Major League Rugby is a beautiful thing. Only two weeks in, and our power rankings have already shifted quite meaningfully since the preseason. This week, the NOLA Gold continued to impress. By the end of 2018, the Gold beating the Glendale Raptors would have been borderline unthinkable. In early 2019, it’s a reality.

In a week that made ranking especially difficult, we also have our first tie. Utah Warriors and Toronto Arrows share the #6 spot, with Utah off to a strong opening performance and Toronto idle.

The soaked fixture between the Seattle Seawolves and the San Diego Legion further clouds the picture. San Diego beat Seattle, but New York beat San Diego. There isn’t much daylight between our top four. Fans from coast to coast are watching closely to see if anyone can separate from the pack to emerge as the clear top dog.

#1 SEATTLE SEAWOLVES (Record: 1-1; Last Week: #1)

Seattle stays atop the rankings, but there’s not much breathing room left. The Seawolves lose for the first time since the 2018 regular season, but they lose in a stormy slosh-fest. It’s hard to know what to make of it. The champs get the benefit of the doubt and stay on the top. For now.

What looks like a long-term injury to Vili Toluta’u will turn up the pressure. With Canada struggling after one round of the Americas Rugby Championship, Phil Mack and Brock Staller may get called into camp. That will make it even tougher. A trip to NOLA this weekend will be a chance for the Seawolves to show they are still pack leaders. If they fall to the breakout Gold, however, don’t expect to see them holding the #1 spot.

#2 RUGBY UNITED NEW YORK (Record: 1-0; Last Week: #2)

It’s hard to have a bye week that improves your place in the rankings, but RUNY may have done it. They have one MLR contest in the books. They won a fist fight in San Diego, which was an impressive debut. When Seattle could not follow suit, it looked even more impressive.

But it’s still only one game. And with another bye week coming, it will remain only one game.

There are some causes for optimism. It had been freezing in New York, limiting outdoor training. The groundhog was kind this week and things are looking significantly warmer. The Roosters will have the opportunity to use these bye weeks wisely. But outdoor training or no, the biggest impact on RUNY this week will be the play of others.

#3 NOLA GOLD (Record: 2-0; Last Week: #4)

The fact that NOLA sits at #3 despite their big Round 2 just goes to show how even the league really is. They could arguably be the number one team right now. They’ve certainly played like it.

Unfortunately for NOLA, last season’s poor results remain a burden. And questionable defense remains a concern. With Glendale struggling and the Toronto Arrows still a relative unknown, the strength of NOLA’s wins is unclear.

But boy have they been enjoyable to watch. Not only are they winning, but they look like they’re having fun doing it. Holden Yungert, his Charles Dickens hair cut, and Scott Gale seem to have great chemistry. If they can keep playing at this level, the shortcomings of last year will be quickly washed away. A win against Seattle this week would demand respect.

#4 SAN DIEGO LEGION (Record: 1-1; Last Week: #5)

They dealt with injuries and ARC calls up and, most importantly, with the champs. For that, they make the jump up to #4 in a crowded top of the ranking. Maybe most impressive in their win was the composure it took to stay in control with Joe Pietersen knocked out by an injury. Pietersen has been playing like an MVP but his unexpected absence barely phased the Legion.

San Diego does face some near term challenges. Pietersen is looking at a multi-week absence. Mike Te’o, Nate Augspurger, and Nick Boyer could get called into USA camp. That would mean a Legion side essentially missing its entire back line. But the schedule could be worse. Next up is a home fixture against Houston, who is currently undefeated in the young season but still with much to prove. Next is a home fixture against Utah. By then, the ARC will hopefully be on a good course and Gary Gold may be flexible with whom he can release back to the club level for important MLR fixtures.

However it plays out, the Legion will enjoy the vengeance for two tough losses against the Seawolves last season.

#5 GLENDALE RAPTORS (Record: 0-2; Last Week: #3)

It’s tough when you lose more in the first two weeks of the regular season than you did in all of the last. Even last year, when they were running through the league, they had stretches where they struggled with discipline. Those stretches seem to have spread like cancer.

Handling errors and penalties are preventing Glendale from playing at peak form. Dave Williams is not going to let that continue. And in fairness, three of their most important players were busy battering Chile this week.

Still, the Raptors need to right the ship fast. They get a bye week to sort it out.

#6 -Tie TORONTO ARROWS (Record: 0-1; Last Week: #6)

The Arrows were idle this week, but NOLA’s win over Glendale does give them a bit of credit.

What does not help is Canada’s showing in the ARC. They lost. Okay. They lost to Uruguay. Fine, I guess. They lost to Uruguay despite having a man advantage for the majority of the game. It’s not a good look.

And for an Arrows team so intertwined with the Canadian national team, one is left two wonder just how far Canada has fallen. The Arrows in MLR can and will help change that trend, but maybe a return to North American competitiveness is further away than anyone realized.

#6 -Tie UTAH WARRIORS (Record: 1-0; Last Week: #9)

Well, look who decided to show up! After a nearly silent offseason, the Warriors return to action with a strong display in Austin. The set piece looked dominant and it let them control the game, never giving the Elite a chance to build any momentum.

All well and good so far. But the Elite have been far from impressive. Utah get a bye this week again, though it seems they are playing the Free Jacks during their break. That may certainly turn out to be a controversial strategy.

For now, one must give credit where credit is due. We said their match against Austin would be a measuring stick, and so far they have measured up pretty well.

#8 HOUSTON SABERCATS (Record: 1-0; Last Week: #7)

Houston had a bye this week, but the Warriors’ performance allowed them to hop Houston into a sixth-place tie. That pushes Houston down to #8. The ‘Cats will have a great opportunity to change that perception this week, as they travel to San Diego.

In Round 1, Houston was missing some key offensive threats. Osea Kolinisau and Josua Vici were both absent, yet the ‘Cats managed the road victory. Those playmakers can only help this week, should they return. Houston will need all the firepower it can get. A road win at Torero, though, should see Houston make a pretty strong jump come next week’s rankings.

Santi Arata, who spent the week playing for Uruguay, was shown a red card early on for a dangerous and cynical tackle. He is probably facing a suspension. His playmaking ability from the #9 spot is a valuable part of the Houston offense, and he will be missed in this important match.

#9 AUSTIN ELITE RUGBY (Record: 0-2; Last Week: #8)

They’ve started the season 0-2, and having faced at home two teams with 2018 losing records. Not how Austin wanted to begin their new campaign.

They’ve had quite a bit of personnel changes, both starting the season with a new set of faces and then losing many of them to ARC call-ups.

No doubt looking for a bounce-back win, this week should prove interesting. The Arrows come to town, bereft of their many Canadian internationals. This could be Austin’s opportunity to get on track.