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2018 Major League Rugby final
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<h2 id="background">Background</h2> <p><a href="/facts/Major_League_Rugby/6cEXpjAm">Major League Rugby</a> was established in 2017 and began play in April 2018. </p><p>Seattle and Glendale played each other twice during the regular season, with Glendale winning both matches.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1"><sup>1</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="venue">Venue</h2> <p><a href="/facts/Torero_Stadium/zgU9gH1g">Torero Stadium</a>, home field of Major League Rugby team <a href="/facts/San_Diego_Legion/RAT5B90M">San Diego Legion</a>, was selected as the venue for the final before the beginning of the Championship Series playoffs.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a> The stadium with a seating capacity of 6,000 on the campus of the <a href="/facts/University_of_San_Diego/j1I53FIS">University of San Diego</a> is also home to the various athletics teams of the university.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="broadcasting">Broadcasting</h2> <p>The match was broadcast on <a href="/facts/CBS_Sports_Network/Jy2Lj7kt">CBS Sports Network</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> <a href="/facts/Dan_Power/oGfSmIGw">Dan Power</a> served as the <a href="/facts/Play_by_play/ULN8RnUC">play by play</a> commentator for CBS and was joined by color analysts <a href="/facts/Brian_Hightower/Vvo39kr4">Brian Hightower</a> and <a href="/facts/Peter_Steinberg/YRpf7CE9">Peter Steinberg</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="match">Match</h2> <h3>Details</h3> <table><tbody><tr><td></td><td>July 7</td><td><a href="/facts/Glendale_Raptors/lxYXBSmd">Glendale Raptors</a></td><td>19–23</td><td><a href="/facts/Seattle_Seawolves/loefMEGq">Seattle Seawolves</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Torero_Stadium/zgU9gH1g">Torero Stadium</a>, <a href="/facts/San_Diego/YFUP7gB9">San Diego, California</a></td><th rowspan="2"> </th></tr><tr><td></td><td>9:00 pm <a href="/facts/Eastern_Time_Zone/jP4S8j1V">EDT</a> (<a href="/facts/UTC%25E2%2588%259204/Utrd4rFT">UTC−04</a>)</td><td>Try: <a href="/facts/Zach_Fenoglio/uBIhb1dA">Fenoglio</a> (2) 13' c, 50' m<a href="/facts/Bryce_Campbell_(rugby_union)/Ua52wAmg">Campbell</a> 56' cCon: <a href="/facts/Will_Magie/bnHvFpoj">Magie</a> (2/3) 13', 57'</td><td><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180710054704/http://www.americasrugbynews.com/2018/07/08/seawolves-stun-raptors-to-win-inaugural-mlr-title/">Report</a></td><td>Try: <a href="/facts/Ray_Barkwill/2ueE7ht2">Barkwill</a> 23' mRasileka 58' m, <a href="/facts/Riekert_Hattingh/a1TmTQ4C">Hattingh</a> 61' cCon: Smith (1/3) 62'Pen: Smith (2/3) 9', 67'</td><td rowspan="2">Attendance: 2,901Referee: Scott Green <a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> (<a href="/facts/USA_Rugby/Ep9jH9Nc">United States</a>)</td></tr></tbody></table> <table><tbody><tr><td><a href="/facts/Glendale_Raptors/lxYXBSmd">Glendale Raptors</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Seattle_Seawolves/loefMEGq">Seattle Seawolves</a></td></tr></tbody></table> <table><tbody><tr><th>Team details</th></tr><tr><td><table><tbody><tr><td><table><tbody><tr><th></th><th></th></tr><tr><td>FB</td><td>15</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> Maximo de Achaval</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>RW</td><td>14</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> Harley Davidson</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>OC</td><td>13</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> <a href="/facts/Chad_London/eb088nu1">Chad London</a></td><td></td><td> 46'</td></tr><tr><td>IC</td><td>12</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> <a href="/facts/Bryce_Campbell_(rugby_union)/Ua52wAmg">Bryce Campbell</a></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>LW</td><td>11</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> <a href="/facts/Mika_Kruse/nd383wQd">Mika Kruse</a></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>FH</td><td>10</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> <a href="/facts/Will_Magie/bnHvFpoj">Will Magie</a></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>SH</td><td>9</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> <a href="/facts/Shaun_Davies_(rugby_union)/9JFWTFwN">Shaun Davies</a> (c)</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>N8</td><td>8</td><td><a href="/facts/Australia/qLHpbppq"></a> <a href="/facts/Sam_Figg/7vShDEmz">Sam Figg</a></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>OF</td><td>7</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> <a href="/facts/John_Quill/1cFxlnbR">John Quill</a></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>BF</td><td>6</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> <a href="/facts/Peter_Dahl_(rugby_union)/JGfWt5VE">Peter Dahl</a></td><td></td><td> 57'</td></tr><tr><td>RL</td><td>5</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> <a href="/facts/Ben_Landry/5TcbogGC">Ben Landry</a></td><td></td><td> 57'</td></tr><tr><td>LL</td><td>4</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> Kody O'Neil</td><td></td><td> 62'</td></tr><tr><td>TP</td><td>3</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> Kelepi Fifita</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>HK</td><td>2</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> <a href="/facts/Zach_Fenoglio/uBIhb1dA">Zach Fenoglio</a></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>LP</td><td>1</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> Blake Rogers</td><td></td><td> 68'</td></tr><tr><td colspan="3">Replacements:</td></tr><tr><td>PR</td><td>16</td><td><a href="/facts/Australia/qLHpbppq"></a> <a href="/facts/Luke_White_(rugby_union)/8qJCd1lz">Luke White</a></td><td></td><td> 68'</td></tr><tr><td>PR</td><td>17</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> Nick Kwasniewski</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>HK</td><td>18</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> <a href="/facts/Dylan_Fawsitt/HcYuP5lR">Dylan Fawsitt</a></td><td></td><td> 57'</td></tr><tr><td>LK</td><td>19</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> Connor Cook</td><td></td><td> 62'</td></tr><tr><td>FL</td><td>20</td><td><a href="/facts/Georgia_(country)/ccBF8bBE"></a> <a href="/facts/Grigor_Kerdikoshvili/0Edbwhgw">Grigor Kerdikoshvili</a></td><td></td><td> 57'</td></tr><tr><td>SH</td><td>21</td><td><a href="/facts/New_Zealand/4mpSlJdg"></a> Mickey Bateman</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>CE</td><td>22</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> <a href="/facts/Ata_Malifa/nb8HWTul">Ata Malifa</a></td><td></td><td> 46'</td></tr><tr><td>OB</td><td>23</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> Nick Johnson</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3">Coach:</td></tr><tr><td colspan="4"><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> David Williams</td></tr></tbody></table></td><td><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="4"></td></tr><tr><th></th><th></th></tr><tr><td>FB</td><td>15</td><td><a href="/facts/England/U9mE5bGL"></a> <a href="/facts/Mathew_Turner/KRGecovE">Mathew Turner</a></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>RW</td><td>14</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> Sequoyah Burke-Combs</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>OC</td><td>13</td><td><a href="/facts/Fiji/JU8Hs8WH"></a> William Rasileka</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>IC</td><td>12</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> <a href="/facts/Shalom_Suniula/cqfc7SmS">Shalom Suniula</a> (c)</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>LW</td><td>11</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> <a href="/facts/Peter_Tiberio/fV3Rs9Sq">Peter Tiberio</a></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>FH</td><td>10</td><td><a href="/facts/Australia/qLHpbppq"></a> Peter Smith</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>SH</td><td>9</td><td><a href="/facts/Canada/D5P9yqs6"></a> <a href="/facts/Phil_Mack/TaPqRBJx">Phil Mack</a></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>N8</td><td>8</td><td><a href="/facts/South_Africa/vvXQpLgq"></a> <a href="/facts/Riekert_Hattingh/a1TmTQ4C">Riekert Hattingh</a></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>OF</td><td>7</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> <a href="/facts/Vili_Toluta%25CA%25BBu/mKa0mgPt">Vili Tolutaʻu</a></td><td></td><td> 76'</td></tr><tr><td>BF</td><td>6</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> Eric Duechle</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>RL</td><td>5</td><td><a href="/facts/Canada/D5P9yqs6"></a> <a href="/facts/Cam_Polson/dHQDrKLF">Cam Polson</a></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>LL</td><td>4</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> Taylor Krumrei</td><td></td><td> 57'</td></tr><tr><td>TP</td><td>3</td><td><a href="/facts/Australia/qLHpbppq"></a> <a href="/facts/Tim_Metcher/RV8EmXYV">Tim Metcher</a></td><td></td><td> 59'</td></tr><tr><td>HK</td><td>2</td><td><a href="/facts/Canada/D5P9yqs6"></a> <a href="/facts/Ray_Barkwill/2ueE7ht2">Ray Barkwill</a></td><td></td><td> 62'</td></tr><tr><td>LP</td><td>1</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> <a href="/facts/Olive_Kilifi/8VvIaVXL">Olive Kilifi</a></td><td></td><td> 57'</td></tr><tr><td colspan="3">Replacements:</td></tr><tr><td>HK</td><td>16</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> Mike Shepherd</td><td></td><td> 62'</td></tr><tr><td>PR</td><td>17</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> John Hayden</td><td></td><td> 59'</td></tr><tr><td>PR</td><td>18</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> Kellen Gordon</td><td></td><td> 57'</td></tr><tr><td>LK</td><td>19</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> Cole van Harn</td><td></td><td> 76'</td></tr><tr><td>LF</td><td>20</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> <a href="/facts/Aladdin_Schirmer/xHUYnDaJ">Aladdin Schirmer</a></td><td></td><td> 57'</td></tr><tr><td>FL</td><td>21</td><td><a href="/facts/South_Korea/pCobAaVw"></a> <a href="/facts/Andre_Coquillard/1l2fmqPI">Andre Coquillard</a></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>OB</td><td>22</td><td><a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5"></a> Jeremy Misailegalu</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>OB</td><td>23</td><td><a href="/facts/Canada/D5P9yqs6"></a> <a href="/facts/Mozac_Samson/BcDpEhad">Mozac Samson</a></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3">Coach:</td></tr><tr><td colspan="4"><a href="/facts/Canada/D5P9yqs6"></a> <a href="/facts/Phil_Mack/TaPqRBJx">Phil Mack</a></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Most Valuable Player:<a href="/facts/Vili_Toluta%25CA%25BBu/mKa0mgPt">Vili Tolutaʻu</a> (Seattle)</p><p>Assistant Referees: Adam Leal (<a href="/facts/Rugby_Football_Union/WMvpzQC2">England</a>) Derek Summers (<a href="/facts/USA_Rugby/Ep9jH9Nc">United States</a>)Television Match Official: Marc Nelson (<a href="/facts/USA_Rugby/Ep9jH9Nc">United States</a>)</p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table> <h3>Highlights</h3> <p>The champion Seattle Seawolves was awarded the "America's Championship Shield", an oversized 80-pound (36 kg) metal shield of the MLR logo, which they hoisted. Seawolves <a href="/facts/Flanker_(rugby_union)/vk4hDuD5">flanker</a> <a href="/facts/Vili_Toluta%25CA%25BBu/mKa0mgPt">Vili Tolutaʻu</a> was named the MLR Championship Series "<a href="/facts/Most_valuable_player/QI7y6eDU">MVP</a>", equivalent to <a href="/facts/Man_of_the_match/jlIfHUde">man of the match</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> For his efforts, he received a <i><a href="/facts/Shinola_Detroit/jJG2Qbbe">Shinola Detroit</a></i> American Made watch. </p> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>"Seattle Seawolves use big second half to beat San Diego 38-24 for shot at Major League Rugby title". The Seattle Times. June 30, 2018. Retrieved July 6, 2018. <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/other-sports/seattle-seawolves-use-big-second-half-to-beat-san-diego-38-24-for-shot-at-major-league-rugby/" target="_blank">https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/other-sports/seattle-seawolves-use-big-second-half-to-beat-san-diego-38-24-for-shot-at-major-league-rugby/</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Leonard, Tod (July 6, 2018). "In San Diego for title match, Major League Rugby reflects on inaugural season, future". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved July 6, 2018. <a href="http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/sd-sp-major-league-rugby-championship-inaugural-season-future-20180705-story.html" target="_blank">http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/sd-sp-major-league-rugby-championship-inaugural-season-future-20180705-story.html</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Leonard, Tod (July 6, 2018). "In San Diego for title match, Major League Rugby reflects on inaugural season, future". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved July 6, 2018. <a href="http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/sd-sp-major-league-rugby-championship-inaugural-season-future-20180705-story.html" target="_blank">http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/sd-sp-major-league-rugby-championship-inaugural-season-future-20180705-story.html</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Benjamin, Cody (July 6, 2018). "Major League Rugby Championship: How to watch Seattle Seawolves vs. Glendale Raptors". CBS Sports. Retrieved July 6, 2018. <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/general/news/major-league-rugby-championship-how-to-watch-seattle-seawolves-vs-glendale-raptors/" target="_blank">https://www.cbssports.com/general/news/major-league-rugby-championship-how-to-watch-seattle-seawolves-vs-glendale-raptors/</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>Benjamin, Cody (July 6, 2018). "Major League Rugby Championship: How to watch Seattle Seawolves vs. Glendale Raptors". CBS Sports. Retrieved July 6, 2018. <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/general/news/major-league-rugby-championship-how-to-watch-seattle-seawolves-vs-glendale-raptors/" target="_blank">https://www.cbssports.com/general/news/major-league-rugby-championship-how-to-watch-seattle-seawolves-vs-glendale-raptors/</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>"Seawolves stun Raptors to win inaugural MLR title". Americas Rugby News. 2018-07-08. Archived from the original on 2018-07-10. Retrieved 2018-07-10. <a href="https://www.americasrugbynews.com/2018/07/08/seawolves-stun-raptors-to-win-inaugural-mlr-title/" target="_blank">https://www.americasrugbynews.com/2018/07/08/seawolves-stun-raptors-to-win-inaugural-mlr-title/</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>Strickler, Colton (July 8, 2018). "Big Second Half Propels Seawolves Over Raptors in Inaugural MLR Championship". Major League Rugby. Retrieved October 4, 2018. <a href="https://www.usmlr.com/news/big-second-half-propels-seawolves-over-raptors-in-inaugural-mlr-championship" target="_blank">https://www.usmlr.com/news/big-second-half-propels-seawolves-over-raptors-in-inaugural-mlr-championship</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>