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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 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

 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. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dan and Pete sit down with New England's Cam Davidowicz, a player that took the long way and earned every chance he got. Having played college rugby at Plymouth State University, he would later play for NE's first coach Josh Smith at Mystic River. In 2021, he joined the Free Jacks as a trainee player and has since become a core member of the Free Jacks with three starts through 7 appearances.  Rugby 101 - Pete breaks down how to execute and the importance of executing the kickoff receipt.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Description- Dan and Pete sit down with Cory Daniel of Old Glory DC who took the long route to find Rugby. After Wrestling at a high level at UNC, he wanted to find the next thing. His coach knew Dan Payne and he attended a camp to identify crossovers in 2019 which led to a contract offer from Andrew Douglas of Old Glory ahead of the 2020 MLR Season. Cory discusses that journey and his development over the past three seasons.  Rugby 101- Pete discusses crossover development and their role to play in bringing more high quality athletes into the American rugby space. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Description- Ross Braude joins the show after Toronto's return home to play their first match in the city in over a thousand days. He discusses his rise from Grey College in South Africa and the opportunity of being Canadian and the chance that Rugby Canada granted him. His discusses his journey to the Pacific Pride and the Arrows in the uncertain pandemic period.  Rugby 101- A Scrum-Half Playing behind a strong pack. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Connor Buckley was on the board for several teams in the 2020 draft. His heart was truly with New York, he discusses the process with other teams. To his luck, NY traded their picks in 2020 only to see Buckley available and they snapped him up immediately as the first undrafted player signing in the Summer of 2020. Connor discusses his first year of seasoning playing behind Andy Ellis and Connor McManus and the development that provided him to win the starting scrum-half shirt in NY's season opener when they went on the road in week 2 to win 10-12 against the Houston SaberCats.  In Rugby 101 Pete breaks down "winning the contact". See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tavite Lopeti's trajectory began rapidly during the summer of 2021 heading into the draft. Although a highly touted player, he quietly went about his business seeking development opportunities. Shortly after the USA Rugby National Club 7s Championship he got the call to join the US Eagles for their Summer tour to England and Ireland ahead of the MLR Draft. Joining Dan and Pete, Lopeti discusses the methodical way in which he works on himself and his focus on and off the field.  On Rugby 101 Pete discusses when to kick and when not to kick.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Emmanuel Albert began playing Rugby towards the latter half of High School, wasn't on too many recruiting lists but found out about Lindenwood University after first getting recruited by Lindenwood-Belleville. Things changed rapidly for him while playing for Lions as he rose to become the best player in US College Rugby winning the Scholz Award. He recounts this in his interview with Dan Power and the feeling of Draft Day getting selected second overall by the Houston SaberCats.  Pete Digs into Rugby 101 with "Getting Over The Line." See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ma’a Nonu, effectively the Tom Brady of the Sport. Ma’a Nonu has seen it all from multiple World Cup wins, European and Top 14 Championships.  Although he returned to France in 2021 after playing for SD in 2020, he’s back and ready to be a huge piece of San Diego’s resurgence. Rugby 101- Pete continues the set-piece breakdown series of the lineout with, What is a Lineout? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Chris Pennell was a one club man appearing over 200 times for the Worcester Warriors, but instead of retiring, he chose to join the expansion Dallas Jackals. Dan and Pete sit down with Pennell to see what makes him tick and why he chose the opportunity of joining an upstart expansion franchise in Dallas Texas in MLR instead of fully retiring after playing his entire professional career with his childhood club. In Rugby 101, Pete Steinberg breaks down "Why there are Lineouts?" See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matt Giteau, A Wallaby Centurion, 3-Time European Champion, One Time Top 14 Champion, and now MLR Champion. What is it that drew Giteau to North America and the shores of Los Angeles to help build the foundations of an MLR Expansion club in the Giltinis? Giteau discusses with Dan Power the evolution as a player from wanting to play every week when he returned to the Brumbies in 2010 and now wanting to mentor young players, especially American players and grow the game. Rugby 101, after discussing Why There Was a Scrum, Pete now digs into exactly "What is a Scrum"? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Andy Ellis, has been someone who's been willing to grow and invest in the game away from home. He spent 7 years helping guide the Kobelco Steelers in the Japanese Top League and sinking roots into Japan. And now he's come to New York to live full time and help build the club.  He discusses the cultural changes from New Zealand, to Japan, and now New York City that has helped him and his family thrive. Dan Power also takes the Time Machine and we learn about Andy's Boy Band days in Canterbury. In Rugby 101 Pete breaks down "Why is there a Scrum?" See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Looking to 2022 and beyond. Ryan Patterson, current Chair of MLR Board of Governors, has been a driving force behind USA Rugby’s bid for the 2031 World Cup. Patterson and Pete Steinberg sit down to discuss the growth of MLR and the reasons for pursuing the RWC bid. Long time San Diego player and US Eagle Nate Augspurger will be the focus as he’s someone who will remain involved in the game in some capacity in 2031. Pete Discusses "What is a Breakdown" for Rugby 101. And Dan and Pete preview week 2 with a key match up for the first MLR Match in BC- TOR v LA. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.