2022 Major League Rugby final

Last updated
2022 Major League Rugby Final
Event 2022 season
Rugby New York Seattle Seawolves
Flag of New York.svg Flag of Washington.svg
3015
DateJune 25, 2022
Venue Red Bull Arena, Harrison, New Jersey
Man of the Match Andy Ellis
Referee Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Attendance1,979
Weather92 °F (33 °C) • Sunny
← 2021
2023 →

The 2022 Major League Rugby Final was the fourth Major League Rugby (MLR) championship match, held at the conclusion of the 5th season of the rugby union club competition in North America. The match was played on June 25, 2022, at the Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey. It was the first MLR Final to be held in New Jersey as all previous MLR Finals were played in California. [1] Rugby New York emerged victorious over the Seattle Seawolves by a score of 30-15.

Contents

Background

2022 Regular Season Final Standings
Western Conference
PosTeamWDLPDBPPts
1 Austin Gilgronis (D)1204+2461058
2 LA Giltinis (D)1105+1601054
3 Houston SaberCats (Q)907+151248
4 Seattle Seawolves (Q)907+731046
5 San Diego Legion (Q)808+471143
6 Utah Warriors (E)5011+291333
7 Dallas Jackals (E)0016-55444
Eastern Conference
PosTeamWDLPDBPPts
1 New England Free Jacks (Q)1303+1261062
2 Rugby ATL (Q)1105+1281357
3 Rugby New York (Q)1105+251256
4 Toronto Arrows (E)808+24941
5 New Orleans Gold (E)4012-159925
6 Old Glory DC (E)3013-1681123

Green background indicates teams in position for the Conference Finals
Blue background indicates teams in position for the Conference Semi-Finals
Austin Gilgronis and LA Giltinis were disqualified (D) from the 2022 postseason. [2]

On November 9, 2021, Major League Rugby announced the format of the 2022 season and post-season. [3] The competition had expanded to 13 teams with the addition of the Dallas Jackals, and all teams were scheduled to play 16 games over the 18 week regular season. The teams were again divided into 2 conferences, Eastern and Western. Due to the odd number of teams, the Western conference had 7 teams, and the Eastern conference had 6 teams. This was the first time in MLR history that teams would not face all other opposition teams in the regular season. Western teams faced their conference rivals in a double round-robin format, and played 4 Eastern teams, either home or away. Eastern teams faced their conference rivals in a double round-robin format, with one additional game. They then played 5 Western teams, to complete the 16 games required for the season.

For the post-season, MLR introduced a first-round, single game playoff, called Eliminators. The 2nd ranked team in each conference hosted the 3rd ranked team, while the 1st ranked team received a bye week. The following weekend, the 1st ranked team hosted the winner of their conference's Eliminator in their Conference Final. The winner of the Conference Finals met in the Championship Final to determine the winner of the 2022 season. [3]

On June 3, 2022, MLR announced that the Austin Gilgronis were disqualified from the 2022 post-season, due to "violation of league rules". [2] Following the conclusion of the regular season, the Eastern-qualified teams all had greater table points than any of the Western-qualified teams. As such, the 2022 Championship Final was guaranteed to be hosted by an Eastern Conference team for the first time. [4]

On June 7, 2022, MLR announced that the LA Giltinis were also disqualified from the 2022 post-season, again due to "violation of league rules".

Championship Series

Eastern Conference

The Eastern Eliminator featured Rugby ATL hosting Rugby New York at Silverbacks Park. This marked the successive year of Atlanta hosting New York in the Championship Series, having faced each other in the 2021 Eastern Conference Final.

The first half of the match was focused on defensive decisions, and forcing penalties, as the visitors led 9-6 at halftime. The first try of the game was scored in the 44th minute, when referee Mike Lash awarded a penalty try to New York. Although Atlanta reduced the deficit with penalties, New York scored another try from the driving maul to effectively seal their victory. Atlanta were able to score a consolation try at the end of the match, but were unable to overcome New York.

June 11 Rugby ATL 19–26 Rugby New York Silverbacks Park  
20:30 EDT Try: Kurt Coleman 80+2'
Con: Kurt Coleman (1/1) 80+3'
Pen: Kurt Coleman (4/4) 34', 40+2', 58', 65'
Cards: Connor Cook Yellow card.svg 2'		 Report Try: Penalty try 44'
Dylan Fawsitt 73'
Con: Automatic conversion 44'
Jason Emery (1/1) 74'
Pen: Jason Emery (4/4) 4', 19', 27', 79'
Cards: Nick Civetta Yellow card.svg 50'		Referee: Mike Lash (NZR)

Assistants: Federico Anselmi (UAR) & Jack Gohl (RA)

TMO: Nick Hannon (USAR)

Man of the Match: Dylan Fawsitt (Rugby New York)

The Conference Final was hosted by the New England Free Jacks, at Veterans Memorial Stadium. This was New England's first appearance in the Championship Series since joining the league in 2020.

Although New England were able to score first and maintained the lead at half-time, it was New York that was able to seal the victory with two tries in the second half. The victory marked New York's first Eastern Conference Championship win, and the first time that the team that finished first in the Eastern Conference did not reach the Championship Final.

June 19 New England Free Jacks 16–24 Rugby New York Veterans Memorial Stadium  
15:00 EDTTry: Beaudein Waaka 4'
Con: Beaudein Waaka (1/1) 5'
Pen: Beaudein Waaka (3/3) 17', 28', 46'
Cards: Reegan O'Gorman Yellow card.svg 73'		 Report Try: Benjamín Bonasso 19'
Nehe Milner-Skudder 69'
Andrew Coe 76'
Con: Jason Emery (1/1) 20'
Sam Windsor (2/2) 70', 77'
Pen: Jason Emery (1/2) 32'		Attendance: 3,500
Referee: Federico Anselmi (UAR)

Assistants: Mike Lash (NZR) & Cisco Lopez (USAR)

TMO: Nick Hannon (USAR)

Man of the Match: Andrew Coe (Rugby New York)

Western Conference

The Western Eliminator featured the Seattle Seawolves hosting the San Diego Legion at Starfire Stadium. Seattle and San Diego returned to the Championship Series for the first time since 2019, where both teams contested in that season's Championship Final.

Although San Diego were the first team to get on the scoreboard, the impressive points total from AJ Alatimu alone was enough to see off the Legion, as Seattle claimed a fifth successive win in their MLR post-season matches, as well as a 3-0 winning streak over San Diego.

June 12 Seattle Seawolves 43–19 San Diego Legion Starfire Sports Stadium  
19:00 PDT Try: Sam Matenga 11'
Duncan Matthews 19'
Travis Larsen 62'
Ross Neal 67'
Con: AJ Alatimu (3/3) 12', 20', 68'
Automatic conversion 62'
Pen: AJ Alatimu (5/5) 7', 14', 46', 56', 74'
Cards: Riekert Hattingh Yellow card.svg 50'		 Report Try: Nate Augspurger 2'
Tevita Tameilau 28'
Jason Higgins 77'
Con: Joe Pietersen (2/2) 3', 29'
Josh Henderson (0/1)		Referee: Scott Green (USAR)

Assistants: Luke Rogan (USAR) & Lex Weiner (USAR)

TMO: Austin Reed (USAR)

Man of the Match: Duncan Matthews (Seattle Seawolves)

The Conference Final was hosted by the Houston SaberCats, at AVEVA Stadium. This was the first time Houston had reached the Championship Series, and the first Championship Series game ever to be hosted in Texas.

Despite scoring first, Houston were outmatched by Seattle, with the visitors able to take the lead early on in the match, and retained it throughout the game. This result awards Seattle their first Western Conference Championship, their third appearance in the Championship Final, and the first time the first-ranked team in the Western Conference did not reach the Championship Final (since the conference system was introduced.)

June 18 Houston SaberCats 27–46 Seattle Seawolves Aveva Stadium  
19:00 EDTTry: David Coetzer 6'
Gerrie Labuschagné 42'
Christian Dyer (2) 47', 75'
Con: David Coetzer (2/4) 7', 48'
Pen: Gerrie Labuschagné (1/1) 13'		 Report Try: James Malcolm 17'
Juan-Philip Smith 29'
Duncan Matthews (2) 31', 60'
Mzamo Majola 54'
Ross Neal 57'
Con: AJ Alatimu (4/5) 32', 55', 58', 61'
Automatic conversion 29'
Pen: AJ Alatimu (2/2) 9', 24'		Attendance: 2,341
Referee: Scott Green (USAR)

Assistants: Luke Rogan (USAR) & Kahlil Harrison (USAR)

TMO: Derek Summers (USAR)

Man of the Match: AJ Alatimu (Seattle Seawolves)

Venue

On June 21, it was announced that the Championship Final would be held at the Red Bull Arena, in Harrison, New Jersey. The Arena had previously hosted rugby union matches, including an Premiership Rugby match between London Irish and Saracens, as well as an International game between the United States and Ireland. [1] This was the first time that an MLR Championship Final match was held at a venue that wasn't the home ground of any MLR team.

Broadcasting

The match was broadcast in the United States on Fox, and available internationally on The Rugby Network.

Championship final

Details

June 25 Rugby New York 30–15 Seattle Seawolves Red Bull Arena  
12:00 EDT Try: Will Tucker 8'
Penalty try 24'
Andy Ellis 35'
Nic Mayhew '56
Con: Jason Emery (1/3) 9'
Automatic conversion 24'
Pen: Jason Emery (1/2) 50'
Drop: Sam Windsor (1/1) 73'
Cards: Will Tucker Yellow card.svg 66'		 Report Try: Martin Iosefo 4'
Sam Matenga 61'
Con: AJ Alatimu (1/2) 62'
Pen: AJ Alatimu (1/1) 13'
Cards: Rhyno Herbst Yellow card.svg 24'		Attendance: 1,979
Referee: Federico Anselmi (UAR)

Assistants: Mike Lash (NZR) & Cisco Lopez (USAR)

TMO: Nick Hannon (USAR)

Man of the Match: Andy Ellis (Rugby New York)

Team details
FB15 Flag of New Zealand.svg Nehe Milner Skudder
RW14 Flag of New Zealand.svg Waisake Naholo
OC13 Flag of New Zealand.svg Fa'asiu Fuatai
IC12 Flag of New Zealand.svg Jason Emery
LW11 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Andrew Coe
FH10 Flag of New Zealand.svg Jack Heighton
SH9 Flag of New Zealand.svg Andy Ellis
N88 Flag of New Zealand.svg Antonio Kiri Kiri
OF7 Flag of New Zealand.svg Brendon O'Connor
BF6 Flag of New Zealand.svg Will Tucker
RL5 Flag of the United States.svg Nate Brakeley (c)
LL4 Flag of the United States.svg Ben Bonasso (vc)
TP3 Flag of Brazil.svg Wilton Rebolo
HK2 Flag of the United States.svg Dylan Fawsitt
LP1 Flag of the United States.svg Chance Wenglewski
Replacements:
HK16 Flag of the United States.svg Kaleb Geiger
PR17 Flag of New Zealand.svg Nic Mayhew
PR18 Flag of Samoa.svg Kalolo Tuiloma
LK19 Flag of the United States.svg Nick Civetta
FL20 Flag of the United States.svg Joe Basser
SH21 Flag of the United States.svg Conor McManus
FH22 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Sam Windsor
CE23 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Quinn Ngawati
Coach:
Flag of New Zealand.svg Marty Veale
FB15 Flag of England.svg Mat Turner
RW14 Flag of England.svg Ross Neal
OC13 Flag of South Africa.svg Dan Kriel
IC12 IRFU flag.svg David Busby
LW11 Flag of the United States.svg Martin Iosefo
FH10 Flag of Samoa.svg AJ Alatimu
SH9 Flag of South Africa.svg Juan-Philip Smith
N88 Flag of the United States.svg Riekert Hattingh (c)
OF7 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Travis Larsen
BF6 Flag of the United States.svg Andrew Durutalo
RL5 Flag of South Africa.svg Rhyno Herbst
LL4 Flag of the United States.svg Samu Manoa
TP3 Flag of New Zealand.svg Samuel Matenga
HK2 Flag of Scotland.svg James Malcolm
LP1 Flag of South Africa.svg Mzamo Majola
Replacements:
HK16 IRFU flag.svg Sean McNulty
PR17 Flag of the United States.svg Kellen Gordon
PR18 Flag of the United States.svg Taniela Tupou
LK19 Flag of New Zealand.svg Brad Tucker
FL20 Flag of the United States.svg Tommy Clark
SH21 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Reid Watkins
CE22 Flag of the United States.svg Tavite Lopeti
WG23 Flag of the United States.svg Launia Futi
Coach:
IRFU flag.svg Allen Clarke

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References

  1. 1 2 "Major League Rugby Final to be played at Red Bull Arena". Americas Rugby News. 21 June 2022.
  2. 1 2 "MLR Competition Update". Major League Rugby. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Major League Rugby Releases 2022 Season Schedule". Major League Rugby. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  4. ↑ "MLR Championship Final Headed East". The Rugby Network. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
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