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.

2023 Overall MLR Standings

The 2023 Major League Rugby season marked the inaugural campaign for the Chicago Hounds. Despite adding an expansion side, the league shrank back to 12 teams following the controversial disqualification of both Adam Gilchrist owned teams (Austin Gilgronis & LA Giltinis) prior to the 2022 Championship Series.

As a result, the league followed the same regular season structure as the 2021 season, with each team playing each other team within their conference both home & away, and each team from outside their conference home or away. The Championship Series structure remained the same, a 3-week playoffs with the Eliminator round pitting the #2 & #3 seeds from each conference against each other. The victor then plays the conference #1 seed in the Conference Finals, fighting for a place in the MLR Championship Final.

2020 Overall MLR Standings

Major League Rugby’s 2020 season was cut short by the global COVID-19 pandemic, only completing 5 rounds before shutting down.

Nevertheless, the 2020 season marked the inaugural season for Old Glory DC, Rugby ATL (now Los Angeles…), and the New England Free Jacks. This season also saw the introduction of the Conference system, with the now-12 teams divided evenly into the Eastern and Western Conferences. Each team were to face each other team in their conference both home and away, and each team from outside their conference home or away for a 16 game regular season.

2019 MLR Standings

Major League Rugby’s 2019 saw the inclusion of Rugby United New York (now the Rugby New York Ironworkers) and the Toronto Arrows, taking the total number of teams to 9.

The season, every team would play all over teams both home & away, creating a 16-game regular season. The regular season was followed by a 2-week Championship Series, consisting of Semi-finals and a Grand Final.

MLR Fixtures/Results

This table lists all results in the history of Major League Rugby, from the inaugural 2018 season onwards, and will also list upcoming season’s fixtures once they are known.

2022 MLR Fixtures/Results

The 2022 Major League Rugby season saw the arrival of the Dallas Jackals, having deferred their entry from 2021 following the lingering effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic. The 2022 season also saw arguably the biggest controversy in MLR history, as the Austin Gilgronis and LA Giltinis were disqualified prior to the Championship Series (for which both teams had qualified). This would mark the final season for both Adam Gilchrist owned clubs

The table below lists all results from MLR’s 2022 season.

2021 MLR Fixtures/Results

The 2021 Major League Rugby Season saw the arrive of the star-studded LA Giltinis. They are the 2nd team in MLR history to lift the shield in their inaugural season, following the Seattle Seawolves in the league’s inaugural 2018 season.

The table below lists all results from the 2021 MLR season.

2020 MLR Fixtures/Results

The 2020 Major League Rugby Season is the shortest MLR season to date, having been cancelled after only 5 rounds. This season was heavily impacted by the global COVID-19 pandemic.

This season also marked major expansion for MLR as it marked the inaugural seasons for Old Glory DC, Rugby ATL (Now Los Angeles…), and the New England Free Jacks.

The table below lists all results from MLR’s 2020 season.

Tomas Casares

Argentinian back row Tomas Casares has played in Major League Rugby between 2023-2026. He represented the New England Free Jacks (2023), the Miami Sharks (2024-2025), and the Chicago Hounds (2026).

A Thomas More alum, the Buenos Aires born Casares was drafted in the 2nd Round (17th overall) of the 2022 MLR Collegiate Draft by the New England Free Jacks. He spent the 2023 MLR season with the Free Jacks during their first Championship-winning campaign, but did not appear in a MLR game.

Casares was selected by the Miami Sharks during the 2023 expansion draft and the team announced that Casares had signed with the Argentine-owned Sharks ahead of their inaugural 2024 season, where he earned his MLR debut. On May 25th 2024 during Round 13, Casares scored an auto-7pt try with the clock in the red to secure a Sharks victory over the New England Free Jacks, the team that drafted him, in front of an elated home crowd in Fort Lauderdale.

Following the 2024 season, Casares was included in the USA squad for their November tour against Portugal, Tonga, and Spain. He became Eagle #583 when he earned his test debut off the bench in a hard-fought 21-17 victory over Portugal on November 9th. He earned a 2nd cap the following week in a 36-17 victory over Tonga. On November 20th, the Miami Sharks announced the return of Tomas Casares for the 2025 MLR season. He took another step forward with the Sharks in their sophomore season in 2025, starting 12 of his 14 appearances for Miami and completing 139 tackles to help the team earn their first ever playoff spot.

Following the 2025 MLR season, the Miami Sharks announced that they were withdrawing from Major League Rugby. This left Casares as a free agent ahead of the 2026 season, and on 22nd January 2026, the Chicago Hounds announced that they had added the back rower for the 2026 season.

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