Major League Rugby: Five things we learnt as reigning MVP shines and a new recruit in San Diego

Joe Harvey
Miami star kicks for goal (Photo credit: Lauren Sopourn)

Miami star kicks for goal (Photo credit: Lauren Sopourn)

Another weekend has passed, and another round of Major League Rugby (MLR) fixtures have gone with it.

Yet again the action from across the pond was captivating from start to finish as the regular season continued to deliver.

After pouring over all the action from Week Four, Joe Harvey tells us five things we learnt from the MLR.

SaberCats become the team to beat

It was only a week ago that the Seattle Seawolves seemed like the team to beat. What a difference seven days makes.

On Friday night the Houston SaberCats travelled to Washington to play the only other unbeaten MLR side, Seattle.

What followed was one of the most comprehensive performances of the season.

By half-time the scoreline read 23-8 in favour of the Texas side, who for a second weekend in a row had included ex-Seawolves playmaker AJ Alatimu at fly-half.

In spite of losing a grip on the game in the second half, Houston won the game 42-40 and move into their Week Five clash with the Dallas Jackals stacked with confidence.

Miami and Los Angeles secure maiden victories

Throughout every round so far, new MLR clubs Miami Sharks and Rugby FC Los Angeles have consistently impressed and now have their reward.

Both teams landed their maiden victories in fine fashion. The Sharks, who are captained by Argentina great Tomas Cubelli, emphatically beat Anthem Rugby Carolina 50-21 in Florida.

Ex-Scotland international Nick Grigg was among the try scorers, along with Uruguayan Rugby World Cup star Manuel Ardao, as the team secured a bonus point before half-time.

For his exploits, Uruguay’s Felipe Etcheverry received the Player of the Week nod after registering 18 of his teams’ points.

In California, Los Angeles showed their class at Dignity Health Sports Park to beat the Utah Warriors 36-32.

Each team scored five tries in the hugely entertaining encounter, with Canada wing Andrew Coe crossing the whitewash twice for Stephen Brett’s team.

Louis Rees-Zammit could bolster Patrick Mahomes’ offence at Super Bowl champions

Reigning MVP runs the show

While Felipe Etcheverry may have been Player of the Week, Jayson Potroz was not too far behind in the race for the best individual performance of the weekend.

A wily operator at fly-half, Potroz enjoyed a mesmeric 2023 as he helped the New England Free Jacks to the MLR Shield before returning to his native New Zealand to guide Taranaki to a National Provincial Championship.

The 32-year-old was named MLR’s Player of the Year last season and has already started this season in a similar vein.

Potroz registered 15 points in the Free Jacks’ 22-15 win against their Easter Conference rivals, the Chicago Hounds over the weekend.

Earning a Man of the Match gong for his exploits, it is a true joy to see the Kiwi pulling the strings again.

Nola start to hit their stride

Good things come to those who wait.

That is what supporters of the NOLA Gold will be telling themselves after the team’s start to 2024.
Currently level on points with the New England Free Jacks at the top of the Eastern Conference, NOLA have looked like a team reborn under Cory Brown.

In Week Four, the Gold helped themselves to a 35-22 bonus point win against the Dallas Jackals in what was a complete performance.

Not only getting his team playing attractive free-flowing rugby, Brown has also restored confidence to a team striving to make the post-season at the seventh time of asking.

Already Tongan wing Taniela Filimone has established himself as a true star following his off-season arrival from New England, while USA cap Moni Tonga’uiha has re-discovered the form that got him international recognition.

Legion recruit USA International from Championship club

Last Thursday RFU Championship club Coventry Rugby confirmed that flanker Paddy Ryan would be joining San Diego Legion at the end of the club’s season.

Capped by the USA last summer as they toured Europe, Ireland-born Ryan has quickly become essential to the Eagles as they build towards 2027 Rugby World Cup qualification.

Joining Coventry this season after time with Ampthill, Cornish Pirates and Northampton Saints, the 25-year-old could join up with his new team for a play-off push.

In many ways, Ryan’s recruitment can be looked at as something of a coup.

While in the past, players from the USA may have sought out opportunities away from the US, Ryan’s arrival shows a change of mentality.

The standard of rugby in MLR has never been higher and is a far more attractive prospect for the nation’s best players, while Scott Lawrence’s tenure as Eagles head coach has already seen players flockibg to the country.

READ MORE: Louis Rees-Zammit signs with Roc Nation Sports as ‘sky is the limit’ for NFL-chasing star

News