RugbyRebels

MLR postponed for 30 days.

Right decision. Crying shame though, as it was really starting to get into the swing of things. Not entirely sure what a 30 day postponement is going to accomplish either - I don't see Covid-19 going away in the US in that time with Pence and Trump at the helm of the response.

Puja

Season cancelled:

Mellsblue wrote:Season cancelled:

Might not be a terrible thing for the league. Any attempt to finish the season would be extremely ad hoc and would struggle to get much in the way of supporters.

Better to start again in 2021, get a really good marketing effort out there, and most importantly avoid starting the season with a pointless Vegas trip again.

Puja

But still not enough time for fat basta to get fit.

Mellsblue wrote:But still not enough time for fat basta to get fit.

Tighthead next season, you wait.

Puja

There is going to be a draft:

https://www.majorleague.rugby/news/majo ... ate-draft/

Mellsblue wrote:There is going to be a draft:

https://www.majorleague.rugby/news/majo ... ate-draft/

Someone should shut the door then.

Not entirely sure of the point of this, tbh. Might make them feel like they're one of the big boy American sports, but realistically a college graduate rugby player is surely not going to get enough money to justify moving across the country.

Puja

Had to double check it wasn’t April 1st but:

https://www.majorleague.rugby/news/majo ... -giltinis/

Okay, one team named after a rich dickbiscuit's novelty cocktail? Sure, that's weird, but it's quirky and unique and could loop round to "so bad it's good" very easily.

Two teams however? That just screams, "We're desperate for investors and are willing to sell our self-respect for funding." It does not suggest a successful, sensible, credible sports league that can be taken seriously. I blame Killebrew - no problem with Gilchrist owning two franchises, but one of them needed to have been given a proper name.

Puja

Dallas Jackals - finally a new team without a stupid name!

http://www.americasrugbynews.com/2020/0 ... -and-logo/

Apparently they've picked up a few players from Colorado's Flouncing Out Of Business sale and look to have their ducks in a row. However, the new stadium is being held up by two local busybodies who are suing and obstructing because they're worried about a nice stadium being built on the local green space, rather than the dilapidated eyesore that currently exists. Apparently they make NIMBYs in Texas too, not just Bath.

Giltinis are making up for a stupid name by going big on signings - three Wallabies fringe players apparently in talks. Have also heard Billy Meakes is going to USA, but no news on where.

In other news, a Hawaii-based side is angling to take up the empty spot in the Western Conference for 2021. Ambitious, but they reckon they can get deals with an airline to ferry teams back and forth and with a hotel to put them up. Have the Hawaaii team play three home and three away, with the East coast teams having a two week tour of going to San Diego/LA, then to Honolulu and the travel could be doable. Would certainly put the league on the map and no doubt there's a lot of talent there (not to mention an island team could potentially scout and recruit from Guam and American Samoa too). Still in negotiations though:

Puja

Both Gilwhatevers are Oz owned so no surprise they’re loading up on Aussies. Buyers market at present, to.

That must be the only similarity between Bath and Dallas! Great rugby quiz question. Dallas are classed as a foundation team so have obvs had plenty of time to get things in order. Important city for MLR to crack I’d have thought.

Can’t see Hawaii having to sell too hard to get players!! “So, I play rugby in the morning and go surfing in the afternoon, and you’re going to pay me?!?!!”
That is pretty much my dream job.

The Times reporting that Robshaw’s move to MLR is ‘expected’.

Mellsblue wrote:The Times reporting that Robshaw’s move to MLR is ‘expected’.

Makes sense - I'd imagine there's a butt-tonne that he can teach them and it'd probably be more rewarding to develop a new culture than to play Pro D2 or Championship. Apparently he's still training with Quins for the possible finish of the season and I wouldn't be surprised to see him do a half-season contract till November there.

Puja

Puja wrote:

Mellsblue wrote:The Times reporting that Robshaw’s move to MLR is ‘expected’.

Makes sense - I'd imagine there's a butt-tonne that he can teach them and it'd probably be more rewarding to develop a new culture than to play Pro D2 or Championship. Apparently he's still training with Quins for the possible finish of the season and I wouldn't be surprised to see him do a half-season contract till November there.

Puja

Yep. Same piece has that info about extending until the end of this season. Could see him taking that through to Xmas if that’s how next season plays out.
As to where he’d go. Given what we know about him and his wife/fiancée/gf you’d have thought RUNY in pole position with the other NE teams queuing up behind. Can’t see him going to somewhere a bit more, erm, rustic.

RUNY sell their 2020 draft silverware to Dallas for Dallas’s foreign player spot. They must have someone tasty lined up.

Mellsblue wrote:RUNY sell their 2020 draft silverware to Dallas for Dallas’s foreign player spot. They must have someone tasty lined up.

Not just their draft spots, but part of their salary cap too (which is a fun trade you just wouldn't get in the UK), which doesn't jibe with someone tasty (albeit the salary cap is more of a salary suggestion there), but instead several average.

Dallas have picked up an experienced coach (https://www.dallasjackals.com/news/head ... al-season/), so they look like they're betting on fast development of local talent. Bold approach - I'm not sure how well it'll work out, even with an 8 month lead-in to their first season.

Also Dallas are playing their first season in a 50k ex-baseball stadium, which is bold. It was converted for XFL, which is obviously no longer a thing, so I presume they got it cheap. The conversion does look as though it can be used in parts, so they've got a 4k sideline stand that they can fill before expanding to the rest of the stadium, but it's still going to be very echoey.

Puja

Puja wrote:Good news for you - the New York team have announced their official name and are getting their website up. They are going to be: Rugby United New York.

That's right - RUNY.

RUNY.

There's been worse brands. Can't bring any to mind right now, but I'm sure there must've been.

Was looking for something else and stumbled across this post from 2018. Oh, you sweet summer child. You haven't even met the Freejacks yet, let alone the Gilgronis and Giltinis.

Puja

Robshaw joins SD Legion....

Mellsblue wrote:Robshaw joins SD Legion....

Once again, Steffon Armitage manages to make himself unavailable for selection, but Robshaw is there to fill in for him!

Puja

More details coming out on Hawaii. Looking like a real goer, pending full MLR ratification: https://www.earfulofdirt.com/2020/07/ca ... i.html?m=1

Puja

Do you listen to the Earful of Dirt podcast? I tried to when the MLR first started up but it sounded like a podcast version of RR, ie a bunch of rank amateurs bloviating (and if I want a fix of that then I...well....read RR).
If they get set-up it’d be amazing. They’d have no trouble attracting talent.

Mellsblue wrote:Do you listen to the Earful of Dirt podcast? I tried to when the MLR first started up but it sounded like a podcast version of RR, ie a bunch of rank amateurs bloviating (and if I want a fix of that then I...well....read RR).
If they get set-up it’d be amazing. They’d have no trouble attracting talent.

I don't tend to podcast as a rule - I have about 15,000 different demands on my time (most of which I put off to piss about on here) and I find I can't listen and multitask.

The whole league would benefit from the boost in attractiveness - "Come to Utah. Okay, so it's Utah, but you get one away game in Hawaii every year as part of your contract."

Puja

And MLR confirms that it's in the works: https://www.majorleague.rugby/news/majo ... 1rMLnmP_SE

Need to jump through some hoops, pay the admission fee, then pass a ratification vote of the other teams (who are allegedly all in favour) and they're in for 2021.

Puja

I’d imagine every team will ask for their bye week to be after their away match in Hawaii.

“Sorry, darling. The coach is adamant we stay for a weeks training camp after the match. Have you ever tried shuttles on a beach? It’ll be awful”.