League: Major League Rugby

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.

2021 – RD 13: Austin Gilgronis v Toronto Arrows

The Toronto Arrows head to Austin to take on the Gilgronis at a scorching Bold Stadium.

The Arrows scoring the first points through a Spencer Jones penalty, but by the half time whistle the AGs led 19-8 and like the weather, stayed red hot in the second half. The Gilgronis ran in 4 tries in the second half, only allowing the Arrows in for 2 tries in the last 10 minutes to make the scoreline look a little more respectable for the Canadian outfit, but it was still a tough day out for Toronto. AG took the win by a score of 47-21.

The 47pts scored by Austin was the most points ever conceded by the Toronto Arrows, and is the first time they have suffered 3 losses in a row. On the other hand Luke Schlotman became the first American player to play for the Arrows, after coming in as injury cover from Rugby ATL, Toronto’s ‘roommates’ for 2021. Luke Schlotman featured for the Arrows in this game, and was the only US player to play for the Arrows in their 5 seasons in MLR.

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2021 – RD 13: Utah Warriors v San Diego Legion

Fans at Zion’s Bank Stadium were treated to a real try-fest as the Utah Warriors hosted the San Diego Legion in a Western Conference clash!

A total of 12 tries were scored throughout the game, divided evenly between the two sides. Both teams scored over 40pts and the only thing to separate the sides were two automatic conversions scored by Utah, as the Warriors’ penalty was cancelled out by a Joe Pietersen drop goal.

With a combined 86pts scored, this game was the 2nd highest-scoring game of the 2021 MLR season, and was one of the top 5 highest scoring MLR games ever until late in the 2022 season.

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2021 – RD 12: Seattle Seawolves v Utah Warriors

The Utah Warriors travel to Washington State to face the Seawolves at Starfire Stadium.

This game between the two Western Conference rivals went down to the very last tough of the ball. By the 50th minute, Seattle were ahead by a score of 28-15 and holding firm before a Jurie van Vuuren try and Calvin Whiting conversion brough the Warriors to within 6 points. It looked as though the seawall had recovered however, and Seattle were on the attack in the closing stages of the game. Uncharacteristically, AJ Alatimu missed two penalty attempts before Utah were able to set up an attacking platform in the Seattle half.

What came next seemed almost inevitable. The Warriors kept the pressure up until eventually Olive Kilifi rumbled over for an 80th minute try. This made the score 28-27 with just the game-deciding conversion to come, with which Calvin Whiting made no mistake to steal victory from the jaws of defeat in front of a heartbroken Seattle crowd.

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2021 – RD 12: NOLA Gold v Rugby ATL

Rugby ATL travel to New Orleans to face the Gold at the Gold Mine in a MLR Southern Derby!

This game has been compared to a test match at time, and saw only 3 points scored in the second half which would ultimately sway the game in ATL’s favour. ending with a scoreline of 7-8 to the visitors, this game is the lowest scoring game in MLR history as of the conclusion of the 2022 season, with just 15pts scored.

With this win, ATL move to 6 victories in a row, strengthening their claim as one of the favourites for the MLR Shield in 2021.

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2021 – RD 11: Rugby ATL v LA Giltinis

The LA Giltinis visit the Snake Pit to face Rugby ATL in what would be a Major League Rugby classic!

The home side got on the board first through Adriaan Carelse, who converted his own score to give ATL a 7-0 lead before DTH van der Merwe scored LA’s 50th try of the season in the 30th minute, although the conversion was unsuccessful. just 5 minutes later LA Lock Luke White was handed a straight red card for a headbutt in a ruck clearance, and LA were down to 14 men for 20 minutes, with White not allowed to rejoin the game.

With LA a man down, ATL raced out to a 17-5 lead by the 50 minute mark, and just needed to hold on until the final whistle. LA broke through in the 75th minute and Luke Carty successfully converted Angus Cottrell‘s try, but it wasn’t enough.  Rugby ATL handed LA just their second defeat of the season, by a scoreline of 17-12. Rugby ATL made 280 tackles as a team, tying the all-time MLR single game record for tackles by a team, set by the Seattle Seawolves in Round 5 of 2018.

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