An absorbing opening weekend of the new Major League Rugby season saw history made as professional rugby officially kicked off for two major market expansion teams. Toronto and New York each got their first regular season matches under their belt with both enjoying promising beginnings.

Canadian fans from coast to coast cast their eye on Toronto’s maiden voyage against New Orleans on Saturday. The Arrows got off to a slow start. It might have been the jet lag or the nerves, but the halftime score read 24-7 to the Gold with only a trademark try from John Moonlight – in his XV-a-side rugby return – keeping their hopes alive.

Whatever was said at halftime seemed to work as Toronto came out a different team. Dan Moor finished off two well-worked tries before New Orleans responded in kind. A late score from teenager Avery Oitomen made for a grandstand finish but the final attack would come up short.

Of note was the performance of three Canadians in the Gold lineup. Hubert Buydens, Eric Howard, and Kyle Baillie were all standouts. Standing opposite many of his former Ontario Blues teammates, Howard scored a try and led New Orleans from the front having been named captain for the season.

A pair of Canadians would take part in the second Saturday match. The Larsen brothers – Josh and Larsen – were both in the starting lineup for Austin Elite. They would ultimately fall by 21-20 to the visiting Houston SaberCats in the pouring rain at Dell Diamond. Second row Josh was a dominant presence in the lineout and scored a second half try with both brothers putting in 80 minute shifts.

Rugby United New York left it late but came away 25-23 winners in their MLR debut at San Diego. They opened the game with 15 unanswered points thanks in part to some incisive running from England international Ben Foden. New York’s gas tank looked to have run out in the second half as the Legion came roaring back to take the lead, but a penalty try in the 75th minute saved the game for the newcomers.

The final match of the weekend was arguably the best. In a rematch of the 2018 MLR Final the Seattle Seawolves defeated the Glendale Raptors 20-18 in front of a passionate sold-out crowd at Starfire Stadium. It was an enthralling match from start to finish that saw three Canadians contributing to the victory.

Phil Mack started at scrumhalf and played 50 minutes before getting a rest. Seattle have signed former South Africa under-20 international JP Smith to help manage Mack’s time this season. George Barton got 15 minutes in at the end of the game and made an impact, even packing down on the flank in the final scrum when Seattle were out of forward subs.

It was Brock Staller who took the plaudits after the game. The Kitsilano High School product scored a wonderful indvidual try on a chip-and-chase that brought the Seawolves back after they had fallen behind early in the second half. He then nailed the winning penalty kick with six minutes to play, earning himself man-of-the-match honors.

Four Canadians were named in the official MLR Team of the Week – Josh Larsen, Kyle Baillie, John Moonlight, and Brock Staller.

There are three matches on tap this weekend. On Friday the Utah Warriors start their campaign on the road against Austin Elite. Glendale head to New Orleans on Saturday, with Seattle making the trip south to San Diego. The Arrows have the week off to recover before heading to Texas to play Austin Elite on February 8.

All three matches will be streamed live on the Major League Rugby Facebook page for Canadian and international viewers.

WEEK 2 FIXTURES

Utah Warriors at Austin Elite

Friday, February 1

5pm PT, 8pm ET

Glendale Raptors at NOLA Gold

Saturday, February 2

Noon PT, 3pm ET

Seattle Seawolves at San Diego Legion

Saturday, February 2

3:30pm PT, 6:30pm ET