Team News
2023 Major League Rugby Conference Finals Preview
Written by Joe Harvey
Following an exhilarating Eliminator Round, we're heading into the Conference Finals. Last weekend, Old Glory DC and two-time Major League Rugby champions, the Seattle Seawolves, claimed their spots in the Conference Finals. Now traveling to the homes of the New England Free Jacks and San Diego Legion, more exciting action can be expected. Now playing for a spot in the Championship Final on Saturday, July 8, everything is on the line for the four teams going to battle this weekend. This week MLR Correspondent, Joe Harvey, spoke to each team as they prepare for their Conference Final.EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL | SATURDAY, JULY 1, 5:30 PM ET, FS1 | NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS V OLD GLORY DC
When Kurt Baker crossed the try line late in Old Glory DC's win over the New York Ironworkers, the New Zealander and his teammates knew they would be fighting for another day. Earning a hard-fought victory over the incumbent MLR champions in New York continued the team's remarkable rise under Josh Syms. At the foot of the Eastern Conference a year ago, the team is now competing with the League's best and becoming more self-assured along the way. "Obviously, the boys are really happy and pleased with the win," Niko Jones, DC's No.8, said. "It is different for me as I came midway through the season, but getting a feel from the boys that have been here for a few years, just to get to the playoffs was a real achievement. "To get the win was awesome. I guess we are underdogs, but we are really confident in what we have as a group. "We have an underdog mentality but a quiet confidence in our own abilities, and that is how we have got a good win against a good New York team." The 22-year-old New Zealander and his teammates are understandably excited as they prepare to take on the New England Free Jacks on Saturday evening. Just a game away from a shot at the Shield, Jones believes there is more to come from him and his teammates.
Photo by Paris Malone
"We are really confident," Jones said. "At this time of year, you hope to be reaching your best rugby or peaking. We really feel like we are getting better, and we have a lot more to give. "We take a lot of confidence in knowing you missed a few opportunities (against New York), as you do in every rugby game, and the hope is that you miss less or execute better." At this stage of the season last year, the Free Jacks were knocked out of the competition. In 2022, the team was overpowered in the Conference Finals by the New York Ironworkers. Under Scott Mathie, New England has continued to grow into a force to be reckoned with. Arriving into the postseason with a 14-2 record, there was little in the team's way as they backed up a dominant 2022 season with another. A mainstay in Massachusetts is scrum-half John Poland. The diminutive Irishman has often been the barometer for his team in how he sets the tempo for a team hoping to play fast, free-flowing rugby. "Reflecting on the season, it has been a good one," Poland said. "What has shown is the depth in our squad, being able to rotate guys in and out without having a drop-off, which I think is the big difference for us between this year and last year. "Also, playing at home at Fort Quincy; we just love playing there, and we have got bigger and bigger crowd as the year has gone on. It has been unbelievable. "It is somewhere we are really proud to play and proud to represent our fans, the community of New England."
Photo by Justin Walker
After the disappointment of a year ago, there is a palpable sense of motivation and drive for the Free Jacks. It is embodied by Poland, who may be in front of a record crowd once again at Veteran Memorials Stadium, with a team where there is no sense of stopping. "It is not often you are part of a winning team, so the culture has been unreal," Poland said. "Honestly, everyone is just buzzing. Can't wait for it. Last year is almost irrelevant. "This is the year, now. It is all coming together for us; we just need to go out and take it."WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL | SUNDAY 2 JULY, 6:00 PM ET, FS2 | SAN DIEGO LEGION V SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
On Saturday afternoon at the Starfire Sports Complex, the Seattle Seawolves had to battle hard against a physical Houston SaberCats. Ultimately, AJ Alatimu was unstoppable at fly-half, while JP Smith continued the brilliance that made him a league constant. Just like a year ago, Seattle has progressed from the Eliminator Round and will face Adriaan Carlese, a try-scorer last time out, was enthused by the team effort, which ultimately led to a third win in 2023 over the SaberCats.
Photo by Caean Couto
"A lot of credit should go to our coaching staff, for the way we played and wanted to play, and I think our execution was just really good on the day," the South African said. "That was the difference for us. They are a physical side, and our forwards, the whole team, matched that. At the end of the day, I feel we were more clinical, and a lot of the credit must go to the coaching staff." In the regular season, Seattle was beaten twice by San Diego. In April, the defeat was by just three points in a 37-40 thriller, while in Week 18, Allen Clarke had fielded a weaker side with the playoffs in mind. Traveling to Snapdragon Stadium will certainly be a test for the team, Carlese having the belief in his team to execute again to book themselves a place in Chicago, Illinois. "We will probably focus on ourselves, our roles, and coming up with a game plan to combat them," Carlese said. "On any given day, I believe what we have can beat any team. The whole squad is feeling that. We have been winning games, and we are in a good position. We still have a lot in the tank." Nate Sylvia was among the Legion players beaten by Seattle in 2019's Championship Final. Played in Southern California, all those in red and black could not stop Brad Tucker from crossing the whitewash with the clock firmly in the red. Reaching the Eliminator Round a season ago, once more, the Legion came undone against the Seawolves. This third Championship Series encounter will hopefully be the charm, and a long-awaited return to the Championship Final will be complete. "It would mean everything to us," Sylvia said, "especially to the guys that have been here since day one. "We made the final in 2019. It was a hugely successful season, the final didn't go our way, and we have always threatened. It has taken a little bit of time. "We had a great season in 2020 (five games unbeaten), the season got canceled midway through because of the pandemic, then the past two seasons didn't really go our way, and we have been building. "To finally be so close and with a big game at the weekend, it would mean the world to us and this group."
Photo by John Matthew Harrison
Breaking the New England record for consecutive victories and moving into the postseason as the team to beat, Sylvia says his team has a sole focus in the playoffs. "Looking back, we hit a few records this year. That was a really good note to finish the season on," Sylvia said. "A good memory is how it all started, in our preseason at Twentynine Palms, putting in a lot of work in there, building connections which translated well throughout the season. "Like I said, we hit a couple of records, but we want to finish with the Shield. That is our entire focus." Eastern Conference Final Tickets Western Conference Final Tickets