The #CaliforniaLegion record their first franchise victory, over the defending Champs!
This 38pt deficit is the heaviest defeat in #FreeJacks history 🤯
They started slow last season as well, suffering a 36-7 loss to Chicago (2025 - Rd 2) which was the previous record
#MLRStats #MLR2026
Steffan Crimp get's his first of the season to take the #CaliforniaLegion over the 40pt mark!
They now lead by 38. 🤯
#MLRStats #MLR2026
Ben Sugars records his 2nd try in as many games for the #CaliforniaLegion, extending their lead over the #FreeJacks to 38-5!
#MLRStats
Declan Leaney records the first points of the 2nd half, extending the #CaliforniaLegion lead to 31-5!
This is his 2nd career #MLR try, and first of the #MLR2026 season!
#MLRStats
Billy Meakes suits up for the #CaliforniaLegion as one of 3 changes to the starting XV after last week, with Ed Timpson earning the start and Rory van Vugt at 15!
Crimp moves to the bench, with Ronan Murphy and Declan Leaney in line for Legion debuts!
#MLRStats #MLR2026 #WeAreLegion
The Defending Champions' lineup to face the #CaliforniaLegion in San Diego!
6 #MLR debuts in the Starting XV with another 4 waiting on the bench, and another 6 #FreeJacks debuts overall! Only 2 players from this 23 started for NE in last year's playoffs🤯
#MLRStats #LetsRide
A full slate of games in Rd 2 of @usmlr!
@seawolves.rugby host @oldglorydc.bsky.social under the Friday Night Lights, before @anthemrugby.bsky.social’s home opener against the #ChicagoHounds and the #CaliforniaLegion attempt to the the Old Mate from the #FreeJacks!
#MLRStats #MLR
Preview of #MLR2026 Rd 2!
Friday April 3rd:
(0-0) @seawolves.rugby v @oldglorydc.bsky.social (0-0) - 10:30pm ET
Saturday April 4th:
(1-0) @anthemrugby.bsky.social v #ChicagoHounds (0-0) - 4:00pm ET
(0-1) #CaliforniaLegion v #FreeJacks (0-0) - 7:00pm ET (Old Mate Match)
#MLRStats #MLR
There’s only been 1 game played so of course this is limited to @anthemrugby.bsky.social & #CaliforniaLegion players.
If you think this is one-sided, just wait until tomorrow’s tackle leaders! 👀
#MLRStats #MLR2026 #WeAreLegion #AnthemCountry
The First Metre Eater Leaderboard of #MLR2026!
Despite the result the #CaliforniaLegion hold SEVEN of the Top 10 spots led by Round Leader Ryan James, the only player to break 100m gained!
Julian Roberts leads @anthemrugby.bsky.social with 68m gained in 3rd!
#MLRStats #WeAreLegion #AnthemCountry
Ed Timpson came off the bench in the 44th minute for the #CaliforniaLegion and managed to rack up 40m gained in possession with ELEVEN defenders beaten!
This was more than any other player in the #MLR Season Opener!
narugbydb.com/player/ed-ti...
#MLRStats #MLR2026 #WeAreLegion
First scorers from every #MLR season!
@anthemrugby.bsky.social recording the first points of #MLR2026 while the #CaliforniaLegion recorded the first try!
This is the 3rd time that the first points and try were scored by different players, and only the 2nd time by different teams!
#MLRStats
In yesterday's game, the #CaliforniaLegion gained 749m, over double @anthemrugby.bsky.social's total of 342m.
Anthem completed 215 tackles compared to the Legion's 99, with tackle % roughly equal. Superb defensive performance from the Rising Stars!
#MLRStats #MLR2026 #AnthemCountry #WeAreLegion
Thirty-Third time is the charm for @anthemrugby.bsky.social!
A hugely deserved victory over a #CaliforniaLegion side that struggled to click, Anthem have got that monkey off of their backs early in the 2026 #MLR campaign!
Congratulations, Anthem!
#MLRStats #MLR2026 #AnthemCountry
Ben Houston finishes a superb solo effort through multiple defenders to grab a try BP for the #CaliforniaLegion!
This is the first of the #MLR2026 season for Houston, and the 9th of his #MLR career!
#MLRStats #WeAreLegion
Ben Sugars gets one back for the #CaliforniaLegion after rumbling over!
This is the 3rd try of Sugars' #MLR career, reducing the deficit to 19-34 following the conversion.
#MLRStats #MLR2026 #WeAreLegion
#CaliforniaLegion have a little life left yet!
#MLR2026 #USMLR #rugby
Godfrey's try puts @anthemrugby.bsky.social up 12-34 with 15 to go, and I think that's game.
Anthem's defence has been excellent and they've taken their chances! #CaliforniaLegion on the other hand...look awful.
#MLRStats #MLR2026
. @anthemrugby.bsky.social dot down a 4th time while the #CaliforniaLegion remain on two, and just keep coughing it up at crucial moments.
12-27 Anthem with 20 to play!
#MLRStats #MLR2026 #WeAreLegion
Successful Challenges in #MLR's RRS Era:
@anthemrugby.bsky.social: 1 (1/1 - 100%)
#CaliforniaLegion: 0 (0/1 - 0%)
This will be monitored throughout the #MLR2026 season.
#MLRStats #MLR
Ryan James picks up his first try of #MLR2026 on the overlap out wide, and the #CaliforniaLegion are back in it!
That's the 13th #MLR try of James' career, and the Legion now trail 12-20 at HT!
#MLRStats #WeAreLegion
The 2nd Overall pick in the 2025 #MLR Collegiate Draft, Campbell Robb, scores in his MLR debut!
@anthemrugby.bsky.social lead the #CaliforniaLegion 5-13!
#MLRStats #MLR2026 #AnthemCountry
Cole Semu records the first try of the #MLR2026 season, and the first points in #CaliforniaLegion history!
It's the 2nd try of his #MLR career!
#MLRStats #WeAreLegion
It's time for #MLR2026 to kick things off! #CaliforniaLegion hosting #AnthemRC
#USMLR #rugby
I'm excited for the #CaliforniaLegion to play their first game, I'm excited to see what @anthemrugby.bsky.social look like this year, I'm excited to see what this season brings...
I'm just so damn excited that #MLR is back!!
www.majorleague.rugby/news/how-to-...
#MLRStats #MLR2026
Just comparing my 'Full Strength' Starting XV's for
@anthemrugby.bsky.social & #CaliforniaLegion now that we have lineups!
Anthem: 7 nailed, 4 more positionally correct (eg. Scott at 4 not 5)
Legion: Only 4 nailed, with 5 positionally correct (wings wrong way round!)
#MLRStats #MLR2026
The #CaliforniaLegion present their first ever lineup for the #MLR2026 opener tomorrow!
No Billy Meakes or Jurie van Vuuren, but Coby Miln earns his #MLR debut at fly-half and they have 3 props on the bench!
The numbering threw me for a second!
#MLRStats #WeAreLegion
As both teams have revealed their matchday 23's for #MLR2026's opening game tomorrow, the #NARDB Matchup has been populated to include both lineups!
The #CaliforniaLegion host @anthemrugby.bsky.social in their first ever #MLR game to kick off the 2026 season!
#MLRStats #WeAreLegion #AnthemCountry
Player Availability Report for Round 1 of #MLR2026:
Unavailable for #CaliforniaLegion:
Billy Meakes
Corbin Smith
Jurie van Vuuren
Unavailable for @anthemrugby.bsky.social:
Junior Gafa
#CALvARC #MLRStats
www.majorleague.rugby/2026-player-...
