of success in the early years and made finals recently as well.

“But now it is a different crop and a different year; we just have to do it ourselves.”

The post Western Conference Final Preview | Seattle vs Dallas appeared first on Major League Rugby.

Details and tickets for the MLR Playoffs presented by presented by Sportsbreaks.com and the MLR Championship here

The post HIGHLIGHTS | Western Conference Semifinals | Houston vs Dallas appeared first on Major League Rugby.

Day one of the 2024 Major League Rugby Playoffs provided plenty of excitement.

There was a surprise win for the Dallas Jackals in the first Western Conference Semifinal, while the New England Free Jacks were forced to dig deep to beat Old Glory DC.

Here is how both fixtures played out…

NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS 33-29 OLD GLORY DC

Reigning champions, the New England Free Jacks survived a scare from Old Glory DC to progress to the Eastern Conference Finals with a 33-29 win.
Connor Buckley scored three tries for DC as they went toe-to-toe with New England in Massachusetts, and the boot of reigning MVP Jayson Potroz steered his team into next week.

It was the Free Jacks who opened the scoring at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Firing the ball to Paula Balekana on the left wing, the Fijian broke free on the flank before finding Reece Macdonald on his inside shoulder.

After Potroz added another three points from a penalty kick, Buckley would have his first try of the game when Tevita Naqali found his scrum-half in a flowing attacking move.

Soon the half-back had another as the quick thinking of Jason Robertson left the Free Jacks at odds.

A devastating break from the fly-half’s break made way for Lautaro Bavaro’s carry, who found Buckley with an offload to score.

Before the break, there was a joy for New England as Jed Melvin threw himself across the whitewash from close range and cut the deficit.

With half-time on the horizon, the Shield holders landed two hammer blows.
The first was another Potroz penalty and the second a try for Oscar Lennon made by the pinball running of Wayne van der Bank in midfield.

In the second half both teams proceeded with caution.

Following 15 minutes of play Buckley added his hat-trick score with a confident run, while Potroz and Robertson traded penalties to round out the
clash.

HOUSTON SABERCATS 22–34 DALLAS JACKALS

The Dallas Jackals marked their first-ever Playoff appearance with a 34-22 win against the Houston SaberCats.

A gritty 80-minute performance from the Jackals, the side registered five tries to land themselves a historic victory.

From minute one, the Jackals came out firing in the first half at SaberCats Stadium.

While the hosts may have scored first thanks to a well-struck AJ Alatimu penalty, Dallas would not be disheartened.
Ronan Foley rumbled over the try line after hard carries dented the Western Conference’s top-seed defense.

To keep the momentum a close-range score for Connor Winchester allowed the visitors a nine-point lead.

Against a team of Houston’s quality, Agustin Cavalieri’s Dallas found their resolve tested.

Tautalatasi Tasi’s endless drive to keep the ball in play helped Seimou Smith score the SaberCats’ first try of the game, and a confident carry from Louritz van der Schyff turned the tables for a time.

In response, Dallas took the first penalty awarded to them, got all three points from Juan Dee Oliver’s boot, and leveled the score.

Before half-time there was another twist in the tail as Tomas Cubilla finished off an impressive attack.

More cause for Dallas’s optimism followed in the second half.
With Gideon van Wyk in the sin bin for going in at the side, there was more space for the Jackals to exploit.

A try finally came when a failed clearance from Tasi was scooped up by Jackals back-row Sam Tuifua, whose offload to Jason Tidwell sent the Fort Worth native screeching over the try line.

With less than five minutes to play, Dallas secured a famous win.
Continuing to cause problems for Houston, a hacked ball through was latched onto by Oliver and placed down to send the SaberCats through to the Western Conference Finals.

The post Major League Rugby Semifinals Saturday Match Review appeared first on Major League Rugby.