Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Major League Rugby has confirmed a new divisional re-alignment for the 2024 season. As expected the league will split into three, with a new Central division joining the East and West. The divisions are split according to time zone.
San Diego, Utah, and Seattle stay in the West with the new Los Angeles team relocating from former East team Atlanta. The new-look East will see four returnees in Toronto, New England, New York, and DC joined by newcomers Miami. Comprising the Central division are Chicago, Dallas, and Houston from last year’s West, and NOLA from the East.
There is no change to the length of season with each team playing 16 regular season games. Teams will play their divisional rivals twice, and each other team at least once. Of note, however, is the addition of a full Quarter Final round in the post-season, removing the bye week for the top two teams. It means 8 of the 13 teams will make the playoffs instead of 6 this past year.
Also different is the post-season qualification criteria. The three divisional winners will be bracketed as the top three seeds, but the other five spots will be determined based on overall standing. In theory it means all four teams in a division could make the playoffs.
MLR has yet to release the new schedule but ARN understands the regular season will kick off on the first weekend of March in 2024. The first round of the playoffs will be in early July, followed by a two-week pause for internationals. August 3 is the date earmarked for the Championship Final.
