2018 Major League Rugby final

Last updated
2018 Major League Rugby final
Event 2018 Major League Rugby season
Glendale Raptors Seattle Seawolves
Flag of Colorado.svg Flag of Washington.svg
1923
DateJuly 7, 2018
Venue Torero Stadium, San Diego, California
Man of the Match Vili Tolutaʻu
Referee Scott Green (United States)
Attendance2,901
2019 →

The 2018 Major League Rugby final was the championship match of the inaugural season of Major League Rugby (MLR), a rugby union club competition in the United States. It was played on July 7, 2018, at Torero Stadium in San Diego, California, between the Glendale Raptors and the Seattle Seawolves. Seattle won the match 23–19 to take their first title.

Contents

The Glendale and Seattle teams finished first and second in the regular season, respectively, and advanced to the MLR Championship Series, contesting the semifinals against San Diego and Utah.

Background

Major League Rugby was established in 2017 and began play in April 2018.

Seattle and Glendale played each other twice during the regular season, with Glendale winning both matches. [1]

Venue

Torero Stadium, home field of Major League Rugby team San Diego Legion, was selected as the venue for the final before the beginning of the Championship Series playoffs. [2] The stadium with a seating capacity of 6,000 on the campus of the University of San Diego is also home to the various athletics teams of the university. [2]

Broadcasting

The match was broadcast on CBS Sports Network. [3] Dan Power served as the play by play commentator for CBS and was joined by color analysts Brian Hightower and Peter Steinberg. [3]

Match

Details

July 7 Glendale Raptors 19–23 Seattle Seawolves Torero Stadium, San Diego, California  
9:00 pm EDT (UTC−04)Try: Fenoglio (2) 13' c, 50' m
Campbell 56' c
Con: Magie (2/3) 13', 57'		 Report Try: Barkwill 23' m
Rasileka 58' m, Hattingh 61' c
Con: Smith (1/3) 62'
Pen: Smith (2/3) 9', 67'		Attendance: 2,901
Referee: Scott Green  [4] (United States)
Team details
FB15 Flag of the United States.svg Maximo de Achaval
RW14 Flag of the United States.svg Harley Davidson
OC13 Flag of the United States.svg Chad London Sub off.svg 46'
IC12 Flag of the United States.svg Bryce Campbell
LW11 Flag of the United States.svg Mika Kruse
FH10 Flag of the United States.svg Will Magie
SH9 Flag of the United States.svg Shaun Davies (c)
N88 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Sam Figg
OF7 Flag of the United States.svg John Quill
BF6 Flag of the United States.svg Peter Dahl Sub off.svg 57'
RL5 Flag of the United States.svg Ben Landry Sub off.svg 57'
LL4 Flag of the United States.svg Kody O'NeilSub off.svg 62'
TP3 Flag of the United States.svg Kelepi Fifita
HK2 Flag of the United States.svg Zach Fenoglio
LP1 Flag of the United States.svg Blake RogersSub off.svg 68'
Replacements:
PR16 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Luke White Sub on.svg 68'
PR17 Flag of the United States.svg Nick Kwasniewski
HK18 Flag of the United States.svg Dylan Fawsitt Sub on.svg 57'
LK19 Flag of the United States.svg Connor CookSub on.svg 62'
FL20 Flag of Georgia.svg Grigor Kerdikoshvili Sub on.svg 57'
SH21 Flag of New Zealand.svg Mickey Bateman
CE22 Flag of the United States.svg Ata Malifa Sub on.svg 46'
OB23 Flag of the United States.svg Nick Johnson
Coach:
Flag of the United States.svg David Williams
FB15 Flag of England.svg Mathew Turner
RW14 Flag of the United States.svg Sequoyah Burke-Combs
OC13 Flag of Fiji.svg William Rasileka
IC12 Flag of the United States.svg Shalom Suniula (c)
LW11 Flag of the United States.svg Peter Tiberio
FH10 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Peter Smith
SH9 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Phil Mack
N88 Flag of South Africa.svg Riekert Hattingh
OF7 Flag of the United States.svg Vili Tolutaʻu Sub off.svg 76'
BF6 Flag of the United States.svg Eric Duechle
RL5 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Cam Polson
LL4 Flag of the United States.svg Taylor KrumreiSub off.svg 57'
TP3 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tim Metcher Sub off.svg 59'
HK2 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Ray Barkwill Sub off.svg 62'
LP1 Flag of the United States.svg Olive Kilifi Sub off.svg 57'
Replacements:
HK16 Flag of the United States.svg Mike ShepherdSub on.svg 62'
PR17 Flag of the United States.svg John HaydenSub on.svg 59'
PR18 Flag of the United States.svg Kellen GordonSub on.svg 57'
LK19 Flag of the United States.svg Cole van HarnSub on.svg 76'
LF20 Flag of the United States.svg Aladdin Schirmer Sub on.svg 57'
FL21 Flag of South Korea.svg Andre Coquillard
OB22 Flag of the United States.svg Jeremy Misailegalu
OB23 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Mozac Samson
Coach:
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Phil Mack

Most Valuable Player:
Vili Tolutaʻu (Seattle)

Assistant Referees:
Adam Leal (England)
Derek Summers (United States)
Television Match Official:
Marc Nelson (United States)

Highlights

The champion Seattle Seawolves was awarded the "America's Championship Shield", an oversized 80-pound (36 kg) metal shield of the MLR logo, which they hoisted. Seawolves flanker Vili Tolutaʻu was named the MLR Championship Series "MVP", equivalent to man of the match. [5] For his efforts, he received a Shinola Detroit American Made watch.

References

  1. ↑ "Seattle Seawolves use big second half to beat San Diego 38-24 for shot at Major League Rugby title". The Seattle Times. June 30, 2018. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  2. 1 2 Leonard, Tod (July 6, 2018). "In San Diego for title match, Major League Rugby reflects on inaugural season, future". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  3. 1 2 Benjamin, Cody (July 6, 2018). "Major League Rugby Championship: How to watch Seattle Seawolves vs. Glendale Raptors". CBS Sports . Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Seawolves stun Raptors to win inaugural MLR title". Americas Rugby News. 2018-07-08. Archived from the original on 2018-07-10. Retrieved 2018-07-10.
  5. ↑ Strickler, Colton (July 8, 2018). "Big Second Half Propels Seawolves Over Raptors in Inaugural MLR Championship". Major League Rugby . Retrieved October 4, 2018.
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