NEWS

NOLA vs Capital Selects via Craig Boudreaux

Opening day is less than three months away. As Major League Rugby’s inaugural season approaches, each team is preparing for what is set to be a memorable year.

While all teams have hit the pitch for the start of team training sessions, two squads – the Houston SaberCats and NOLA Gold – have already reaped the rewards of early exhibition success.

In their lone match of 2018, NOLA defeated the Capital Selects, 68-15 at Gretna Park.

“We took a lot out of the game,” head coach Nate Osborne told FloRugby. “For most of the guys it was the first time running the attack and defense shape together in a match. There are some things we need to be better at.”

NOLA Gold Soars Past Capital Selects, via Craig Boudreaux

Kalm via @USMLR

The Houston SaberCats have had a busy new year, hosting four exhibition matches at Constellation Field in Sugar Land. Notably, the SaberCats drew a record attendanceof 5,450, the most fans to ever attend a domestic rugby match. The record crowd witnessed Houston defeat the Seattle Saracens, 50-7.

Houston has also faced the Vancouver Ravens, a 26-23 loss, the highly-touted Uruguay national team, a 32-24 loss, and James Bay Athletic Association, a 42-13 win.

Houston SaberCats via Judy Teasdale Photography

The SaberCats fan experience has been highlighted by pregame tailgates featuring music, food, drinks and games as well as promotional giveaways and in-game entertainment for the whole family.

Before the regular season kicks off on April 21, 19 MLR players will don a USA Eagles jersey at the Americas Rugby Championship beginning Feb. 3 when the U.S. takes on Argentina XV followed by matches against Canada, Chile, Brazil and Uruguay.

The Eagles are returning some of their top contributors from the 2017 ARC title team in Mike Te’o (San Diego Legion), Shaun Davies (Glendale Raptors) and Ryan Matyas (San Diego Legion).