MLR Kickoff

A lot has changed in Austin since Adam Gilchrist acquired the franchise just before season three of Major League Rugby. Dan and Pete sit down with Will Magie to catch up on where things have moved since the season's cancellation, the changes that have been made, and how effective they've been. Sam Harris joins Dan Power to discuss the moving parts of solidifying the squad for season four and the identity that he will look to establish for the Gilgronis when they start pre-season.

Jeff Hassler, for some he's an enigma as a player, one that saw the highest of highs during his tenure at Ospreys in Wales. However, you'll learn from this interview with Pete Steinberg, Hassler is an open book giving you insight on his decision to leave the game of Rugby for an adventure back in the Spring of 2018. He then describes how Phil Mack brought him back to the game and his time in Seattle. On choosing Austin Gilgronis for season 4, it was important for him to play in front of his family.

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As the days count down towards Christmas, more presents for Major League Rugby fans get arrayed around the Christmas Tree.

Commissioner George Killebrew joins the show to reflect upon his first season at the helm of MLR. He's quite honest about what his first season was like and where he sees the growth trajectory. He discusses the decision making process to cancel the first season he led the league and also the difficulties and plans in the current environment. One thing that is not mistakable though is that growth trajectory and the processes the league and its member teams have put in place over the extended off-season.

Dan and Pete then examine the signings throughout the league and the plethora of additions that are starting to be announced for Los Angeles.

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Major League Rugby launched the team kits for the 2021 season, something every single fan base has been champing at the bit for. Dan and Pete examine the offering and pick their favorites.  

Matt Walsh, USA Manager for Paladin Sports comes on the show to discuss the process with the teams and how providing kits for Major League Rugby has shaped the grassroots business of their rugby club clientele in the US. Jonny Craenen a fan artist and massive MLR fan from Europe, talks about how he started designing kits in the midst of quarantine to pass the time. 

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MLR has launched it's league wide grassroots development program and MLR Kickoff continues it's feature of various MLR Development programs. This week Dan and Pete chat with Scott Lawrence, the Head Coach and General Manager of Rugby ATL; and Cory Hector, the Academy Director and assistant coach of Toronto Arrows.

Both teams contribute what are appearing to be explicit themes across the four development programs that MLR Kickoff has featured. How to be additive to the structures currently in place in each region. Scott Lawrence discusses the ideal pathway for players that are looking to MLR and how Rugby ATL supports that through Pathway 404. Cory Hector explains what the Arrows set to accomplish by accentuating the strengths of the system under Rugby Ontario while also filling the gaps for players.

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Although there is an off-season, MLR teams have been hard at work deploying grassroots development programs. This is MLR Kickoff's first look at programs throughout the league with New England and Utah.  

Tom Kindley discusses the deployment of the Free Jacks youth academy initiative that identified 13 sub-regions for development and begun servicing these sub-regions with covid-safe training sessions. Brandon Sparks discusses launching the Warriors senior development side--the Warrior's Selects and how embedded they are with the 1st team to prepare and develop players to compete for Warriors contracts heading into pre-season.  

Following Commissioner Killebrew's State of the League Dan and Pete discuss the first three years of MLR and its growth from when they started working for the league in season 1.

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John Layfield, or the legend JBL, is a WWE hall of fame wrestler. He has spent a career in sports entertainment first as a football player in college and in the NFL briefly with the Raiders and the World League with the San Antonio Rough Riders.  

He discusses how he made his way through the lower ranks of professional wrestling to become WWE's Triple Crown Champion and Grand Slam Champion before he called time on his career. He has been a Rugby philanthropist working with Memphis Inner City Rugby and Play Rugby USA in New York but also establishing Beyond Rugby Bermuda. Layfield discusses the Values of Rugby and the pathway it can provide to young children. 

Then Dan and Pete round out the latest news and notes around Major League Rugby. 

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Major League Rugby has announced the start date for season 4 and has laid down when the Championship Series will take place. An action packed 18 week long schedule with every team playing 16 matches.

Jessamyn McIntyre, sideline presenter for the Seattle Seawolves, and all around Seattle Sports Radio legend joins the show. She discusses her broadcasting journey and the rapid process she implemented to learn the game of Rugby before calling her first match in Season 1. Then she discusses her time as sideline reporter for Washington State Football with stories on Mike Leach and Quarterback Gardiner Minshew.

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The Houston SaberCats made numerous changes heading into season three of Major League Rugby. JT Onyett came on board as team president of the Texas Air Hogs. He joins the show to give an overview from the business side of a Major League Rugby Franchise and how to build an event experience that will create fans for life.

Paul Healy was hired following the interim tenure of Paul Emerick. During Season 3 the team set forth installing new systems. Paul talks about that experience and his player development philosophy.

Sam Windsor joins the show to discuss his evolving roles within the SaberCats beyond that of just a fly-half for the SaberCats. In season one and two as a player-coach, and now in season three working with President JT Onyett.

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Dan and Pete sit down with Robbie Owen to discuss his journey from UPS Stockist to viral Rugby Youtube Content Creator. Pete muses that he became a Patron during the World Cup and mentions how he found out the World Rugby Commentators were sourcing their commentary from Squidge's videos. And then they get into Squidge's most recent video which is about Major League Rugby.

Dani Wexelman, sideline presenter for Major League Rugby joins the show to discuss her own personal Rugby Journey that has spanned over the last 18 months. Then she discusses what it was like riding in a Car with Dan on two separate three and half hour road trips, the second one Dan got lost trying to find a Chick Fil-A.

Intro Music-

Motivate Me by Mixaund | https://mixaund.bandcamp.com

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

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