MLR Kickoff

Pete sits down while Dan is off getting deals done with all five of 2022's All-MLR individual Awardees. Beaudein Waaka discusses his banner year and how things changed for himself and the Free Jacks. Brendon O'Connor discusses his year and the title run with Rugby New York. Billy Meakes talks shop on the transition between 7s and 15s and how he's refined his game. Scott Mathie chats coaching and changing the Free Jacks to get to MLR's first 13 win team. Tavite Lopeti discusses his Rookie season and Seattle's run to the MLR final

 Dan and Pete review the landscape of MLR following the Eliminator round. They discuss the mental aspects around preparing for a game on short notice as a player when you believe your season is done. They then look ahead to the Conference Championships examining the strengths and weaknesses of the top seed Houston and New England and also the challengers Seattle and New York.

Johan Momsen joins Pete to discuss his journey as a Rugby player in the United States over the past three seasons with Rugby ATL. He digs into the coaching change and how the squad used the adversity to go forward and embrace the cultural foundation that had been established under Scott Lawrence.  James Paterson joins the show with Dan to examine the final round of the regular season, touching on major news, and then previewing the Eliminator Matchups. Rugby 101- How to react as a player when there's a coaching change mid-seaso

Description- Malon Al Jiboori rose to prominence in the US scene playing for Lindenwood University rising through the age grade systems as a US U20, Collegiate All-American, and eventually achieving his Eagles debut.He made his Eagles 7s debut in 2016 and would make nine appearances on the HSBC 7s World Series. He became Eagles #520 on February 15th, 2018 against Chile. He began his MLR career with the San Diego Legion and then Colorado Raptors. In 2020 he made the decision to play in the RFU Championship for the Ealing Trailfinders. Eventually he made the decision to return to the US and signed for the Houston SaberCats where he's bad a banner season. Rugby 101- Three Things a Franchise must have.

Benjamin Bonasso was born in Connecticut but grew up in Argentina. He sits down with Pete on the decision to come back to a home he hadn't really known to well and the process in which he went through to play for New York. First hoping to join the SaberCats his path led to New York when Greg McWilliams was coaching the side ahead of the 2021 season. Pete breaks down the business end of the season and the narrowing playoff scenarios. 

Billy Meakes turned into form in 2021, following an MLR Championship run in the Giltinies inaugural season he returned to play for Australia 7s in Dubai. For 2022, he hasn't stopped from where he left and continued to build on the 2021 MLR Back of the Year 

Beaudein Waaka and Mark O'Keeffe join the show for a round table discussion of the 2022 season as both of their respective teams are currently leading their conference table. With a tough match against LA just done Mark discusses the end of season push the Gilgronis must make. Beaudein sits down to answer about his flourishing season as the starting Fly-Half for the Free Jacks after having been a jack of all trades in 2020 and 2021 for the New England Club.Rugby 101 - Pete discusses managing the referee. 

Description - Nate Sylvia found rugby late in life. After playing football growing up and attempting to walk on at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo as a defensive linemen, he wanted to find something. He discusses how his dad once thought of playing Rugby and said that Nathan needed to play for him. Over the next three seasons he developed into one of the top props in the country. During the 2018 season he was signed by the San Diego Legion and has developed into one of the top American props in Major League Rugby. 

Dan and James sit down to examine the first twelve weeks of the MLR season and the key performances that shaped the round. They also look ahead to build the playoff picture.