NEWS

Taylor Howden and San Diego Legion dominant in Major League Rugby’s Week 2

MLR announces Player, Team and First XV of Week 2

Salt Lake City, UT; February 4, 2019: Taylor Howden marked his promotion to the NOLA Gold starting line-up with two tries as the league’s top scorers beat the Glendale Raptors, winning  MLR’s Week 2 Player of the Week. The San Diego Legion secured Team of the Week after persevering in a muddy, low-scoring affair, defeating reigning champions Seattle Seawolves 17-13.

Howden moved the ball terrifically in NOLA’s 40-31 win, propelling his team to the top of the league’s standings. In perhaps the try of the week, the outside center capitalized with a bull-dozing rush through two would-be tacklers, to help NOLA into an early 10-0 lead. In the 44th minute, Howden dummied and split two defenders for his second try of the game. Howden was one of two players in MLR to score multiple tries in Week 2.

The San Diego Legion controlled their match from the very beginning against the Seattle Seawolves, jumping to an insurmountable 14-3 lead by halftime. The Seawolves made a late run, closing the Legion’s advantage to 17-13, but the Californians’ stout defense never allowed another chance. San Diego out-possessed the Seawolves 64 percent to 36 percent, as the Legion consistently pressured on the Seawolves’ defense and strangled the visitors’ attack.

MLR’s First XV of Week 2:

Loosehead Prop (No. 1), Franco van den Berg, Utah Warriors

Hooker (No. 2), Logan Daniels, Utah Warriors

Tighthead Prop (No. 3), Paddy Ryan, San Diego Legion

Lock (No. 4), Ben Mitchell, Austin Elite Rugby

Lock (No. 5), Keni Nasoqeqe, San Diego Legion

Blindside Flanker (No. 6), William Munro, Glendale Raptors

Openside Flanker (No. 7), Vili Toluta’u, Seattle Seawolves

No. 8, Kane Thompson, New Orleans Gold

Scrum-half (No. 9), Nick Boyer, San Diego Legion

Fly-half (No. 10), Timothee Guillimin, Austin Elite

Wing (No. 11), Nick Johnson, Glendale Raptors

Inside Center (No. 12), Tim O’Malley, Utah Warriors

Outside Center (No. 13), Taylor Howden, New Orleans Gold

Wing (No. 14), Mikey Te’o, San Diego Legion

Fullback (No. 15), JP Eloff, New Orleans Gold

ABOUT MLR

MLR is a professional rugby league launched in April of 2018. It’s an initiative of the North American rugby community, in partnership with private investors, who believe that North American rugby can thrive at the highest levels: as a commercial enterprise; as an influential player on the international scene; and as a participation sport at the youth and senior level. MLR will be the pinnacle of North American rugby, and provide a rallying point for local communities, a focal point for North American rugby fans, and an aspirational destination for young athletes.

The teams competing in MLR Season 2 are Austin Elite, Glendale Raptors, Houston SaberCats, New Orleans Gold, San Diego Legion, Seattle Seawolves, Utah Warriors plus new additions Rugby United New York and Toronto Arrows. Agreements are already in place to add at least a further four teams from major North American markets for Season 3.

MEDIA CONTACTS

Major League Rugby: Press Office, 323-476-0016, press@usmlr.com