Week Three: First XV

February 25, 2020 - Major League Rugby (MLR) News Release

1. Loosehead Prop, James Rochford - Rugby United New York

Starting immediately on his return, Rochford made his presence known to Atlanta by establishing a strong scrum and then taking his talents to the open field with six hard carries for 22 meters.  On the defense he hit hard with 14 tackles. In the break down he went to work with 23 attacking arrivals and five defensive arrivals.

2. Hooker, Dylan Fawsitt - Rugby United New York

Fawsitt put his skills on display kicking over the Atlanta defensive line for Mark O'Keeffe to snag and score New York's third try.  He made seven carries for 30 meters and one tackle break. At the break down he had 15 attacking rucks and 7 defensive ruck arrivals.  He completed 13 tackles on defense.

3. Tighthead Prop,  Charlie Connolly - Houston SaberCats

Going up against 'The Beast' Connolly helped lead a dominating platform for the SaberCats against Old Glory.  In attack he made two carries for 16 meters. In the break down he had 15 ruck arrivals.

4. Left Lock, Potu Leavasa - Austin Gilgronis

Leavasa put in a massive work rate around the park with ten dominant carries in contact for 47 meters and two tackle breaks.  On defense he completed ten hard tackles. At the break down is where he shined with 24 attacking ruck arrivals and 15 defensive ruck arrivals.

5. Right Lock, Nate Brakeley - Rugby United New York

Brakeley went to work all around the pitch in the breakdown, had an astronomical amount of involvement with 50 attacking ruck arrivals and ten defensive ruck arrivals.  On defense he completed 19 tackles. In the aerial game he had six lineout takes and one lineout steal.

6. Blindside Flanker,  Dominic Akina - Austin Gilgronis

Akina is the find of the season so far, earning a contract from a talent identification combine.  He made seven carries for 46 meters, a tackle break, and two offloads. On defense he completed 7 tackles.  At the break down he had 16 attacking arrivals and 7 defensive arrivals.

7. Openside Flanker, Psalm Wooching - San Diego Legion

Wooching broke the gainline on almost every one of his 15 carries making 118 meters to force a linebreak, three tackle breaks and two offloads.  He broke hard through the New England defense before offloading to Devereux Ferris to earn a try-assist.

8. No 8, Mathieu Bastareaud - Rugby United New York

Bastareaud has rounded into form in short order moving from center to No 8.  Against Atlanta he had 15 carries for 109 meters made, 1 tackle break, and two offloads.  On defense he completed 18 tackles. Yet in the break down he proved an animal hitting 29 rucks.

9. Scrum-half, Devereux Ferris - San Diego Legion

Coming onto the pitch for an injured Augspurger, Ferris marshalled the legion attack to a rapid tempo amounting to a 67% quick-ruck rate.  He ran a hard line in support of Psalm Wooching taking an offload for a try. On defense he completed ten tackles, and used his foot effectively to gain 113 meters from four kicks in play. 

10. Fly-half, Jason Robertson - Old Glory DC

Robertson put immense pressure on the SaberCats with his foot kicking eight times for 219 meters.  With the ball in hand he carried six times for 61 meters, a line break, and two offloads. He scored 17 points for Old Glory with five penalty goals and one conversion.

11. Left Wing, Julian Dominguez - NOLA Gold

A powerful ball runner, Dominguez had to make it count to create two tackles breaks.  During the first half he broke through a tackle by Seth Halliman that yielded a try for the Gold.  On attack he carried eight times for 80 Meters, a line break, and an offload.

12. Inside Center, Tiaan Loots - Houston SaberCats

With superb vision, Loots made every one of his thirteen carries matter as he cut up the Old Glory Defense for 107 meters, on linebreak, two tackle breaks, and one offload.  One defense he completed seven tackles.

13. Outside Center, Sean Coughlan - Rugby ATL

Coughlan proved to be a key attacking player for Atlanta as he made key ground off a pass from Martini Talapusi that would set up a try by Zander Van Schalkwyk.  On attack he had nine carries for 73 meters, a line break, and two offloads.In the break down he 12 attacking ruck arrivals and two defensive ruck arrivals. On defense he completed six tackles.

14. Right Wing, Dan Moor - Toronto Arrows

On defense, Moor completed seven tackles.  His defense however, stymied Staller and Barton from getting much much going for the Seawolves.  On attack he made eight carries for 62 meters, one tackle break, and an offload. It was a two-try performance for Moor when he put the cap on a dominating Arrows win..

15. Fullback, Sam Malcom - Toronto Arrows

Malcolm scored 24 points for the Arrows, he was perfect from the tee going 6 for 6 on penalty goals and 3 for 3 on try conversions.  On attack he carried four times for 25 meters, but it was his excellent passing the put immense pressure on the Seattle defense.

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Major League Rugby Stories from February 25, 2020

• Week Three: First XV - MLR

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