Entering its fifth season, Major League Rugby (MLR) has announced that its 2022 season will begin with matches on February 5, 2022. The regular season will include 18 weeks of action, with two bye weeks for each team. The 13 teams will be competing within and across two conferences: the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference, that includes San Diego Legion.
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Changes have been made to the MLR Championship Series, beginning with the regular season set to conclude on Sunday, June 5, 2022. While the No. 1 seeds in both the East and West will receive first-round byes, the No. 2 and No. 3 teams in each conference will compete on June 11 and 12. Thereafter, the No. 1 seeds in both conferences will face the winners of the No.2 vs. No. 3 matchups on June 18 and 19 for the MLR Conference Finals. Ultimately, the MLR Championship Final will take place the weekend of June 25/26.
Opening weekend will feature a marquee match-up Rugby ATL hosting Old Glory DC on Saturday, Feb 5. Other highlights of the league’s opening day include Dallas Jackals inaugural match on Saturday, Feb 5, as they travel to play the Austin Gilgronis. San Diego Legion host the Utah Warriors on Sunday, Feb 6, in a rematch of one of the most exciting 2021 matches that ended in a comeback win by the Warriors.
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Other notable games for the regular season include:
• Saturday, Feb 19, Rugby ATL host Rugby United New York in a rematch of the 2021 Eastern Conference Final.
• Sunday, March 13, the LA Giltinis host the Utah Warriors in a rematch of the 2021 Western Conference Final.
• The Texas Cup has grown to feature six matchups as the Dallas Jackals enter MLR.
Saturday, Feb 5 Austin Gilgronis host Dallas Jackals
Saturday, Feb 19 Dallas Jackals host Houston SaberCats
Sunday, April 3 Austin Gilgronis host Houston SaberCats
Saturday, April 9 Houston SaberCats host Dallas Jackals
Saturday, April 16 Dallas Jackals host Austin Gilgronis
Friday, June 3 Houston SaberCats host Austin Gilgronis
• Saturday, April 30, Rugby ATL hosts the LA Giltinis in a rematch of the 2021 Championship Final.
Broadcast information will be announced at a later date. There will be a variety of pre-season activities in each market as well as a national media day where each team will provide standout players for national and international media availability.
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The San Diego Legion
The San Diego Legion, fueled by the return of Ma’a Nonu, one of the world’s top players and former New Zealand All Black superstar, will kick off their season on Sunday, February 6 at home in San Diego against the Utah Warriors. The complete season schedule is linked here. And fans can join the San Diego Legion ticket waitlist here.
New Executive General Manager: The San Diego Legion also recently announced the appointment of a new Executive General Manager, David Haigh. David has a deep history in rugby as a player, coach and administrator. He will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of San Diego Legion’s operations.
New Head Coach and Director of Rugby: San Diego Legion also welcomed new head coach and former All Black player, Danny Lee. Danny is an experienced international coach and joins the Legion with an impressive playing background, which includes over 300+ first-class games.
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About Major League Rugby
Major League Rugby is a professional sports league entering its fifth season that represents the highest level of rugby competition in North America. The League evolved from seven teams in 2018, to 13 teams in 2021, featuring 12 from the United States and one from Canada. Matches are televised on CBS Sports Network, Fox Sports 1 and Fox Sports 2, among other national and local market platforms. Select matches are available to stream live in North America on The Rugby Network, and all matches are available on The Rugby Network for international fans. MLR prides itself in fostering intense and high-stakes competition while bringing together a passionate community built on the values of Respect, Inclusivity, and Tradition. For more information about MLR, visit here.
See you there, San Diego!
