MLR: The Story to Now

As MLR hits 50 days out from the start of its fourth season, we look back at the story to now. For those new to MLR - or those anxious for its return - follow the story of MLR from its first ever match, up until now.
Major League Rugby returns for its 2021 season on March 20th, 2021.
Visit MLR's website for more info » www.majorleagu...
Follow along on social media for the most recent updates » @usmlr

[@RealEngineering]

I cannot wait to start supporting the Austin team at home games. This brand of rugby is insanely entertaining

[@denisemccarthy5384]

Real Engineering, what were your thoughts on the two Irish games. I thought our performances were quite good. We were better than Wales IMO and we would have won without the red card and I think against France if we won people would not have been calling for Andy’s head, the score was super tight as well. I think the forwards are looking good this year under Paul O’Connell but the backs are lacking creative activity in my opinion. (I saw you comment on a squidge rugby video) Collab in the future?

[@denisemccarthy5384]

With Squidge?

[@AE-ix2iz]

Whoa I love your channel! So cool to know that you enjoy rugby and MLR as well!

[@sail4549]

@@AE-ix2iz I mean, he lives in Ireland and rugby is very popular there 😅

[@FootballWomanager]

Hope this league continues to grow. Having the sport popular In North America really helps our chances of EA taking note and having some interest in bringing out a new rugby game.

[@karlosdeevs]

who's EA?

[@FootballWomanager]

@@karlosdeevs EA Sports, the game company who made the best Rugby games all the way back in 2008.

[@joelmoeketsi3324]

Hahaha yeah I want an ea rugby game too. Rugby 18 was shite. U a Bristol fan?

[@Yautah]

Its also a chicken and egg thing: they wait for it to be more popular/have more exposure, but it'll also become way more popular if they make a game due to more exposure.

[@quote8066]

Eh be careful what you wish for. Just look at madden and fifa.

[@ovi-sanz]

Excellent growing for the US rugby!!!! greetings from Argentina, land of the PUMAS!

[@smithsmith5366]

The Pumas have come along way , they are a beautiful sight in the open field play. I love the passion they have for the game and representing there country.👍 Greetings from nz.

[@mrdarcyd]

I actually love this competition. It's entertaining, and they play a great brand of rugby + they seem to have a fantastic culture and awesome fans

[@ethanscott7410]

Love it! Hoping to play for one of these teams one day. 🙌

[@777blueray]

I am so happy there is a rugby union pro league in north America ,it's about time.Here in Canada we have the Toronto Arrows which have done considerably well.Long live MLR!!!!!!!!!

[@learntonganwithandrew]

Considering what?

[@Jordan-ws6jy]

I really like the mentoring that happens earlier on in the day prior to the match, great PR. Well done MLR keep it up! Supporting all the way from NZ.

[@banjopiggottwright1802]

Long may we play, Go GOLD ⚜👑

[@drewbus8680]

Keep growing. Can’t wait to see it filter through to the USA team in the next couple of world cups!

[@BigBlack81]

And the Canadian team too, honestly. This is going to make a stronger Americas rugby AND give the Pumas something to think about in ARC competition.

[@odin8010]

LOVE MLR

[@hooligan1179]

Spreading the Rugby gospel 🙌🏻

[@Gene601]

I love this league! Top notch rugby in North America.

[@hyprz5]

So excited for this!!

[@dmncplpa]

New Zealand is proud of you 🇳🇿

[@thesquire6352]

We are Legion, expect us.

[@sail4549]

Good to see Rugby take off in the USA!

[@desertfox4488]

Love to see it! Keep the sport growing here in the USA. PS: Please add a team in Columbus, Ohio.

[@lewistasso8866]

Yes, I agree. If there is viability, there should be a club in Ohio. It would be cool to have one in Chicago and Montreal as well.

[@jimcaruso4684]

Yes, please. When I discovered that the MLR existed. I immediately looked to see if there was one in my home state of Ohio. Unfortunately, there was not. So I chose the SD Legion. Great team by the way.

[@desertfox4488]

@petnzme01 Right and they ended up in second place if I remember correctly. There's just loads of rugby talent from Ohio, Minnesota, Michigan, etc that would make for a solid rugby side.

[@anguslowe1013]

I was surprised to see that many fans watching the games. I think it’s very important for international rugby that the USA continues to improve as they could become a top tier nation in the future

[@stylzalidj]

All the best MLR for season 2021!

[@adamclark1972uk]

This is going to help the development of rugby in the States

[@richarddaniel6896]

I'm a Welshman and rugby is a way of life for our small country. It's great to see US rugby improving on and off the pitch and I hope it flourishes there.

[@emm6.7.92]

So happy to see the expansion of rugby in america 🤗 americans always take things to the next level in everything they do and I can't wait to see just how big this grows 🙌🏾🙏🏾❤️ Best of luck to all the teams with the new season. #rugbyfamily

[@sim8289]

Yes mate. Growing in the US everyday!!!

[@lewistasso8866]

I am still trying to figure out with all of the so-called promotion, how I found out about MLR last November? Oh well. Better late than never. What's crazy is while I was watching the occasional British rugby match (Leicester Tigers), there was already an American league. Anyway, now waiting for the season to start, COVID permitting. In the meantime watching the games on KZbin keeps me occupied. Now during this time, as fans, we can promote the sport!

[@paddyk3748]

Love that you have been watching the tigers mate,. We are totaly rebuilding a team, what team do you support from MLR?

[@lewistasso8866]

@@paddyk3748 Since I live in the New York area, I am a Rugby United New York fan. However, I am also a fan of the league and hope that it will grow. So, I hope that COVID will be respected and I will be able to watch as much rugby as I can. By that time, European soccer (football) will be winding down and will be on earlier, So I can watch soccer, F1, and rugby. I am hoping we will have a different spring and summer this year. No interruptions...however, we shall see.

[@joelmoeketsi3324]

I'm a leicester fan too haha. It's a painful life but I think we have escaped relegation this season

[@micro.7142]

Nice to see this in America from England, maybe we will have a tour there one day

[@lapsusrevealer3328]

Of course America NEEDS rugby !!

[@bestofsports1875]

Let's Go!

[@ollieimpey9051]

Ngl hope rugby gets big in America. Another competitive league will be entertaining to watch and will also improve the national team and maybe club international fixtures may be arranged

[@peterstreiff3811]

I ❤ MLR 🏉. Peter from Switzerland 🇨🇭

[@bloodhoundgang1642]

I love watching MLR , looking forward to the new season Scottish so just need to pick a team to support 👍

[@Jizzfrosti]

Wooooooo love you guys

[@NLSkeletor]

All the best with the upcoming season! Great to see rugby seriously kicking off in the US! Greetings from England!

[@magnumpi8097]

Hmm what team to pick. Eenie meenie mynie mo..ok Lesssgooo Utah Warriors👊😁

[@haydengoodall6767]

Almost..., leshhgoo Warriors!.

[@docvideo93]

I hopefully I can see a game in person this season. I saw a few on TV and it was great although I wasn't too sure on the rules.

[@sgpsimonb]

So happy to see rugby gaining a stronger foothold in the US. I've watched the US 7s team get better and better for years now. Saw them in Hong Kong and Singapore a couple of times and had an inkling that US rugby was about to uptick. Looking forward to the top-tier of rugby expanding. Officially, I support the ref - rule-abiding fast play is all I want to see. However, I am English, so there is a line in that sand!

[@multiyapples]

I can't wait til the season starts.

[@paddyk3748]

I love the fact you yanks are getting into this sport, can only be good for the game I look forward to seeing how you get on in the next world cup. Will the six Nations be televised over there this weekend?

[@SsTePhEnS2058]

Yep sure is. Looking forward to it

[@uchikage6585]

@@SsTePhEnS2058 quad nations is better

[@willy1590]

I love seeing this, from the start I wished something big would happen!

[@luca6232]

Great to see rugby making it's way to the US!

[@sakatagintoki2888]

As a New Zealander, this makes me happy

[@taromanharris172]

Awesome can't wait to watch from Australia

[@merrygreenjane135]

As a rugby player myself u guys (American Rugby) Impressive by exposure 👏

[@tomstuppence605]

There's so many unreal athletes in america that don't get picked up by the other major sports and so i think USA have a massive opportunity to be at the top of the rugby rankings in the next 20 years

[@RampageRich]

Really hope a team opens up in Northern IL or Southern Wisconsin. Would love to go to some games.

[@Arihim]

This is awesome! Can't wait

[@googleisdumb2557]

I think this woman needs to do the UK commentary as well :)

[@waiszale]

Hopefully it can restart this year 🤞🏾 it'll be awesome

[@willsanderson2099]

think im gonna start supporting the san diago legion

[@tongsupavit]

Lets go Major League Rugby

[@Benozo17]

Can't wait, I'm from New Zealand looking for a team to support, what you guys reckon ?

[@jimmystagger]

New England man!

[@Benozo17]

@@jimmystagger Certainly will check them out. Cheers.

[@Rudebo]

This is great for rugby in America! The impact this will have internationaly should not be underestimated though. If pro rugby becomes popular in America it will grow worldwide... this could be the start of a new era of international rugby🤞🏾

[@bumwees4531]

Rugby already is worldwide. It's just not big in America.

[@Rudebo]

@@bumwees4531 compared to soccer .... no where close. e.g. Imagine what germany could do as a rugby nation, the players they’d produce, the enthusiasm to the tactical side of the game alone.

[@bumwees4531]

@@Rudebo soccer is so irrelevant to your comment lol. I only commented because rugby already is worldwide despite what you said.

[@Rudebo]

@@bumwees4531 no it’s not, it’s a good example of the direction rugby could one day be heading. Btw I never denied rugby is played worldwide. But I think you would agree it’s not an internationally popular and well known sport like soccer, basketball, tennis, boxing e.t.c.

[@bumwees4531]

@@Rudebo obviously I would agree, but you're just ranting about something completely different than your og comment you're comparing sports for arguments sake. All I referenced were your words, nothing more, nothing less.

[@parewaeono]

Let's go Austin!

[@lukefleming7231]

Great stuff!! MLR :)

[@peterteohaere4986]

I cant see a couple of old All Blacks players in the US competition great to see maybe they can get a future world club champions cup going in a few years.

[@brotherhood706]

I can see USA being a dominant country in rugby in the future sport is growing

[@waiszale]

Yeah USA are definitely growing in the game.

[@bumwees4531]

Teams have been trying for over a hundred years to beat the All Blacks. Be good to see how America deals with NZ.

[@brotherhood706]

@@bumwees4531 LOL Fijians are their kryptonite and they have less money and they still compete with the top teams New Zealand ain’t alla that it’s just their only sport their actually good at

[@bumwees4531]

@@brotherhood706lmao fiji? fijians can barely compete with super rugby teams in NZ, they've never come close to beating the All Blacks. And so what if its the only sport we're good at, sport isn't going to save the world and America is in no shape of dominating the world rugby scene anytime soon lol. The set plays are sloppy, your teams play rugby like the world did 40 years ago. There's nothing new, nothing flashy and your basic rugby skills your teams present are high school level in NZ. Bro, just shutup. Just watch our super rugby finals, the game is twice as fast, hits are twice as hard and the plays are 10fold more polished. Cmon man, get a grip.

[@jacqeusmouton4005]

@@bumwees4531 Fiji always boxed way above their weight, and that's why NZ have them in all their Super Rugby teams...besides, we all know the All Blacks have been trying to beat the Boks for a hundred years. And we are always respectful of all the island teams, because they always bring everything to the pitch.

[@moisesmiranda1071]

I'm from Honduras. Here we don't practice Rugby. No one cares about, except me . And I like that USA is getting better in this sport because is the only former british colony that doesn't practice it so much! Btw I like the sea wolves ..

[@jsmithsua]

Let’s go San Diego Legion 💪

[@holdthephoneblocker]

Will we be able to watch the upcoming season in Australia?

[@USMLR]

Yes, streaming info will be shared later this week!

[@chubbo3243]

why did you guys put the marker for Toronto in the lake lmao

[@fkngeniuspappie]

The giant is awakening

[@canuckchris]

#ArrowsUp 🏹🏉

[@vaiona5156]

Wonder how Ma'a Nonu went in this comp

[@ernstjunger714]

Can't wait until I can afford to join a team near me.

[@brabaz3702]

I’m Irish so I support Ireland and Leinster but what is this rugby? I have never heard of it and what is a 2nd you mean second half?

[@bumwees4531]

2nd, second half, same thing. Don't be too Irish and whinge at the world of rugby lol. They're American and they're playing rugby, whats so hard about understanding that?

[@tigerhood6830]

Now America will end up dominating rugby

[@rd8979]

Would b good for the game. Dominating hmm.. got a very long way to go.

[@waiszale]

Sleeping Giants are for sure awake

[@bumwees4531]

The last time they met the All Blacks it was pretty embarrassing, and we're not even no. 1 in the world for rugby anymore.

[@jebuskhrist7772]

I can walk to the home pitch of the Legion from my house. I saw one game and now I’m playing in the SD youth rugby league.

[@trevorthurston5652]

NOLA GOLD all the way

[@louiskatipa9620]

im playing for the utah saints

[@paulvanderlaan5459]

so why do they call it league if they play union?

[@geokomalo2790]

THE league. major LEAGUE rugby and not major rugby league

[@paulvanderlaan5459]

@Ed Swann no still not...

[@ethanscott7410]

It's a riff to get more American viewers. Major League Baseball is one of the most popular sports to watch here, so I think the founders decided Major League Rugby would be a way to draw in a particularly American audience. Just a language difference, really.

[@pdWald]

@@ethanscott7410 There's also MLS.

[@C.K75]

Wow, is it really that hard for you to comprehend this? The word "league" is a noun that means... 'a group of sports clubs which play each other over a period for a championship' (dictionary). Americans use this term in most of their sports e.g. NFL= National Football League. MLB= Major League Baseball, MLS= Major League Soccer.

[@theephraimite]

What exactly is the “distinctly American interpretation” of the game?

[@thehairylemon7127]

Absolutely smashing into each other haha. The hands and set piece aren’t quite so polished but my god do they hit hard

[@theephraimite]

@@thehairylemon7127 that happens in any country - it’s pretty much expected in rugby regardless of country.

[@thehairylemon7127]

@@theephraimite that is true, but even compared to rugby in Europe and the Southern Hemisphere, there’s no pulling out. Every time someone passed they ball they get clattered immediately after

[@theephraimite]

@@thehairylemon7127 hmmm.... I need to see more of this for myself.

[@bumwees4531]

@@thehairylemon7127 smashing over players is rugby. You don't really do it different, thats how rugby was always played before it got taken a lot more seriously. Older rugby games there's always fights and always dudes trying to take your head off. Good to see America going back to grit of rugby

[@uchikage6585]

Only watched it cause u got Nonu in the thumbnail 😂

[@boratchinho8485]

When Americans will know this sport. FOOT US will disapear

[@BURGAWMMA]

A slightly off topic question but I am just getting back into mixed martial arts after few year layoff and have grown to around to a mostly solid 300 lb @48"waist and absolutely none of the Mixed Martial Arts fight shorts will fit me because they're made in tiny Asian sizes maxing out at a 40" waist with tiny chicken legs LOL... rugby shorts have all the features MMA shorts do and are probably better quality I need a 48" waist with very large leg openings plus the rubberized or silicone waist gripper...of course no pockets It's so ridiculous that none of the MMA manufacturers have figured out that all their sizes are in Asian dimensions so they miss out on a lot of American Sales Even the top brand MMA manufacturers max out at a -40" waist...how stupid is that?!?!?

[@AE-ix2iz]

There are these islanders on “street beefs” channel that use Canterbury rugby shorts to fight with

[@BURGAWMMA]

@@AE-ix2iz i bet...they are clearly PERFECT for MMA, do they come in big men sizes

[@raiderskull75]

Let me tell you...The naming of the los Angeles team is a huge mistake.... this will literally deter a lot of new fans from giving LA Rugby a chance... Giltinis, really!!!

[@swoopy287]

🤣

[@xXLordoftheRingsXx22]

Let’s see a team in the Bay Area, home of American rugby talent

[@DROPSHOTA]

These look like A team games 😂😂😂😂

[@realtalk6195]

2:10 CBS and CBS Sports are two different networks. Get your facts straight when doing these videos. If a game or anything on CBS got 500k viewers it would be abysmal.

[@jeffreychongsathien]

Just don't kneel for Burn Loot Murder or get involved with any other politics, and there's a good chance of prospering. I've introduced American friends to their first rugby match who exclaim "Why don't we play this?!". Also, don't do that thing trying to reinvent the square wheel of terminology.

[@cashualpete]

I'm backing Giltini's until we get a NorCal team