NEW YORK, NY -Energized by the Autumn Test Series, our eclectic panel attacks the rugby week - and each other - with a fan's fervor and passion. In the process, a naughty JBL has his mic muted three times - a record for The Rugby Odds...Featuring #WWE Hall of Famer/Rugby-Advocate John Bradshaw Layfield, Irish legend George Hook, world class coach M…

SAN DIEGO, CA - Rumors and click-bait stories can often spiral chaotically out of hand. We know this, yet we're all complicit because some things we want to believe to be true. This applies to 2-time World Rugby 7s Player of the Year, Perry Baker. So MLR Weekly kicked down the Rumor Mill door for an interview that addresses all the gossip and innue…

NEW YORK, NY - With another attention-grabbing weekend of International Tests both behind us and before us, The Rugby Odds crew is particularly fired-up. Is rugby's Armageddon on the horizon? Are the World Rugby election results more of a worry that the IPL rugby rumors? What matches and players stood out? Who will win this week? Our worldly panel …

The Rugby Odds: Schmidt's Brain Transplant, England's End, Fightin' Fijians, Players of the WeekPor Matt McCarthy

MLR Weekly: Mike Anderson Growing Rugby in Black Communities, USA Men's Nail-biter, MLR News, RumorsPor Matt McCarthy

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - The change of the clocks and Autumn Internationals rugby marks a great time of the year... and signals that MLR 2025 will be here before we know it. But worry not, MLR Weekly will keep you informed and ready. This week, we hear from Utah Warriors Co-Founder/CEO Kimball Kjar and Army Head Coach Matt Sherman. Back in their recurr…

NEW YORK, NY – The Autumn Internationals are kicking and some see them merely as disruptors of professional rugby. The Rugby Odds panelists take on that hot-top, plus what's listed below. This all happens in a cracking 24 minutes and features WWE Hall of Famer/rugby-advocate John Bradshaw Layfield, Irish legend George Hook, world class coach Mike F…

NEW YORK, NY - In this MLR Weekly, a man wearing key hats on the American rugby landscape, Scott Lawrence, talks about his role in pointing the USA Men's 15s program in the right direction. As GM & Head Coach of the Eagles, along with duties running Major League Rugby's Carolina Anthem (a team co-owned by World Rugby), Lawrence is as busy as busy g…

DALLAS, TX - Sam Golla, the 2022 #1 pick in the Major League Rugby Draft (out Cal), is a special person. That is abundantly clear in this week's edition of MLR Weekly. Passionate and resolute, Golla gives his version of what went down in Dallas, his move to the Anthem and his dedication to USA Rugby's Eagles.... Also on this week, Steve "Duma" John…

NEW YORK, NY – With the United Rugby Championship, Premiership and Top14 now officially in full swing, The Rugby Odds crew is in peak form. Our out-going and eclectic panel of #WWE Hall of Famer/Rugby Advocate John Bradshaw Layfield, Irish legend George Hook, ex-USA Rugby 7s Head Coach Mike Friday, King Gift Egbelu, Steve “The Lizard” Lewis and Mat…

NEW YORK, NY - What a weekend in global rugby! From record crowds (Leinster vs Munster), to historic wins (Harlequins over Saracens) and entertaining battles in the WXV1, our "special panel has those topics - and more - covered. Featuring WWE Hall of Famer John Bradshaw Layfield, USA Rugby 7s Head Coach Mike Friday, Irish legend George Hook, King G…

SEATTLE, WA - This week we go from coast to coast, with MRL Weekly guests from the Pacific Northwest and New England. Seattle Seawolves Director of Rugby/Head Coach Allen Clarke and New England Free Jacks GM Tom Kindley answer a wide range of questions, including roster change-over, surprise player decisions and American players to the Carolina Ant…

DALLAS, TX - We're back in full swing and this MLR Weekly features 3 segments over 24 minutes.MLR Commissioner Nic Benson re:-Dallas demise and possible return-Potential impact of World Rugby elections on the Carolina Anthem-New teams-How much you need to buy and run a team-The path to profit. The league owners continue operating at a loss-Schedule…

NEW YORK, NY – Another great weekend of rugby is in the books, and another looms. Our eclectic panel, elevated by ex-USA Rugby 7s Head Coach Mike Friday, and including #WWE Hall of Famer/Rugby Advocate John Bradshaw Layfield, Irish legend George Hook, King Gift Egbelu, Steve “The Lizard” Lewis and Matt “Money” McCarthy, have it all covered with [ar…

NEW YORK, NY – A history-making weekend of rugby has our staff, bolstered by ex-USA Rugby 7s Head Coach Mike Friday, all fired up. So much so, that #WWE Hall of Famer/Rugby Advocate John Bradshaw Layfield chimes in from Yosemite National Park - just before his "bear incident." Irish legend George Hook, King Gift Egbelu, Steve "The Lizard" Lewis and…

NEW YORK, NY - We're back after a mini MLR Weekly vacation, and boy, there's a lot to cover. With that, Old Glory D.C. Owner Paul Sheehy and new San Diego Legion Head Coach, John Manenti offer there thoughts and perspectives. Also, John Fitzpatrick of Rugby Morning has MLR news and rumors [Antoine Dupont], along with his usual "je ne sais quoi."And…

Matt and Zach are joined this week by YSC Rugby's Wendy Young to talk all things WXV, the massive international women's rugby competition that kicks off this weekend.-Is this England's tournament to lose?-What are we hoping to see from the US in the WXV1 tier?-Can Canada continue to be 'giant killers' on the international stage?-Does Australia have…

NEW YORK, NY – With a ton of rugby suddenly upon us, including the URC, Premiership, WXV and suddenly wild TRC, our eclectic panel of #WWE Hall of Famer/Rugby Advocate John Bradshaw Layfield, Irish legend George Hook, King Gift Egbelu, Steve “The Lizard” Lewis and Matt “Money” McCarthy. has their hands full. See what they drop in 24 total minutes. …

NEW YORK, NY - Hard to believe, but here we are - Season 5, Episode 1 of The Rugby Odds. Time is flying by, so let's slow it down via our eclectic panel of #WWE Hall of Famer/Rugby Advocate John Bradshaw Layfield, Irish legend George Hook, King Gift Egbelu, Steve "The Lizard" Lewis and Matt "Money" McCarthy. 24 total minutes.INCLUDED:URC/Premiershi…

Welcome to Rugby Wrap Up Raw; the global rugby podcast. No bells. No whistles. Raw.Episode 2 Includes:-URC Preview-Dallas Out of MLR?-Pacific Nations Cup Recap-Women’s Internationals Recap-#WPL Final WER Legacy Cup Results-#Top14 RecapWith Zach Lanning and Matt McCarthyPor Matt McCarthy

CHICAGO, IL - In continuing our MLR Weekly Owner Series, this week we've got not one, but two Major League Rugby owners to join us. First-up is Ryan Patterson, Chairman of the MLR Board of Directors and owner of the San Diego Legion. Peter Bernick, the Chicago Hounds' owner, follows. Both are equally informative and transparent, answering all quest…

Rugby Wrap Up, the mother ship, has returned. Unplugged. Raw. No Bells. No Whistles.Welcome to Rugby Wrap Up Raw.Rugby Wrap Up, which is now the platform for shows like The Rugby Odds, MLR Weekly and College Rugby Wrap Up, is now back as a show/pod, our original flagship podcast, adding to our already robust roster of great rugby content.In this ep…

HOUSTON, TX - Continuing our conversations with MLR owners, this week's episode of MLR Weekly welcomes in Houston SaberCats co-owner Marty Power, who is refreshingly transparent and willing to offer an opinion or two... From starting out as a Massachusetts accountant, it was ballet (yes, ballet) and the Houston oil business that put Power on his ru…

NEW YORK, NY - From the MLR Draft to Major League Rugby players partaking in the Rugby Town 7s, this MLR Weekly show has Old Glory DC Co-Owner Chris Dunlavey, Rugby Czar Steve Lewis (who was coaching at the Rugby Town 7s and is a National Collegiate Rugby board member) and rugby savant John Fitzpatrick of Rugby Morning, joining host Matt McCarthy t…

NEW YORK, NY - Now that the curtain has been drawn on the Major League Rugby 2024 campaign, we are in a place of reflection and looking ahead. With that, this MLR Weekly episode features New England Free Jacks owner Errik Anderson, and Seattle Seawolves hooker Joe Taufete'e. INCLUDED WITH ANDERSON:-Stunning Coaching Change-Price of Success-Number o…

NEW YORK, NY - With the Major League Rugby season ending with a record crowd in San Diego, the kickoffs of The Rugby Championship & NPC upon us, and the aftermath of the Olympics, there is plenty of rugby to talk about. Not that our eclectic The Rugby Odds All-Star panel of WWE Hall of Famer/Rugby Advocate John Bradshaw Layfield, Irish legend Georg…

QUINCY, MA - This quaint New England town in the shadows of Boston started shaking Monday night, and it hasn't stopped. "Earthquake?" you ask? No - not in the traditional sense. These tremors are the aftershocks of the New England Free Jacks rocking the rugby world by returning home with their 2nd consecutive Major League Rugby Shield. It began wit…

PARIS, FRANCE - Having the City of Lights as the locale for a MLR Weekly show, is as rare as a USA Rugby side winning a medal at the Olympics... Wait! You see what we did there? With that, we talk about that, followed by a great chat with MLR Eastern Champion Head Coach, Scott Mathie of New England.ALSO INCLUDED:-Cam Moody of the Can-Am Rugby Tourn…

PARIS, FRANCE - Need to get the likes of WWE Hall of Famer/Rugby Advocate John Bradshaw Layfied, Irish legend George Hook, King Gift Egbelu and Steve "The Lizard" Lewis riled up? Just have host Matt McCarthy fire questions at them re:USA Olympic BronzeMLR FinalsDupont Revolutionizing RugbyCanadian GoldThe Rugby Championship7s vs 15sSan Diego Surfer…

PARIS, FRANCE - Would you expect us to be anywhere else? Oui, mais non. That's French for "Yes, but no." This week's The Rugby Odds has a lot of that kind of stuff in it, and is easily one of our most fun and entertaining shows. Featuring WWE God/turned rugby advocate John Bradshaw Layfield, Irish legend George Hook, King Gift Egbelu, Proxy Steve L…

SEATTLE, WA - It's a familiar story in the 7 seasons of Major League Rugby: The Seattle Seawolves are in the MLR Shield hunt. With that, we have our favorite farmer, Seattle Owner Adrian Balfour in this MLR Weekly episode. He talks about the team, but also about MLR expansion, 2031 Rugby World Cup cities, and new technology for fans.ALSO INCLUDED:-…

SAN DIEGO, CA - With the International Tests now in the rear-view mirror, it's time for some Major League Rugby postseason action. 8 teams have a shot at the Shield, and MLR Weekly will be with you through it all... With that San Diego Director of Rugby/Head Coach, Danny Lee, talks about the upcoming battle vs the vaunted Seawolves, managing the tw…

NEW YORK, NY - We're back from a week's vacation... well most of The Rugby Odds staff is at least. Regardless of who may or may not have gotten the memo that we were back at it, the panel of WWE Hall of Famer-turned-rugby-advocate John Bradshaw Layfield, Irish legend George Hook, King Gift Egbelu, Proxy Steve Lewis and host Matt McCarthy entertain …

WASHINGTON, DC - It is hotter than Hades along the eastern seaboard in the United States. And it will only get hotter, when a loaded Scotland team squares off vs Team USA, here in the nation's capital. And while the MLR may be off before resuming with Round 1 of their postseason, their teams are still impacted. One such team is the NOLA Gold, and H…

NEW YORK, NY - This week's The Rugby Odds has all the usual great elements, but also has some hard-to-hear commentary on diversity by WWE Hall of Famer John Bradshaw Layfield, who is a staunch rugby advocate.On the lighter side, Irish legend George Hook slams host Matt McCarthy, while King Gift Egbelu changes alliances at the drop of a hat.INCLUDED…

WASHINGTON, D.C. - After a wild final round of Major League Rugby, this is a chock-full MLR Weekly show. And with our host at the exciting Old Glory vs NOLA match, we were able to catch up with D.C. Head Coach Simon Cross post-match. We were also able to get exclusive footage of the Gold at the Captain's Run and training in the hotel parking lot. A…

"I want my face on The Rugby Odds." - M. ZuckerbergNEW YORK, NY - After calamitous chaos on the set, with panelists disappearing/reappearing, this week's The Rugby Odds is especially entertaining. It's also the start of a joke that's writing itself: "A Nigerian in Brazil, a Texan in D.C., & an impatient Scotsman walk into a New Yorker's rugby studi…

HOUSTON, TX - The mercury continues to rise, as do Major League Rugby teams nobody picked for the postseason. At the top of the table, however, stands one of the preseason favorites, the Houston SaberCats. Heyneke Myer, their Director of Rugby with the stellar CV/resume, is the main reason MLR Weekly rated them so high. In this exclusive with Matt …

NEW YORK, NY - This week's The Rugby Odds has fire. What else could one expect with WWE Hall of Famer/turned rugby advocate John Bradshaw Layfield and host Matt McCarthy doing business while having to keep/break the peace between Irish legend George Hook and Glaswegian Steve Lewis, King Gift Egbelu's proxy.INCLUDED:32-28 RecordThe Titanic & RugbyGl…

CHICAGO, IL - After a sizzling (literally) week with a zillion (figuratively) story-lines, the most poignant of the off-field events was the dismissal of Chicago Head Coach Sam Harris. In an exclusive with MLR Weekly, CEO/GM James English addresses that, as well as the direction, expectations and course for the Hounds going forward.ALSO INCLUDED: -…

NEW ORLEANS, LA - Pigs are flyin' by the MLR Weekly corner office windows. Snowballs are being thrown in Hades. Democrats and Republics are hugging. AND... the NOLA Gold are in the playoffs! That's right, for the first time in 7 seasons there is a different feeling in The Big Easy and the only GM in NOLA's history - Ryan Fitzgerald - talks about th…

Professional rugby is at its collective global peak, and our spelunking rugby mountaineer panel has it all succinctly navigated for you in an unimaginable 24 minutes. #WWE "God" (turned rugby advocate) John Bradshaw Layfield, Irish legend George Hook and King Gift Egbelu's proxy/host Matt "Money" McCarthy do the heavy lifting, so you don't have to.…

NEW YORK, NY - This week's The Rugby Odds took a different path at the head of the show. One you'll want to see, re diversity, or the lack thereof - and the byproduct of under-utilizing a plentiful resource. From there, George Hook joins WWE Hall of Famer/turned rugby advocate John Bradshaw Layfield, King Gift Egbelu's proxy Steve Lewis and host Ma…

MADRID, SPAIN - What does USA 7s have to do with a MLR Weeky show? Potentially plenty. With that, USA Men's 7s Head Coach Mike Friday covers a wide range of topics including:-7s players in Major League Rugby, -Synergy between USA Rugby, -Utilizing the MLR's Anthem franchise-The ability to go from 15s to 7s-Expectations for the Olympics-Poor Format …

NEW ORLEANS, LA - It's hot. So are the NOLA Gold. Red-hot and on 4-game winning streak. One big reason for that has been the stellar play of Taniela Filimone, a budding star. We learn more about him and his story on MLR Weekly, via his chat with Matt McCarthy.ALSO INCLUDED: -John Fitzpatrick of Rugby Morning-Bryan Ray of Americas Rugby News-Picks o…

COSTA RICA - With all that's going on in rugby, we needed some help. To the rescue came vacationing WWE "God" & rugby advocate, John Bradshaw Layfield, who enlisted his proxy/caddy Steve "The Lizard" Lewis, to offer insight and insults from his Costa Rican lair. Along with Irish legend George Hook, King Gift Egbelu (Rugby's Yogi Berra) and host Mat…

NEW YORK, NY - The Champions Cup and Challenge Cup finals are here at long last, so too is the Japan Rugby League One final. Super Rugby is gearing up for its post-season in fine fashion and the NRL has some key matches this weekend as well. With that, The Rugby Odds panel of #WWE "God" (turned rugby advocate) John Bradshaw Layfield, Irish legend G…

NEW YORK, NY - If you're in the Big Apple and you're a rugby fan, you are likely to stop at the Pig N Whistle on West 36th Street. It could be to watch rugby, or to get to a happy place amongst the bustle. You may even run into a rugby star or honcho, to boot. Alan Gilpin, CEO of World Rugby, is a honcho's honcho. He's a big deal. He's also refresh…

QUINCY, MA - As the Major League Rugby season flies by, injuries mount, and depth is put to the test, (as is our MLR Weekly staff). When you're the reigning champs, though everyone is gunning for you. The New England Free Jacks are dealing with that now, as their injured list of stars grows. Head Coach Scott Mathie talks about navigating though it …