NEWS
Smith, Naikatini Take Home MVP Awards
In addition to taking home, Major League Rugby’s Championship Shield for the second year in a row with their 26-23 victory over the San Diego Legion, two members of the Seattle Seawolves will also take home a few extra bonuses for their performances throughout the MLR Championship Series.
Both scrum-half J.P. Smith and lock Apisai Naikatini received additional awards for their play over the last two weeks of the season. Smith earned the Most Valuable Player Award of the MLR Championship match while Naikatini received the Most Valuable Player Award of the entire Championship Series.
Smith’s award is a $1,000 voucher from Delta Air Lines, a leader in consumer experience and one of Fortune’s Top 50 Most Admired Companies. He finished the match with four carries for 40 meters, one line break, two tackle breaks, and a try while also making 11 tackles en route to the Seawolves’ second consecutive championship victory.
Naikatini played a pivotal role in a Seattle scrum that was crucial to the Seawolves success all season long and paid dividends in the playoffs. In the Seawolves 30-17 win over the Toronto Arrows in the semifinal round of the MLR Championship Series, Naikatini carried the ball seven times for 29 meters and made six tackles. He followed that performance up with eight carries for 31 meters, a try assist and eight tackles in the MLR Championship final to help the Seawolves secure the victory. As a result, he received the MVP of the MLR Championship Series which consists of a trip for two to the Langara Fishing Lodge in Haida Gwaii, British Columbia.
The Langara Fishing Lodge has been a leader in recreational fishing for over 35 years and is a proud supporter of rugby in Canada, the United States, and all over the world.
About the Championship Series
Major League Rugby’s Championship series consists of two semi-final games and the MLR Championship game over the course of two weekends. Both semi-final matches were played on Sunday, June 9 with the San Diego Legion beating Rugby United New York at Torero Stadium, San Diego and the Seattle Seawolves beating the Toronto Arrows at Starfire Stadium, Seattle.
About MLR
MLR is a professional rugby league launched in April of 2018. It’s an initiative of the North American rugby community, in partnership with private investors, who believe that North American rugby can thrive at the highest levels: as a commercial enterprise; as an influential player on the international scene; and as a participation sport at the youth and senior level. MLR will be the pinnacle of North American rugby, and provide a rallying point for local communities, a focal point for North American rugby fans, and an aspirational destination for young athletes. There are already over 40 internationals and players from more than 15 countries playing in the MLR. Twenty-two MLR stars represented the USA Eagles and Canada national teams in the opening round of the 2019 Americas Rugby Championship, with more than 30 called up over the course of the tournament.
The teams that competed in MLR Season 2 are Austin Elite, Glendale Raptors, Houston SaberCats, New Orleans Gold, San Diego Legion, Seattle Seawolves, Utah Warriors plus new additions Rugby United New York and Toronto Arrows. In 2020, New England Free Jacks and Old Glory DC will bring the total to 11 teams for MLR Season 3.
Media Contacts
Edelman:
Matt Salvatore, 613-315-7362, matt.salvatore@edelman.com
Andrew Blanchette, 416-994-9373, andrew.blanchette@edelman.com
Recent Posts
Season Rewind: Top 5 Hits of the 2024 MLR Season
Season Rewind: The Top 5 Hits of the 2024 MLR Season presented
Season Rewind: Top 5 Kicks of the 2024 MLR Season
Season Rewind: The Top 5 Kicks of the 2024 MLR Season presented
Offseason Talking Points: News From Across MLR
Written By Joe Harvey As the road to the 2025 Major League
Major League Rugby Launches MLR Wellness
Health-centered initiative promotes three-pillar approach to wellness DALLAS – Major League Rugby,
Offseason Talking Points: News From Across MLR
Written by Joe Harvey Even in the offseason, Major League Rugby has
Categories
- Anthem RC
- Chicago Hounds
- Dallas Jackals
- Expansion
- Games
- Headlines
- Highlights
- Houston SaberCats
- In the News
- League Announcements
- Miami Sharks
- MLR Collegiate Draft
- MLR News
- New England Free Jacks
- New York Ironworkers
- NOLA Gold
- Old Glory DC
- Playoffs
- Press Releases
- Rugby ATL
- Rugby FC Los Angeles
- San Diego Legion
- Seattle Seawolves
- Team News
- Toronto Arrows
- Trades
- Utah Warriors
- Videos
Archives
- November 2024 (1)
- October 2024 (3)
- September 2024 (7)
- August 2024 (14)
- July 2024 (22)
- June 2024 (42)
- May 2024 (29)
- April 2024 (39)
- March 2024 (37)
- February 2024 (5)
- January 2024 (6)
- December 2023 (5)
- November 2023 (4)
- October 2023 (5)
- September 2023 (5)
- August 2023 (7)
- July 2023 (19)
- June 2023 (43)
- May 2023 (41)
- April 2023 (46)
- March 2023 (27)
- February 2023 (17)
- January 2023 (4)
- December 2022 (4)
- November 2022 (7)
- October 2022 (7)
- September 2022 (4)
- August 2022 (3)
- July 2022 (8)
- June 2022 (46)
- May 2022 (71)
- April 2022 (56)
- March 2022 (58)
- February 2022 (55)
- January 2022 (13)
- December 2021 (8)
- November 2021 (10)
- October 2021 (14)
- September 2021 (10)
- August 2021 (17)
- July 2021 (60)
- June 2021 (63)
- May 2021 (64)
- April 2021 (49)
- March 2021 (35)
- February 2021 (14)
- January 2021 (15)
- November 2020 (1)
- September 2020 (4)
- August 2020 (6)
- July 2020 (10)
- June 2020 (3)
- May 2020 (4)
- March 2020 (16)
- February 2020 (19)
- September 2019 (1)
- August 2019 (1)
- June 2019 (17)
- May 2019 (32)
- April 2019 (39)
- March 2019 (28)
- February 2019 (54)
- January 2019 (31)
- May 2018 (2)
- April 2018 (1)