NEWS
Looking to the MLR Championship Series
With the MLR Championship Series due to start after the regular season concludes this weekend, MLR Correspondent Joe Harvey explains qualification, what to expect and where to watch as the fourth season of Major League Rugby reaches its conclusion.
But first, a quick refresher on what it takes for MLR teams to progress past the regular season. The 12 MLR teams are divided into two conferences with six teams each in the East and West that compete across 18 weeks and 16 games of action. At the end of the regular season, the top two teams from each conference progress to the MLR Championship Series and face each other in the Eastern and Western Conference Finals. The Conference Champions then face off in the MLR Championship Final on Sunday, August 1st, broadcast nationally on CBS.
Scroll to the bottom to review how league standings are measured by table points.
EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS | SATURDAY, JULY 24TH @ 8pm ET
Nationally televised on CBSSN in the US. Outside of the US, watch on The Rugby Network.
Rugby ATL are the only team in the East Conference to have obtained their position in the Eastern Conference Finals. Winning 11 of their 15 games this season, Scott Lawrence’s team have impressed all season as a very well-rounded side that is uncompromising in defense and brutal in attack.
What remains to be seen is who ATL’s opposition will be with NOLA Gold and Rugby United New York coming face to face to see which of the team’s will be facing Atlanta. Of course, it is not quite as easy as win or lose on the day, with several variables potentially deciding which team moves to the next stage of competition.
If New York are victorious over NOLA, they will be the side competing for a place at the Championship Final, no questions asked. However, there is even a scenario in which Nate Osbourne’s Gold win and New York progress. In order for NOLA to pull off a spot in the Eastern Conference Final they must win with a bonus point, score at least a 20-point advantage over their opponents AND prevent New York from earning any bonus points on the table.
In their only match-up this season, NOLA beat New York 51-28 at The Gold Mine all the way back in March. If NOLA were to repeat that match, they would earn five table points with the win and a bonus point, but they would need to strengthen their defense to stop New York before scoring four tries to earn a bonus point.
It’s an incredible challenge set before NOLA Gold, but in a season of upsets and surprises, truly anything is possible.
WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS | SUNDAY, JULY 25TH @ 6pm ET
Nationally televised on CBSSN in the US. Outside of the US, watch on The Rugby Network.
The Western Conference Finals will see the LA Giltinis play host to the Utah Warriors at the LA Memorial Coliseum. Utah secure