The San Diego Legion travels to Austin to face the Gilgronis at Bold Stadium.

The Austin Gilgronis emerged as convincing 44-28 victors to continue their push for the top spot in the Western Conference, and a bye to the Conference Finals. The AGs earned their try BP before the half time break to blow the Legion away, and a kicking combination of Mack Mason and Chris Mattina went 8/8. With a bye next week, this is the final game of the San Diego Legion’s regular season, finishing with an even 8-8 record and picking up a try bonus point in this game.

The first ‘Gil-Grudge Match’ of the 2022 Major League Rugby season saw the Austin Gilgronis emerge victorious over their cousins the LA Giltinis to maintain their perfect start to the season, improving to a 5-0 record.

LA Fly-half Luke Burton was injured prior to kick-off and remarkably, Giltinis Assistant Coach Orene Ai’i took his place, 6 years after his last professional match. At 42y, 5m, 10d young, Ai’i became the oldest player to make his MLR debut, as well as the oldest player to play in league history!

Perhaps even more remarkable is that this game featured both the oldest player in MLR history, and the youngest. LA winger Kahanu Koi earned his MLR debut off the bench at 18y, 8m, 15d, becoming the youngest player to ever feature in a MLR game! The oldest player in league history and the youngest, featuring in the same game for the same team.

 

This game, the 2nd of the 2022 Major League Rugby season, pits the Austin Gilgronis against the expansion Dallas Jackals, marking the first MLR game in the Jackals’ history.

The 2022 MLR season was the only season to date to involve 3 teams from Texas, and as such an intra-season Texas Cup round robin was also up for grabs. This game marks the first game in that mini-league.

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.

The Gilgronis host the Giltinis in Major League Rugby’s first ever ‘Gil-grudge match’ between the two Adam Gilchrist owned teams.

The LA Defence proved almost inpenetrable for their sister team, as they could only manage 3pts all game. The game was far from a blow-out, but was convincing. LA managed 2 tries and Matt Giteau added a penalty late in the game to go 3/3 from the tee for a final scoreline of 3-17.