Lesson 1 of 5 · Learn Major League Rugby
Lesson 1: What Is Major League Rugby and What's the Goal?
Major League Rugby (MLR) is North America's top professional rugby competition. It follows the worldwide Rugby Union rules, with a few special changes to speed up play.
Two teams of 15 players face off on the field at a time. Each team is made up of 8 forwards and 7 backs, and a matchday squad can include up to 8 replacements for a total of 23 players.
The core objective is simple:
- Carry, pass, or kick an oval ball into the opponent's territory
- Score more points than the other team before time runs out
- The team with more points when the final whistle blows wins
A match lasts 80 minutes, split into two 40-minute halves with roughly a 10-minute half-time break. One referee, two assistant referees, and a Television Match Official (TMO) oversee each MLR game.
In regular-season MLR play, a draw is allowed, but playoff and knockout matches use extra time and further tie-breaking to find a winner.