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Major League Rugby

Major League Rugby (MLR) is the top-tier professional rugby union competition in the United States. The league emerged in 2018 as the premier rugby competition in the U.S. and is now in its fourth season. The first season began in April 2018 and the championship match was played in July 2019. The league is comprised of eleven teams, six of which are based in the United States: Austin Gilgronis, Houston SaberCats, New Orleans Gold, Rugby United New York, Utah Warriors, and San Diego Legion. The other five teams are located in Canada: Toronto Arrows, Vancouver Island Seawolves, Ottawa Aces, Edmonton Elite, and the defending champion, the Calgary-based Ellendale Druids. All teams compete against each other in a regular season and the top two teams advance to the championship match. Each team in MLR is led by Rugby Union's best coaches and players from the U.S. and around the world. Popular players include USA National Team stars Hanco Germishuys, Chris Wyles, and Mike Te'o as well as international stars Andre Esterhuizen of Ireland, Cameron Cowell of Canada, and Tui Taufete'e of the U.S. Samoa National Team. The 2020 season was altered due to the COVID-19 pandemic and only six of the eleven teams competed in a shortened 7-week regular season. The top four teams — Toronto Arrows, San Diego Legion, New Orleans Gold, and Austin Gilgronis — then competed in a 2-round knockout style playoff, and the third and fourth place teams were eliminated following the semi-finals. In the MLR Championship Final, the Toronto Arrows defeated the San Diego Legion 34-21, earning their first-ever league championship. The Arrows, in their second season of competition, became the first Canadian team to win the MLR title. Since its inception, Major League Rugby has seen tremendous growth in the U.S. and around the world, with increased viewership and merchandise sales. It has established itself as one of the top rugby union leagues in the world and provides fans with an exciting and inclusive experience at each game. As MLR continues to expand, the league looks to become the preeminent rugby union competition in North America and the world.