NEWS

Week 8 Awards: NOLA Gold’s offensive juggernaut rolls on and Hattingh epitomizes gritty Seattle Seawolves

MLR announces Player, Team and First XV of Week 8

Salt Lake City, UT; March 18, 2019: The NOLA Gold 49-point, seven-try offensive effort against the Houston SaberCats is the 2019 MLR single game record, securing the Week 8 Team of the Week Award for the men from Louisiana. Seattle Seawolves’ Number 8 Riekert Hattingh put in a tireless performance, leading his team in points scored and completed tackles to scoop the Week 8 Player of the Week Award.

NOLA’s 49 points is the most scored by any side this season, and their third 40-point-plus tally of 2019. NOLA fell behind 6-0 early after two SaberCat penalties, but the team responded with 42 consecutive points and five different try scorers, including a hat-trick from outside center Tristan Blewett. Through six matches played, NOLA ranks first in the league standings while averaging a shade over 35 points-per-game. The dominant victory also featured NOLA’s strongest defensive effort of the season, conceding just 11 points in reply.

Riekert Hattingh, the 6-foot-5, 235-pound 24-year-old bookended the Seawolves’ comeback win by scoring the first and last try of the match for his team. Trailing 14-0 to Austin Elite Rugby and in desperate need of positive momentum, Hattingh picked up from the base of a scrum a few meters from the Austin try-line and muscled through a defender for his first try. His second came in almost identical fashion, the Seawolves electing for a scrum with five minutes remaining from which Hattingh stormed over once again. The game finished 29-17 to the reigning MLR champions from Seattle, Hattingh adding a team-leading eight tackles to his pivotal brace of tries.

MLR’s First XV of Week 8:

Loosehead Prop (No. 1), James Rochford, Rugby United New York

Hooker (No. 2), Dylan Fawsitt, Rugby United New York

Tighthead Prop (No. 3), Paddy Ryan, San Diego Legion

Lock (No. 4), Ben Mitchell, Austin Elite

Lock (No. 5), Brad Tucker, Seattle Seawolves

Blindside Flanker (No. 6), John Quill, Rugby United New York

Openside Flanker (No. 7), Zack Stryffeler, New Orleans Gold

No. 8, Riekert Hattingh (Seattle Seawolves)

Scrum-half (No. 9), Shaun Davies, Glendale Raptors

Fly-half (No. 10), Sam Malcolm, Toronto Arrows

Wing (No. 11), Harley Davidson, Glendale Raptors

Inside Center (No. 12), Juan Pablo Aguirre, Austin Elite

Outside Center (No. 13), Tristan Blewett, New Orleans Gold

Wing (No. 14), John Ryberg, Glendale Raptors

Fullback (No. 15), Jean-Pierre Eloff, New Orleans Gold

ABOUT MLR

MLR is a professional rugby league launched in April of 2018. It’s an initiative of the American rugby community, in partnership with private investors, who believe that 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 American rugby, and provide a rallying point for local communities, a focal point for American rugby fans, and an aspirational destination for young athletes.

The teams competing 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. Agreements are already in place to add at least a further three teams from major North American markets for Season 3.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Major League Rugby: Press Office, 323-476-0016, press@usmlr.com