‍📰 HEADLINES

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MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY

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Honors: First XV Week 14 (Major League Rugby)

• Takeaway: As MLR Stats guru James Deeley pointed out yesterday, eight new players, including Miami Sharks lock Rick Rose, were named to the MLR First XV in Week 14.

• Player of the Week: Old Glory DC prop Steven Longwell earned Player of the Week honors after becoming the first prop in MLR history to score a hat trick. 

• Team of the Week: RFC Los Angeles earned Team of the Week honors. 

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‍New Signing: Wallaby Henry Speight Signs with RFCLA for Remainder of the Season (RugbyFCLA)

• Takeaway: 36-year-old center/wing Henry Speight, who earned 19 caps for Australia and made 122 appearances in Super Rugby, signed with RFC Los Angeles. 

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RUGBY WORLD CUP

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Qualification Process: Rugby World Cup 2027 Qualifying Pathway Shakeup (Americas Rugby News)

• Takeaway: ARN's Paul Tait shared that World Rugby will alter the qualifying pathway for Rugby World Cup 2027, which will expand from 20 to 24 teams. 

• Who's In: 12 teams have already qualified for RWC27 - the teams that finished first, second, or third in their respective pools at the last RWC. 

• Who's Next: The 10 regional qualifier winners. 

• Who's Left: Two additional spots to be "determined via interregional playoff matches."

• Men's Eagles: South America 1 qualifier and North America 1 qualifier is out. In its place is a combined region featuring Americas & Oceania, via the Pacific Nations Cup, with the top three - likely Samoa, Tonga, and USA because Fiji and Japan have already qualified - advancing to RWC 2027. 

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📊 MLR POWER RANKINGS

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The Rankings:The Houston SaberCats became the first team to clinch a spot in the playoffs and retained the No.1 seed in the MLR Power Rankings.

1. Houston SaberCats
2. Seattle Seawolves
3. San Diego Legion
4. New England Free Jacks (+1)
5. Chicago Hounds (+1)
6. NOLA Gold (-2)
7. Dallas Jackals
8. Old Glory DC
9. RFCLA (+2)
10. Utah Warriors
11. Miami Sharks (-2)
12. Anthem RC

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🏉 QUICK HITS

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Canada: 28 Players Named to Women's Canada Selects Squad for Spain Tour (Rugby Canada)

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‍High School Rugby: Boys HS Club Top 50 Week 20 (Goff Rugby Report)

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‍High School Rugby: Girls HS Rankings May 2024 (Goff Rugby Report)

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‍High School Rugby: Detroit Central Catholic to Face Traverse City in Michigan Final (Goff Rugby Report)

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‍Melbourne Rebels:Sir John Kirwan Proposes Radical 'Heineken Cup-style' Competition after Rebels' Super Rugby Pacific Demise(Planet Rugby)