The 2021 Major League Rugby season was the fourth season of Major League Rugby, the professional rugby union competition sanctioned by USA Rugby. The regular season began on March 20, 2021.
One team made their debut in 2021: the LA Giltinis. The season also marks the first team departure in the league's history, with the Colorado Raptors. MLR history was made when United States Rugby referee Kat Roche became the first woman in a lead officiating role in a match (Seattle Seawolves vs Houston SaberCats on July 15).
Teams and format
ConferenceClubMetro areaStadiumCapacityCoachCaptain Western ConferenceAustin GilgronisAustin, TexasBold Stadium 5,000 Sam Harris Bryce CampbellHouston SaberCatsHouston, TexasAveva Stadium 4,000 Paul Healy Luke Beauchamp De Wet RoosLA GiltinisLos Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum 77,500 Darren Coleman Dave DennisSan Diego LegionSan Diego, CaliforniaLas Vegas, Nevada Los Angeles, California Chula Vista, CaliforniaTorero Stadium James Regional Sports Park Dignity Health Track & Facility Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center 6,000 Scott Murray Zack Test Joe PietersenSeattle SeawolvesSeattle, WashingtonStarfire Stadium 4,500 Kees Lensing (to April 23, 2021) Pate Tuilevuka (from April 23, 2021, to May 27, 2021) Allen Clarke (from May 27, 2021) Riekert HattinghUtah WarriorsSalt Lake City, UtahZions Bank Stadium 5,000 Shawn Pittman Bailey Wilson Eastern ConferenceNew England Free JacksBoston, MassachusettsUnion Point Sports ComplexVeterans Memorial Stadium 2,0005,000 Ryan Martin Josh LarsenNew Orleans GoldNew Orleans, LouisianaGold Mine 10,000 Nate Osborne Kyle BaillieOld Glory DCWashington, D.C.Segra Field 5,000 Andrew Douglas Mungo Mason Thretton PalamoRugby United New YorkNew York, New York Jersey City, New JerseyMCU Park Cochrane Stadium 7,000 4,000 Marty Veale Dylan FawsittRugby ATLAtlanta, GeorgiaLupo Family Field 2,500 Scott Lawrence Matt Heaton Ryan NellToronto ArrowsToronto, OntarioAtlanta, Georgia Lupo Family Field 2,500 Chris Silverthorn Ben LeSage Lucas Rumball
Trial laws
Several new rules were introduced for the 2021 season, some of which are not practiced in other rugby leagues:
Kick Clock: Kickers will now have sixty seconds as opposed to ninety seconds for both conversions and penalties. Seven points will be automatically awarded for any try scored directly under the posts and kicking a conversion will no longer be necessary. Referees will work with stricter protocols that will limit the number of scrums to two per incident – the original plus one reset for a collapse, penalty, or freekick. The offside line will be the feed line/channel of the scrum to allow for unimpeded access to the ball at the back of the scrum for the attacking team. No longer will a red card mean a team plays a man down for the remainder of the match. Under the new law a red card would lead to a player being sent off and the team goes down to 14 players for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, the player can be replaced with another player on the bench.
Regular season The regular season consists of eighteen weeks, with each team playing 16 matches, beginning on March 20, 2021.
Standings Season StandingsWestern ConferenceTeam 1 LA Giltinis (CH) 16 12 0 4 545 305 +240 80 37 11 4 63 2 Utah Warriors (SF) 16 10 0 6 506 464 +42 72 65 13 4 57 3 Austin Gilgronis 16 9 0 7 389 317 +72 51 43 7 4 47 4 San Diego Legion 16 6 0 10 430 464 -34 61 63 9 5 38 5 Seattle Seawolves 16 4 0 12 343 461 -118 46 63 4 6 26 6 Houston SaberCats 16 2 0 14 274 550 -276 31 80 3 2 13Eastern ConferenceTeam 1 Rugby ATL (RU) 16 11 0 5 420 321 +99 58 41 9 4 57 2 Rugby United New York (SF) 16 10 0 6 448 419 +29 60 59 10 3 53 3 New Orleans Gold 16 10 1 5 375 378 -3 49 47 7 2 51 4 New England Free Jacks 16 10 0 6 382 351 +31 52 50 7 1 48 5 Old Glory DC 16 6 1 9 409 490 -81 56 65 8 5 39 6 Toronto Arrows 16 5 0 11 411 412 -1 53 56 5 5 30 If teams are level at any stage, tiebreaker criteria are as follows (coin tosses or draw of lots will be used if those below fail): number of matches won the difference between points for and points against the number of tries scored the most points scored the difference between tries for and tries against the fewest red cards received the fewest yellow cards receivedGreen background indicates teams in position for the Playoffs (CH) Champions. (RU) Runners-up. (SF) Losing semi-finalists. Last Updated: July 18, 2021
Matches
AUSHOULANENODCATLNYSDSEATORUTAAustin Gilgronis 26–0 3–17 17–15 16–9 11–14 42–15 47–21 28–30Houston SaberCats 9–28 35–48 0–32 13–21 34–32 30–24 10–19 5–24LA Giltinis 31–17 52–5 42–27 20–21 47–17 45–17 57–26 38–27NE Free Jacks 22–18 9–17 38–34 22-19 22–6 25–21 14–12 22–21New Orleans Gold 15–18 28–26 30–29 26–26 7–8 51–28 22–14 29–24Old Glory DC 29–25 35–22 21–25 30–23 10–46 38–29 22–18 19–40 Rugby ATL 33–15 17–12 33–18 38–28 32–12 17–27 41–22 21–14 Rugby United NY 54–19 18–16 29–19 32–35 38–34 31–24 12–53 28–29San Diego Legion 14–33 39–11 13–19 17–33 43–17 29–36 34–21 31–29Seattle Seawolves 31–36 40–21 14–29 30–6 6–25 21–23 21–15 28–29Toronto Arrows 16–43 17–28 12–18 34–28 29–33 24–31 30–40 52–7 Utah Warriors 45–24 50–43 34–29 34–33 31–41 45–41 15–20 39–24 Updated to match(es) played on July 17, 2021 Colors: Blue: home team win; Yellow: draw; Red: away team win.
Scheduled matches Week 1 (March 20–21)
Week 2 (March 27–28)
Week 3 (April 3)
Week 4 (April 10–11)
Week 5 (April 17–18)
Week 6 (April 24–25)
Week 7 (May 1–2)
Week 8 (May 8–9)
Week 9 (May 15–16)
Week 10 (May 19–23)
Week 11 (May 29–30)
Week 12 (June 5–6)
Week 13 (June 12–13)
Week 14 (June 19–20)
Week 15 (June 26–27)
Week 16 (July 3–4)
Week 17 (July 10–11)
Week 18 (July 15–18)
Playoffs Bracket
Semifinals
Final
Player statistics Top scorers The top ten try and point scorers during the 2021 Major League Rugby season were:
Last updated: August 2, 2021
Most tries No Player Team Tries 1 D. T. H. van der Merwe LA Giltinis 11 2 Bjorn Basson San Diego Legion 103 Angus Cottrell LA Giltinis 9 Julián Domínguez NOLA Gold Dylan Fawsitt Rugby United NY Dougie Fife New England Free Jacks Harrison Goddard LA Giltinis Sama Malolo Utah Warriors John Ryberg LA Giltinis Mike Te'o Utah Warriors11 Harry Barlow New England Free Jacks 8 Marko Janse van Rensburg Rugby ATL James Malcolm Seattle Seawolves Ross Neal Seattle Seawolves
Most points No Player Team Pts 1 Dan Hollinshead RUNY111 2 Sam Windsor Houston SaberCats 110 3 Jason Robertson Old Glory DC 108 4 Beaudein Waaka New England Free Jacks 105 5 Tayler Adams Toronto Arrows1046 Matt Giteau LA Giltinis96 Mack Mason Austin Gilgronis 8 Hagen Schulte Utah Warriors 87 9 Joe Pietersen San Diego Legion78 10 Carl Meyer NOLA Gold 66
Sanctions
PlayerTeam Red Yellow Kara Pryor Rugby United New York 1 1 John Poland New England Free Jacks 1 0 Josh Whippy Utah Warriors 1 0 Jamason Faʻanana-Schultz Old Glory DC 1 0 Luke White LA Giltinis 1 0 Stan South Old Glory DC 0 3 Ronan McCusker New England Free Jacks 0 2 Jurie van Vuuren Utah Warriors 0 2 Travis Larsen San Diego Legion 0 2 Vili Tolutaʻu New England Free Jacks 0 2 Hanno Dirksen NOLA Gold 0 2 Apisai Naikatini Old Glory DC 0 2 Aleki Morris-Lome New England Free Jacks 0 2 Jérémy Lenaerts Houston SaberCats 0 2 Danny Tusitala Old Glory DC 0 2 Juan Cappiello NOLA Gold 0 2 Michael de Waal Austin Gilgronis 0 2 Quinn Ngawati Rugby United NY 0 2 James Rochford Rugby United NY 0 1 Christian Poidevin LA Giltinis 0 1 Aleki Morris-Lome New England Free Jacks 0 1 Mitch Wilson New England Free Jacks 0 1 Sama Malolo Utah Warriors 0 1 Lance Williams Utah Warriors 0 1 Joeli Tikoisuva NOLA Gold 0 1 Moni Tonga’uiha NOLA Gold 0 1 Nikola Bursic NOLA Gold 0 1 Conor Keys Rugby ATL 0 1 Charlie Connolly Houston SaberCats 0 1 Harrison Boyle New England Free Jacks 0 1 Josh Larsen New England Free Jacks 0 1 Kyle Ciquera New England Free Jacks 0 1 Joseph Mano Utah Warriors 0 1 Angus Cottrell LA Giltinis 0 1 Mahe Vailanu LA Giltinis 0 1 Will Magie Austin Gilgronis 0 1 Diego Magno Houston SaberCats 0 1 Nicolás Solveyra Houston SaberCats 0 1 Zachary Short Houston SaberCats 0 1 Gaston Cortes Toronto Arrows 0 1 Cecil Afrika San Diego Legion 0 1 Djustice Sears-Duru Seattle Seawolves 0 1 Marno Redelinghuys Rugby ATL 0 1 Bautista Ezcurra Rugby ATL 0 1 Andrew Ellis Rugby United NY 0 1 Benjamín Bonasso Rugby United NY 0 1 Luke Burton LA Giltinis 0 1 Save Totovosau San Diego Legion 0 1 Robbie Coetzee Austin Gilgronis 0 1 Tayler Adams Toronto Arrows 0 1 Quentin Newcomer New England Free Jacks 0 1 Conner Mooneyham Austin Gilgronis 0 1 Paddy Ryan Austin Gilgronis 0 1
PlayerTeam Red Yellow Nika Khatiashvili Rugby ATL 0 1 Andrew Quattrin Toronto Arrows 0 1 Samu Tawake Rugby United NY 0 1 Adam Ashe LA Giltinis 0 1 Faka'osi Pifeleti San Diego Legion 0 1 Siaosi Mahoni San Diego Legion 0 1 Eric Howard NOLA Gold 0 1 Nick Boyer Houston SaberCats 0 1 Mark O'Keeffe Rugby ATL 0 1 Jackson Thiebes New England Free Jacks 0 1 Will Leonard Rugby United NY 0 1 James Vaifale Utah Warriors 0 1 Apenisa Cakaubalavu Rugby United NY 0 1 Ross Deacon Rugby ATL 0 1 Robbie Petzer Rugby ATL 0 1 Bjorn Basson San Diego Legion 0 1 Isaac Ross Austin Gilgronis 0 1 Harry Bennett Rugby United NY 0 1 Dominic Akina Austin Gilgronis 0 1 Sebastian de Chaves Austin Gilgronis 0 1 Tiaan Loots San Diego Legion 0 1 Dan Pryor San Diego Legion 0 1 Eric Howard NOLA Gold 0 1 Brian Nault NOLA Gold 0 1 Carlo de Nysschen San Diego Legion 0 1 Nate Brakeley Rugby United NY 0 1 Paul Mullen Utah Warriors 0 1 Luke Carty LA Giltinis 0 1 Dino Waldren NOLA Gold 0 1 Devin Short NOLA Gold 0 1 Michael Baska Utah Warriors 0 1 Jeremy Misailegalu Rugby ATL 0 1 Renata Roberts-Tenana Old Glory DC 0 1 Dean Muir San Diego Legion 0 1 Chris Baumann San Diego Legion 0 1 Dave Dennis LA Giltinis 0 1 JP Smith LA Giltinis 0 1 Lauina Futi Seattle Seawolves 0 1 Karsten Leitner Seattle Seawolves 0 1 Rhyno Herbst Seattle Seawolves 0 1 Joaquín Tuculet Toronto Arrows 0 1 Pago Haini LA Giltinis 0 1 Carl Meyer NOLA Gold 0 1 Kyle Rogers NOLA Gold 0 1 Chris Baumann San Diego Legion 0 1 Apenisa Cakaubalavu Rugby United NY 0 1 Victor Comptat Seattle Seawolves 0 1 Apisai Tauyavuca Houston SaberCats 0 1 David Still Austin Gilgronis 0 1 Wian Conradie New England Free Jacks 0 1 Tuidraki Samusamuvodre New England Free Jacks 0 1
End of Season Awards
All-MLR Awards Player of the Year Forward of the Year Back of the Year Coach of the Year Rookie of the Year
All-MLR First Team The top 30 players throughout the season were selected to make up the first and second All-MLR teams. The selections were voted on by a group made up of MLR media, referees, and stats specialists.
The 2021 All-MLR First XV Team is:
Pos Player TeamFB 15 Mike Te'o Utah WarriorsRW 14 Julián Domínguez NOLA GoldOC 13 Ben LeSage Toronto ArrowsIC 12 Bill Meakes LA GiltinisLW 11 D. T. H. van der Merwe LA GiltinisFH 10 Matt Giteau LA GiltinisSH 9 Harrison Goddard LA GiltinisN8 8 Wian Conradie OF 7 Lucas Rumball Toronto ArrowsBF 6 Angus Cottrell LA GiltinisRL 5 Nate Brakeley LL 4 Johan Momsen Rugby ATLTP 3 Dino Waldren NOLA GoldHK 2 Sama Malolo Utah WarriorsLP 1 Chance Wenglewski Rugby ATL
All-MLR Second Team The All-MLR Second XV Team is:
Pos Player TeamFB 15 Ben Foden RW 14 Paula Balekana Houston SaberCatsOC 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper LA GiltinisIC 12 Mark O'Keeffe Rugby ATLLW 11 Bjorn Basson San Diego LegionFH 10 Jason Robertson SH 9 Andrew Ellis Rugby United New YorkN8 8 Jason Damm OF 7 Joe Johnston BF 6 Tomás de la Vega Toronto ArrowsRL 5 Dave Dennis LA GiltinisLL 4 Aston Fortuin Utah WarriorsTP 3 JP Smith LA GiltinisHK 2 Dylan Fawsitt Rugby United New YorkLP 1 Angus MacLellan Utah Warriors
Honorable Mention
For the first time in MLR history, an additional 15 players were also named "Honorable Mention" because of the 'surplus of excellent nominees'.