2020 Major League Rugby season


The 2020 Major League Rugby season was the third season of Major League Rugby, the professional rugby union competition sanctioned by USA Rugby. The regular season schedule was released on September 23, 2019, and the regular season itself began on February 8, 2020.
Three teams made their debut in 2020: the New England Free Jacks, Old Glory DC, and Rugby ATL.
The Seattle Seawolves are the defending champions, having won their second consecutive title last year.
On March 12, 2020, MLR announced the season would go on hiatus immediately for 30 days due to fears surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. Seven days later, MLR announced that the season was officially cancelled.

Teams and format

With the addition of three teams for the 2020 season, Major League Rugby moved to a two-conference format. For the regular season, each team was to play against the other teams in their conference twice each and against every team in the opposite conference once each for a total of 16 games.
The playoffs expanded from four teams in 2019 to six teams in 2020, with the top three teams from each conference qualifying. The second- and third-placed team from each conference were to play each other in the conference semifinals, with the winner moving on to play the first-placed team in the conference finals. The winners of the conference finals would have the played against each other in the final for the championship.

Regular season

Standings

Matches

The following are the matches for the 2020 Major League Rugby regular season:
AUSCOLHOUNEFJNOLAOGDCRATLRUNYSANSEATORUTA
Austin Gilgronis19–2810–3820–20
Colorado Raptors20–2722–1922–14
Houston SaberCats20–2421–1213–2223–31
New England Free Jacks34–14
New Orleans Gold31–2246–1310–2221–25
Old Glory DC31–2928–22
Rugby ATL19–2218–2828–19
Rugby United NY49–31
San Diego Legion49–2230–2124–2033–24
Seattle Seawolves44–2917–3931–33
Toronto Arrows27–22
Utah Warriors39–33

Updated to match played on March 8, 2020

Colors: Blue: home team win; Yellow: draw; Red: away team win.

Scheduled completed

Week 1 (Feb 8–9)

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Week 2 (Feb 15–16)

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Week 3 (Feb 22–23)

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Week 4 (Feb 29 – Mar 1)

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Week 5 (Mar 6–8)

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Cancelled schedule

Week 6 (Mar 14–15)

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Week 7 (Mar 21–22)

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Week 8 (Mar 28–29)

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Week 9 (Apr 4–5)

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Week 10 (Apr 10–12)

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Week 11 (Apr 18–19)

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Week 12 (Apr 25–26)

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Week 13 (May 1–3)

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Week 14 (May 9–10)

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Week 15 (May 16–17)

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Week 16 (May 22–25)

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Week 17 (May 30–31)

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Playoffs

The top three teams from each conference would have qualified for the playoffs had the season not been cancelled. The top team in each conference earns a bye week while the second and third place team play in a conference semifinal.

Player statistics

Top scorers

The top ten try and point scorers during the 2020 Major League Rugby season were:
Last updated: March 9, 2020

Sanctions

PlayerTeam Red Yellow
Mike ShephardToronto Arrows10
Poasa WaqanibauNew England Free Jacks02
Diego MagnoHouston SaberCats02
Brendan DalyColorado Raptors01
Malcolm MayNOLA Gold01
Lindsay StevensNOLA Gold01
Nikola BursicNOLA Gold01
Gordon FullertonOld Glory DC01
Saia UhilaUtah Warriors01
Josh LarsenNew England Free Jacks01
Ben FodenRUNY01
Peter MalcolmSan Diego Legion01
Vili Toluta'uSeattle Seawolves01
Lino SaunitogaAustin Gilgronis01
Potu Leavasa Jr.Austin Gilgronis01
Brad HemopoNew England Free Jacks01
Anthony ParryRUNY01
Sione FangaiuihaAustin Gilgronis01
Maikeli MuduAustin Gilgronis01
Tomás de la VegaToronto Arrows01
Tiaan LootsHouston SaberCats01
Nakai PennySeattle Seawolves01
Tim MaupinNOLA Gold01
JP du PlessisSan Diego Legion01
Kelepi FifitaColorado Raptors01
Holden YungertNOLA Gold01
Jamie MackintoshAustin Gilgronis01
Renata Roberts-TenanaOld Glory DC01
Manuel DianaToronto Arrows01
Paddy RyanRUNY01
Carl MeyerNOLA Gold01
Joshua FurnoSan Diego Legion01
Will VakalahiOld Glory DC01
Neethling GerickeRugby ATL01
Andrew FergusonToronto Arrows01
Rene RangerColorado Raptors01
Marco Fepulea'iColorado Raptors01
Andrew QuattrinToronto Arrows01
Rodrick WatersAustin Gilgronis01
Stephan CoetzeeSeattle Seawolves01