The 2023 Major League Rugby season was the sixth season of Major League Rugby, the professional rugby union competition sanctioned by USA Rugby. The regular season began on February 17, 2023.
The Chicago Hounds made their debut this season, while the Austin Gilgronis and LA Giltinis withdrew from the competition. This left a total of 12 teams competing; 6 teams in each conference, with the Chicago Hounds added to the Western Conference.
Teams and format
The 12 teams contested the regular season, with 6 in each of the Eastern and Western Conferences. Each club played two games against each of the other five clubs in their conference (one at home and one away each) and one game against each of the six clubs in the other conference.
Conference rankings at the end of the regular season determined each team's placement in the post season, known as the Championship Series:
- Teams ranked 2nd in their conference hosted the team ranked 3rd, as part of the Eliminators.
- The team in the conference ranked 1st received a bye, and hosted the winner of their conference's Eliminator, to determine the Conference champion.
- Both Conference champions then contested the Championship final, held at SeatGeek Stadium in Chicagoland on July 8, 2023. The winners of the Championship final lifted the MLR Shield and became the 2023 Major League Rugby Champions.
Regular season
The regular season consisted of 18 weeks, with each team playing 16 matches, beginning on February 17, 2023, and ending on June 18.
Standings
Matches
The following are the match results for the 2023 Major League Rugby regular season:
Updated to match(es) played on June 18, 2023
Colors: Blue: home team win; Yellow: draw; Red: away team win.
Scheduled matches
Week 1 (February 17–19)
Week 2 (February 24–26)
Week 3 (March 3–5)
Week 4 (March 11–12)
Week 5 (March 18–19)
Week 6 (March 25–26)
Week 7 (March 31 – April 2)
Week 8 (April 8)
Week 9 (April 15–16)
Week 10 (April 22–23)
Week 11 (April 28–30)
Week 12 (May 6–7)
Week 13 (May 12–14)
Week 14 (May 18–21)
Week 15 (May 27–28)
Week 16 (June 2–4)
Week 17 (June 9–11)
Week 18 (June 17–18)
Championship Series
Bracket
Eliminators (June 24–25)
Conference finals (July 1–2)
Championship final (July 8)
Player statistics
Top scorers
The top ten try and point scorers during the 2023 Major League Rugby season are:
Last updated: July 11, 2023
MLR awards the try scorer 7 points when there is an Automatic Conversion (The ball is touched down between the post in the in-goal area).
Sanctions
Last updated: May 11, 2023
End of Season Awards
Notes
References
