Founded in 2017 with it’s inaugural season played in 2018, Major League Rugby (MLR) is the highest level of professional rugby in North America.
New Zealander Dennon Robinson-Bartlett played in Major League Rugby during the 2022 season. He represented the Toronto Arrows for his entire MLR career.
Robinson-Bartlett joined the Toronto Arrows for the 2022 MLR season from Hawke’s Bay Magpies in New Zealand’s National Provincial Championship (NPC), a favourite competition for MLR teams to recruit from. He joins the Arrows along with Magpies’ Scrum Coach, Francisco Deformes.
He has represented the New Zealand Maori u20’s.
NARDB Player #1
The Toronto Arrows were a founding member of Major League Rugby, and played in the competition between 2019-2023. The Arrows joined MLR with Rugby United New York (Later Rugby New York and the Rugby New York Ironworkers), first competing in the 2019 season. To date, they are the only MLR team to have been based outside of the US, and the first professional rugby team in Canada’s history.
As the only professional team in Canada and the only Canadian team in MLR, the Arrows were committed to finding and developing Canadian rugby talent, similar to how the MLR and other teams were developing US talent. This presented unique problems during their tenure in MLR as the only club outside of the USA. They did not participate in the inaugural MLR Collegiate Draft because Canadian schools were not included. They had to play their entire 2021 season within the US due to border restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic (which cancelled the 2020 season after only 5 rounds, during which the Arrows had a 4-1 record on the road), and based themselves out of Rugby ATL’s facilities. The Arrows went over 1000 days without a home game between 2019-2022, losing a huge amount of gate revenue in the process. Their 2023 season was the worst on record, finishing with a 1-2-13 record and dead last in the Eastern Conference. The ownership seemed to want to start afresh following this, with a shuffle of staff that included replacing the head coach, and a re-brand that played into their aeronautic background (named for the AVRO Arrow, a Canadian jet plane) and focused more on being Canada’s team, rather than simply Toronto’s. While a new logo (top right) and branding was launched, the Arrows never took to the field with their new look. Arrows Co-Founder and Majority Owner Bill Webb, a titan in Canadian rugby and the true driving force behind the team, tragically passed away in August 2023, and while things initially looked promising to continue in 2024, the Arrows were unable to replace Webb’s stake after potential investors pulled out late, and the team announced in November 2023 that they would not be competing in MLR in the 2024 season. The Toronto Arrows Academy continued trying to develop rugby talent in the Toronto area, led by former Canadian international Jamie Cudmore and assisted by ex-Arrows players Noel Reid and Sam Malcolm, but this only lasted for a few months after the Arrows withdrew from MLR.
A week later, the Rugby New York Ironworkers also announced they they were folding and would not compete in 2024. NY and Toronto joined MLR in the same season and, somewhat poetically, left at the same time. Following the Arrows demise another professional team emerged in British Columbia, the Vancouver Highlanders. This team does not compete in MLR however and as of the conclusion of the 2024 season, Major League Rugby has not returned to Canada.
Top Scorer: Sam Malcolm (370pts)
Top Try Scorer: GastĂ³n Mieres (15)
Top Playoff Scorer: Sam Malcolm (11pts)
Top Tackler: Lucas Rumball (770)
Top Meter Eater: GastĂ³n Mieres (2,681m)
Most Capped: Mike Sheppard (58)
Most Starts: Lucas Rumball (51)
Top Scorer: Sam Malcolm (152pts) – 2019
Top Try Scorer: Dan Moor (7) – 2019 and JoaquĂn Tuculet & Manuel Montero (7) – 2021
Top Tackler: Lucas Rumball (228) – 2021
Top Meter Eater: Dan Moor (1,124m) – 2019
2019: 11-0-5 (+110) – 57pts: 3rd (Semifinalist)
2020: 4-0-1 (+62) – 19pts: 1st in Eastern Conference
2021: 5-0-11 (-1) – 30pts: 6th in Eastern Conference
2022: 8-0-8 (-24) – 41pts: 4th in Eastern Conference
2023: 1-2-13 (-295) – 16pts: 6th in Eastern Conference
Overall Regular Season Record: 29-2-33
Overall Championship Series Record: 0-1
Championship Series Appearances: 1 (2019)
Total Possessions: 6
Longest Streak: 4 Games
First Possession: 2019 – Rd 7
Last Possession:Â 2022 – Rd 17
Successful Challenges:Â 3
Failed Challenges:Â 1
Challenge Success Rate: 75.00%
Successful Defences: 3
Failed Defences:Â 3
Defence Success Rate: 50.00%
*= Meehan was named as coach for the Arrows in 2024, but the team folded before he could take charge.
The Ontario Arrows logo (far left) features a golden arrow above the Toronto skyline, forming the bridge of an ‘A’ within a circle (an ‘O’, for Ontario). This logo was excellent but was changed when the Arrows rebranded as the Toronto Arrows and entered MLR. The MLR logo for the vast majority of the Arrows time in MLR featured an interlocking ‘T’ and ‘A’ in white and dark blue. The Arrows jerseys were typically dark blue for their home kits, and white for their away. They have played in blue and white hoops with a collar during the 2021 season which was a fan favourite.
The Toronto Arrows when through a rebrand following the 2023 season, changing their logo to reflect their aeronautic history and changing the logo to just an ‘A’, removing the ‘T’ to market themselves more as Canada’s team rather than just Toronto’s team. The colour scheme seems to be red, light blue, and grey, and while we were lucky enough to see the new logos, we did not get to see the Arrows’ jerseys for the 2024 season before the team shut down.
In 2019, the Arrows split their home games between Alumni Field (3,500 Capacity) at York University, and Lamport Stadium (9,600 Capacity) in the Liberty Village neighbourhood of Toronto, which they shared with the Toronto Wolfpack rugby league side. This was the plan for their 2020 home games, but the season was cancelled before any Arrows home games were held. In 2021, the Arrows played their entire season based in the USA, sharing facilities with Rugby ATL, playing their ‘home’ games at Lupo Family Field (2,500 Capacity). Between 2022-2023, the Arrows played their home games at York Lions Stadium (4,000 Capacity) at York University. This is outside of the downtown core but still on the Toronto subway line, and drew healthy crowds even through their miserable 2023 season.
The New England Free Jacks on 21st September 2018 as part of the wave of Major League Rugby expansion ahead of the 2020 season, joining the league alongside Rugby ATL (now a part of the California Legion) and Old Glory DC. The team was founded by Errik Anderson and former USA Eagle Alex Magelby, and is owned by a consortium that includes former NFL-ers Nate Ebner and Patrick Chung.
The Free Jacks would play their first ever game against the Ontario Arrows (later the Toronto Arrows) on October 20, 2018 at the Wanderers Grounds in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Through their first 4 seasons in Major League Rugby, the New England Free Jacks performance could be summarized as steadily increasing performance. With the exception of the 2020 season when they held a 1-4 record before the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the season, the Free Jacks have always finished with a positive record, improving every year (see below in ‘Historical Performance’ section) and recording a 13-0-3 record in 2022 which was the best regular season record in MLR history at the time, qualifying for the post-season but suffering a shock defeat to eventual Champions Rugby New York in the Eastern Conference Final.
The New England Free Jacks’ 2022 record was surpassed the following year by the San Diego Legion’s 15-0-1 season. The Free Jacks themselves recorded a 14-0-2 record in 2023, once again qualifying for the Championship Series as the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference. The Free Jacks would not slip up as they did the year before, and easily saw off Old Glory DC in the Conference Final to advance to the Championship Final against the San Diego Legion in Chicago. Thanks to a 77th minute try by Le Roux Malan, the Free Jacks prevailed 24-25 victors in arguably the best MLR final to date to lift their first MLR Shield. The Free Jacks title defence in 2024 saw them finish the regular season with an 11-5 record at the top of the Eastern Conference once again, defeating local rivals Old Glory DC and the Chicago Hounds to claim the Eastern Conference Championship in back-to-back seasons. Standing between them and back-to-back Shields lay the only team in MLR history to have achieved back-to-back titles, the Seattle Seawolves playing in their 4th final. A back-and-forth final was defined by discipline and defence, and the Free Jacks put on a defensive masterclass in MLR’s lowest scoring final to date, emerging as 11-20 victors in San Diego and joined the Seawolves as Back-to-Back MLR Champions.
The Free Jacks’ 2x Title Defence got off to a shaky start in 2025. New England found themselves 2-3 after 5 games, before a huge comeback victory on the road against the Utah Warriors started a 7-game win streak. To the surprise of no-one, the Free Jacks finished the regular season atop the Eastern Conference with an 11-5 record and 55pts, guaranteeing home field advantage in the postseason. New England dominated the Miami Sharks in the Conference Semifinals before squeezing past the Chicago Hounds in the Eastern Conference Final thanks to a Hounds penalty kick off the upright in the final play of the game to secure a 21-20 victory and claim the Eastern Conference title for the 3rd straight year. The Free Jacks faced the Houston SaberCats in the 2025 Championship game in Rhode Island in what was definitely a home fixture for the Free Jacks. Looking to complete the Threepeat, New England took the lead after 7 minutes, and never trailed. They secured a 28-22 victory and their 3rd straight MLR Shield in front of a home crowd in New England!
2025 MLR Champions
2024 MLR Champions
2023 MLR Champions
Top Scorer: Jayson Potroz (353pts)
Top Try Scorer: Paula Balekana (40)
Top Playoff Scorer: Jayson Potroz (44)
Top Tackler: Wian Conradie (876)
Top Meter Eater: Paula Balekana (3,701m)
Most Capped Player: Joe Johnston (67)
Most Starts: Wian Conradie (60)
Top Scorer: Jayson Potroz (181pts) – 2024
Top Try Scorer: Paula Balekana (15) – 2023, 2025
Top Tackler:Â Wian Conradie (234) – 2023
Top Meter Eater: Reece MacDonald (1,535m) – 2024
2020: 1-4 (-19) – 9pts: 6th in Eastern Conference
2021: 10-0-6 (+28) – 48pts: 4th in Eastern Conference
2022: 13-0-3 (+126) – 62pts: 1st in Eastern Conference (Conference Finalist)
2023: 14-0-2 (+283) – 68pts: 1st in Eastern Conference (Champions x1)
2024: 11-0-5 (+119) – 55pts: 1st in Eastern Conference (Champions x2)
2025: 11-0-5 (+84) – 55pts: 1st in Eastern Conference (Champions x3)
Overall Regular Season Record: 60-0-25
Overall Championship Series Record: 8-1
Championship Series Appearances: 4 (2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)
Total Possessions: 20
Longest Streak: 7 Games
First Possession: 2021 – Rd 8
Last Possession: 2026 – Rd 2
Successful Challenges:Â 6
Failed Challenges:Â 2
Challenge Success Rate:Â 75.00%
Successful Defences:Â 14
Failed Defences: 6
Defence Success Rate: 70.00%
The New England Free Jacks’ logo and iconography are drawn from the American Revolution. Their primary logo is a hand holding a 18th century lantern in dark blue, with the light from the lantern coloured red, all with a white outline. The lantern is a nod to the famous ‘One if by land, two if by sea’ during Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride, to warn the revolutionaries of the British Army’s approach during the Revolutionary War. Indeed, the Free Jacks have a variation of the logo showing Paul Revere atop a horse.
Throughout their time in Major League Rugby, the New England Free Jacks have had consistently highly-praised kits, often small variations on red, white, and blue hoops with a collar, typically a winning combination for rugby. For 2023 & 2024, the Free Jacks ran 3 kits, a primarily blue (home kit both years), a primarily red (2023 alternate, 2024 away), and a primarily white kits (2023 away, 2024 alternate), all of which sported hoops and a collar.
The Free Jacks have also sported a mainly dark green jersey for St. Patrick’s Day 2022, and green hooped jersey for St. Patrick’s Day 2023, as well as a baseball-themed red jersey for their city kit in 2023.
For their exhibition season 2018/19, the New England Free Jacks played their home games out of the Union Point Sports Complex, which hosted the Free Jacks and the ‘A’ sides of the 4 Irish Provinces for the Cara Cup in 2019. The Free Jacks had intended to play their 2020 season out of UPSC but the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic prior to the Free Jacks hosting a game. The Free Jacks did play a ‘home’ game in 2020, but this was at the Sam Boyd in Whitney, NV which hosted many teams as part of a ‘season kick off’ event. The Free Jacks played the majority of their 2021 home games at UPSC.
Since their final game of the 2021 season, the New England Free Jacks have called Veterans’ Memorial Stadium in Quincy, MA home. Nicknamed ‘Fort Quincy’, the 5,000-seater synthetic turf stadium is owned by the City of Quincy and operated by Heritage Sports Ventures, originally a strategic partner of the Free Jacks in 2021 prior to being purchased by the team in January of 2022.
Rugby New York host the Seattle Seawolves for the 2022 MLR Championship Final at Red Bull Arena.
The 25,000 seater stadium is home to the New York Red Bulls of the MLS, and because this was arranged on such short notice, there was a very low turnout of just under 2,000.
The visiting Seawolves got off to a dream start, scoring the first try in under 5 minutes after their forwards made ground, finished by Martin Iosefo who found a gap. AJ Alatimu was unable to convert and so Seattle led 5-0 early. A NY box kick was mishandled shortly after to give possession back to the hosts, and Will Tucker rumbled through tacklers to score. Jason Emery added the 2 to give the hosts a 7-5 lead not even 10 minutes in. Alatimu made up for his earlier miss by slotting a penalty to give the lead back to Seattle and Jason Emery was given an opportunity to slot a penalty of his own for NY, but was unable to do so. Shortly after, a strong New York kick chase bundled the receiver into touch to provide the home side with an attacking platform, and while their drive was stopped, referee Federico Anselmi deemed it was done so illegally and awarded a penalty try as well as handing Rhyno Herbst a yellow card. This was a first Penalty Try in a MLR Championship Final. New York would score again around 10 minutes later after creating a four-on-one overlap that was an easy finish for Andy Ellis. The conversion was missed and that would be the final score of the half, New York now leading 19-8.
The first points of the 2nd half also went to the hosts, with Emery slotting a penalty to keep the scoreboard ticking over, before the half the New York pack delivered a delightful score full of offloads, chip throughs, and dummies that was finished by Nic Mayhew. Seattle struck back through Sam Matenga, who barrelled his way through the New York line to score. Alatimu’s conversion brought the score to 27-15 to the hosts. The Seawolves kept asking questions, with a Reid Watkins chip through forcing Will Tucker into a cynical foul resulting in a yellow card, before Will’s brother Brad almost added another for Seattle, but it was called back. A Sam Windsor drop goal in the 73rd minute put New York over 2 scores in front, and put the game to bed. Seattle had the ball with the clock in the red but Andy Ellis disrupted the play and forced the knock on. It would be the last act of World Cup Champion and former All Black Ellis’ professional playing career, as the Man of the Match announced his retirement in the post game press conference.
The Seattle Seawolves fall at the final hurdle, their first ever Championship Series loss coming in their 3rd MLR final in 5 years. The Shield goes to Rugby New York, and marks the first time that an Eastern Conference team has lifted it.
30 v 15 
SeawolvesThe New England Free Jacks host Rugby New York at Veteran’s Memorial Stadium in the first Championship Series game in Free Jacks history, the Eastern Conference Final!
Finishing as #1 in the Eastern Conference, New England had the luxury of a bye last week, where they would’ve watched Rugby New York comfortably dispatch 2021 Runners-Up Rugby ATL on the road in the Eastern Eliminator to earn their spot in the Conference Finals. The winner of this match would become the Eastern Conference Champion and move on to face the Seattle Seawolves for the MLR Shield.
New York were put on the back foot almost immediately thanks to a Free Jacks lineout steal that was sent out wide. Jesse Parete hit a great angle to break the New York line, and a lovely inside pass from Le Roux Malan put Beaudein Waaka through a gap to score. Waaka converted his own score to give the hosts an early lead. Waaka‘s boot would extend the lead to 10-0 just over 10 minutes later after the Free Jacks won a penalty in kick range following a number of New York forays into Free Jacks territory. New York got on the board shortly after, as Jack Heighton gathered a chip through and released Andrew Coe, who was stopped just short. After recycling the ball it was sent out wide to Benjamin Bonasso to finish in the corner. Jason Emery converted. Waaka & Emery slotted another penalty each before the half, taking the score to 13-10 to the hosts at the break after Wian Conradie held up a New York attack that made it across the line but not down.
The home side extended their least early in the 2nd half again through the boot of Waaka after New York were penalised for going offside. This would be the final Free Jacks score of the afternoon as the sides then went end-to-end with both sides winning breakdown turnovers to diffuse dangerous situations. Ellis popped a short ball to release Andrew Coe who managed to offload to Nehe Milner-Skudder to dart in for the try. Fresh on the field, Sam Windsor nailed the conversion to give the visitors their first lead of the game heading into the final 10 minutes. A few minutes later, Reegan O’Gorman was handed a yellow card for a shoulder charge following a New York break, and the guests took their chance. After a few phases a cut-out pass found Andrew Coe in space and this time the Canadian would finish himself. Windsor nailed the 2pts again to give New York a 16-24 lead, and the Free Jacks were unable to respond.
The Free Jacks, the #1 team in MLR this season, are left wondering about what could have been, and start planning for 2023. Rugby New York become the Eastern Conference Champions and move on to the Championship Final against the Seattle Seawolves to fight for the MLR Shield.
16 v 24 IronworkersThe Houston SaberCats host the Seattle Seawolves at AVEVA Stadium for the ‘Cats first ever Championship Series game, the Western Conference Final!
The SaberCats found themselves catapulted into the #1 spot in the Western Conference following the controversial disqualification of the Austin Gilgronis and LA Giltinis, #1 & #2 in the west respectively. They were able to sit back and watch as the Seawolves comfortably defeated the San Diego Legion in the Western Eliminator last week.
The home side got off to a fast start, with Davy Coetzer flyhacking a loose pass through and was able to finish effectively unopposed. He converted his own score to give the ‘Cats an early lead. The Seawolves got on the board through the boot of AJ Alatimu before an enormous penalty kick from Gerrie Labuschagne easily cleared the posts over 50m away. Undoubtedly spectacular, this would be the final score for the hosts in the first frame. 3 tries from the Seawolves in the latter 30 minutes of the first half carried the guests to a 10-25 lead.
The SaberCats started the second half similar to the first, with Labuschagne scoring quickly following an offensive lineout. Roughly 5 minutes later, Labushagne cut through the Seawolves line and drew the last defender before passing to Christian Dyer, who won’t get many easier finishes. These two quick tries put the hosts right back in it, now trailing 22-25. Unfortunately for Houston, fighting their way back into the game may have taken a toll, as the momentum began to swing back to Seattle at the 50 minute mark. Mzamo Majola finished a score from close range following a stolen lineout and great footwork from Ross Neal & Dan Kriel, before Neal scored one of his own minutes later, followed by Duncan Matthews scoring his 2nd minutes later again. Alatimu converted all three and it seemed that the three scores in 6 minutes broke the Houston spirit. Dyer would grab his 2nd for the ‘Cats in the 75th minute, but this was nothing more than a consolation try as the Seawolves emerged victorious by a score of 27-46.
With both Duncan Matthews and Christian Dyer scoring a brace in this game, it became the first playoff game in MLR history to feature multiple players scoring multiple tries!
The SaberCats’ 2022 ends here, while the Seawolves advance to their 3rd Championship Final in 5 years, and will face the winner of the Eastern Eliminator between the New England Free Jacks and Rugby New York.
The Seattle Seawolves host the San Diego Legion at Starfire Stadium in the 2022 Western Eliminator. The surprise fixture is a result of both the LA Giltinis and Austin Gilgronis disqualification from the 2022 season, bumping the Seawolves and the Legion into playoff spots.
The Legion got off to a dream start, with scrum-half Nate Augspurger charging down a Seattle clearance and, after a Legion scrum, slipped between two defenders for the opening try which was easily converted by Joe Pietersen. The Seawolves struck back quickly, with 2 AJ Alatimu penalties sandwiching a Sam Matenga try from a rolling maul, also converted by Alatimu. The reeling Legion had more back news after they lost a lineout on their own throw, resulting in a Duncan Matthews try in the corner. Alatimu added the 2 and the score was suddenly 7-20 to the hosts. The final score of the first half came just before the half-hour mark, a Ma’a Nonu break almost put Michael Smith in for a score, but was held just short. Tevita Tameilau finally powered over and Pietersen added the 2 to bring the Legion within 6, and the score remained 14-20 into the break.
The Seawolves struck first in the second half through the boot of Alatimu once again, shortly before Riekert Hattingh was handed a yellow card for a high tackle to put Seattle down to 14 for 10 minutes. The Legion lineout failed however, giving away possession and allowing Seattle to clear, followed about 5 minutes later by another 3pts from Alatimu. The real nail in the coffin came from an up & under kicked and recovered by Duncan Matthews. Alatimu almost finished it himself but came up just short, allowing the forwards to finish it themselves for a 7pt try through a driving maul credited to Travis Larsen. The Seawolves didn’t take their foot off the gas, with Ross Neal crossing for their 4th of the game. Alatimu was accurate as ever to take the score to 40-14, all but over. The Legion claimed a consolation try a few minutes from the final whistle, but their season would end here.
Seattle will progress to the Western Conference Final to face the surprise #1 seed in the West, the Houston SaberCats.
Rugby ATL hosted the Eastern Eliminator at Silverbacks Park, facing Rugby New York for a spot in the Eastern Conference Final against the New England Free Jacks.
Rugby ATL flanker Connor Cook was handed a yellow card in just the 2nd minute, for a deliberate knock-on following an early break by Waisake Naholo. This put the RATLers on the back foot almost immediately, and they soon conceded a penalty that was converted by Jason Emery. The first half saw no tries, with Kurt Coleman and Jason Emery having a kick-off, with the visitors taking a 6-9 lead into the sheds.
Rugby New York brought on 2 USA Eagles at half-time in the form of Nate Brakeley and Nick Civetta that immediately bore fruit. A rolling maul from an attacking lineout was brought down illegally by ATL and while they escaped without a yellow card, the ref awarded NY with a penalty try to take the score to 6-16. The hosts seemed to stabilise following this, and started applying the pressure. Nick Civetta was handed a yellow card for NY repeat infringement but still the RATLers couldn’t find pay dirt, and settled for the 3pts which was followed up by another penalty a few minutes later to take the score to 12-16 heading into the final 10 minutes.
The guests struck back with their patented driving maul from an attacking lineout, finished by Dylan Fawsitt and converted by Emery to take the score to 12-23 with just over 5 minutes remaining. The deadly accurate Emery added another penalty kick with a minute to go, before Coleman scored and converted a consolation try to make the final score 19-26 to the guests.
The 2021 Runners-up finish their season here, while Rugby New York moves on to face the Free Jacks in the Eastern Conference Final, held at Veteran’s Memorial Stadium.
19 v 26 IronworkersThe final game of the 2022 regular season saw the Seattle Seawolves travel down the west coast to face the LA Giltinis at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
With the disqualification of the Austin Gilgronis the day before this game, the Giltinis moved into the #1 spot in the Western Conference and a bye to the Conference Final, which they would host. With a strong win in this game, LA could have potentially hosted the Championship Final (should they make it). However, an injury-stricken Seawolves side produced a shock victory over the men from Los Angeles, with a 27-35 bonus point win. As a result, the New England Free Jacks finish first overall, and will host the Championship final should they make it that far.
Two days after this game on June 7th, 2023, after the regular season had concluded, Major League Rugby announced that the LA Giltinis were disqualified from the 2022 season for a ‘violation of league rules’ similar to the case of the Austin Gilgronis just days before. Both Austin and LA were owned by Australian fitness tycoon Adam Gilchrist (hence the ‘Gil’ names), leading many to speculate that there was a link. With LA now disqualified, the Houston SaberCats become the #1 seed in the West and will host the Western Conference Final against the winner of the Western Eliminator between Seattle and the San Diego Legion, who find themselves catapulted into the post-season.
Following the disqualification, the Giltinis franchise was put up for sale with Gilchrist looking to leave the rugby business in North America. In late October 2022, the league announced that no buyer had been found for either the Giltinis and Gilgronis and that neither team would compete in the 2023 season, effectively folding both franchises. This would be the last game in Giltinis club history.
Old Glory DC travel north of the border to face the Toronto Arrows at York Lions Stadium during the final round of the 2022 regular season.
With both teams already eliminated from playoff contention, the dead rubber match provided a chance for each team to finish their 2022 season on a high, and it was Old Glory who took that chance, scoring 8 tries in a hard fought 35-50 win, their 3rd of the season and first ever over the Arrows.
Legion
Old Glory