Perfect season, undisputed champions.

Legion seems to have found a stride, but probably too late.

Legion really doing themselves in with the penalties and cards.

😅 Damm sending den Hoedt spinning right round baby right round!

California using their challenge early! Sounds like they're going to lose it, too.

Hounds coming out strong fast! It's like a slip 'n slide on the pitch!

A rainy kickoff in the windy City and we under way for the Shield!

#MLR2026 #USMLR #rugby

I don't usually watch the pre-game on the Sunday night rugby, but they have my guy Sam Windsor I'm making an exception tonight. OG SaberCat, league's all-time leading points scorer. Good to see him involved in the league in some way.

Chicago really showing why they're at the top of the table. Not that Seattle are bringing a good game to the pitch. I think any other team at this point in the season and Seattle would be on top. A win today would secure a playoff spot for Seattle but they're going to have to tighten things up in the Hounds' 22 to get back in it.

Another week of playoff bracket matchups, with 2v1, 3v4, and 5v6!

They're second in championships only to the Free Jacks. It's not unusual for them to have a slow start, even when they were defending champs. It may as well be considered MLR v2 this season. Seattle have a bunch of former Houston players, so you have kind of two different packs of players used to themselves and last year's franchises playing styles, so they have to merge that together. I think they'll do well this year.

If you weren't watching last season or, during the off season, the league went from 11 teams down to 6. Seattle are the last original team standing. Houston, NOLA, and Utah all withdrew from the league and San Diego was absorbed by RFCLA but they kept the Legion branding. Miami also withdrew from the league. There was quite a bit of change in league rules for limiting foreign players (which is the likely cause for Miami and Houston leaving) in favor of developing US-eligible talent for both the 2027 World Cup and in 2031 when we're hosting the Cup. Utah and NOLA just couldn't find new investors/owners. But the overall strategy seems to be working, as Anthem (being the team funded in large part by World Rugby to develop US players rather than private owners looking for profit) is competitive now with the first wins in their franchise history (after going 0-32).

I don't check in on MLR very often -- the Seawolves are bad now? Last I looked into it we were playing in the final most every year?

Pretty wild that we're getting 1st v 2nd, 3rd v 4th, and 5th v 6th this week.

I'm out in the middle of nowhere Texas hill country, so won't be commenting much today as the streams are buffered all to hell.

Wait, they're playing Boyer as a forward?

Lot of SaberCat points for the Dickfish tonight! 🤣

Old Glory having a real Sam Windsor kinda match tonight.

How the fuck did my boy Coetzer miss that‽

Huge win for Anthem today! Good for them!

Great determination by Houston to put that one away!

well, Legion aren't dead yet!

Anthem really not letting up here! Pretty commanding lead going into the final 15 my minutes.

quite a few cards issued at the end of the half!

there we go!

I don't think a turnover was the right thing to do there.