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.
Anthem RC travel to Zion’s Bank Stadium to face the Utah Warriors in a cross-conference clash.
Anthem RC are showing signs of improvement every week, and took a 15-19 lead into halftime, the second game in a row where they have led at the half. However, the Warriors came out flying in the second half, exploding for 29 unanswered points to blow the development side out of the water and bag a much needed bonus point victory.
New Zealand born Tongan prop Joe Apikotoa played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2025. He represented Anthem RC for his entire MLR career.
Born in Wellington, NZ, Apikotoa played rugby from an early age and represented the Wellington Orcas U17s between 2012-2013. He was named U17 Player of the Year and Junior Player of the Year in 2013. That same year he also played Rugby League for the New Zealand Residents U18, and the following year for the Melbourne Storm for a short period. He returned to New Zealand and played with the Wellington Lions in NZ’s Mitre 10 (now the National Provincial Championship) between 2015-2017, and attended New Zealand Development Camps in 2015 & 2016, earning a trial with the New Zealand U20s.
Apikotoa played with the Hurricanes in the Brisbane Global Rugby Tens in 2017, before joining the Hawke’s Bay Magpies for their 2018 season. He got another shot at Super Rugby the following year, appearing in a Pre-Season game for the Hurricanes before making the unorthodox move to Spain to play with Basque Club Ordizia RE in the Spanish Division de Honor de Rugby. As the COVID-19 pandemic halted the world, he again returned to New Zealand to play with Hawke’s Bay and won the Mitre 10 Championship and Ranfurly Shield, the latter of which they successfully defended in 2021. Apikotoa finally earned his Super Rugby debut with the Chiefs in 2021, before representing the Moana Pasifika between 2022-2023, returning to play for Hawke’s Bay again in 2023. on 9th July 2024, the Magpies announced that Apikotoa would return for their 2024 NPC season. Of Tongan heritage, Apikotoa is a fully capped Tongan international having been named to the squad for their 2022 Pacific Nations Cup, and played in 3 games at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.
Apikotoa joined Anthem RC ahead of their inaugural season in 2024, as one of the few international players on the World Rugby, USA Rugby, and MLR partnership team. He scored 2 tries in 11 appearances (all starts), carrying for over 300m gained and completing over 100 tackles. He also captained the side twice during their challenging first season, and was named to the All-MLR Honorable Mention XV for his efforts in the Anthem front row. On January 21st, 2025, Joe Apikotoa was included on Anthem RC‘s full 2025 roster, confirming his return for a second MLR campaign.
The San Diego Legion travel cross-country to face the Miami Sharks at AutoNation Sports Field during Round 5 of the 2024 MLR season.
The Sharks were in the ascendancy for the first 55 minutes or so, establishing a 21-5 lead before 17 unanswered points from the Legion broke the hosts hearts. Despite scoring 16 of Miami’s 21 points, Felipe Etcheverry only went 3/8 from the tee, missing 4 penalties and a conversion that could have won Miami the game.
The Seattle Seawolves travel to Illinois to face the Chicago Hounds at Seatgeek Stadium.
This game was a true tale of two halves. The hosts got on the board early through rookie Noah Brown for the first of his two, adding an interception for his 2nd of the game as the Hounds romped to a 26-0 lead within half an hour. The Seattle Seawolves, initially shellshocked but the Chicago offence, recovered to dot down twice before the half to bring the score to 26-12. The 2nd half scoring was all Seattle, scoring in total 34 unanswered points to take a 26-34 victory.
The Hounds will be bitterly disappointed to have lost the momentum from an excellent opening 30, and to not even come away with a losing BP is a real gut punch for the Eastern Conference side, who still seem to be struggling to get things in gear for a full 80.
Anthem RC host Old Glory DC at American Legion Memorial Stadium in an Eastern Conference clash for both teams’Â 5th game of the 2024 season!
Anthem RC, the development side of USA Rugby, put together perhaps their best performance of their short history, leading DC 20-17 at half-time and picking up a try BP in consecutive games as they fall 32-46 to a mostly second-string DC side, who pick up an important BP victory on the road.
The first Texas derby of the 2024 season saw the SaberCats travel to Dallas to face the Jackals at Choctaw Stadium.
The SaberCats became the first team of the 2024 season to complete over 200 tackles in a single game, finishing with 208 and squeaking out a 27-30 victory to remain undefeated. The Cats gained 336m with ball in hand, one of the lowest totals for the season and one of the lowest victorious MGained totals in MLR history. This is compared to the Dallas Jackals’ 851m gained, as they were knocking on the door with the clock in the red but were unable to find a way through.
17 v 22 
Free Jacks
Anthem
Legion
Seawolves
Old Glory
SaberCats
Gold