RUGBY SaberCats open March 2 in realigned 11-team league
Major League Rugby released its schedule for the 2024 season, also revealing a change in league and postseason format.
All 11 franchises will compete in one alignment this year, as opposed to the Eastern Conference and Western Conference split that in 2023 included six teams apiece.
Houston finished third in the Western Conference, going 10-6 during the regular season and edging Utah by three points for the final postseason berth. The Sabercats set a franchise record for victories, falling one match short of a repeat conference championship berth.
The path to the playoffs could be slightly easier, as eight teams will qualify for the championship series. Six qualified last year, led by champion New England, which edged San Diego for the title.
MLR will continue to feature a 16-game schedule with two open weeks. Teams will face six opponents twice, trading home and away games, and four opponents once.
One of the original seven MLR franchises in 2018, Houston opens the 2024 season against New England on March 2 at SaberCats Stadium.
The SaberCats are scheduled to face the Free Jacks, Los Angeles (formerly Rugby ATL), the Dallas Jackals, the Seattle Seawolves, the Utah Warriors and the expansion Miami Sharks twice. They play once against Old Glory D.C., the Chicago Hounds, the San Diego Legion and NOLA Gold.
Two MLR teams, the New York Ironworkers and Toronto Arrows, folded following the 2023 season. The Ironworkers made the playoffs last year.
The SaberCats have resigned several starters from 2023, highlighted by allMLR selections Davy Coetzer and Gideon Van Wyk.
Coetzer, a fly half, ranked second in MLR with 135 points, including 43 successful goal kicks, which ranked third. He returns for his third season with the SaberCats.
Van Wyk, a flanker, was fourth in MLR with 10 tries last season. He returns for a third season in Houston as well.
Center/wing Christian Dyer had nine tries and 15 caps with the SaberCats last year, with fullback Drew Wild, lock Marno Redelinghuys, fullback/wing Gerrie Labuschagne, lock C.C. Mahoni, scrum half Carlo De Nysschen, fullback Line Latu, center Dominic Akina, center Louritz van der Schyff and lock/blindside flanker Emmanuel Albert among the key players back in the fold for 2024.
The SaberCats also made an offseason trade for fly half/right center A.J. Alatimu, who ranked fourth in MLR with 100 points last season and holds the league record for postseason points. Seattle received Joe Taufete’e in return.
Houston recognized 2023 captains Danny Barrett and Dean Muir during the offseason. Both announced their retirement following successful careers.
A two-time Olympian with 54 caps for Team USA, Barrett played two seasons with the SaberCats. Muir spent the past two seasons in Houston as well, earning more than 50 MLR caps and making all-MLR in 2022.