The Old Mate remains with Chicago who seem to be getting very comfortable with it. However, this week the broadcast cut before the fan celebration again. As a demonstration of rugby culture, can we make sure this gets on broadcast every week? Ideally with fans from both teams sharing a drink! #mlr2026
Can you beat this open and honest discussion about some key MLR topics including RRS and state of the business? youtu.be/Is1kGeB01… #mlr2026
Old Mate remains with Chicago, and now travels with them to California, hoping to tie up their longest previous reign of 5 defenses (2025 week 3->week 9). California is aiming to take it back from Chicago after losing it to them in week 3 of this season! #mlr2026
Less than 36 hours to get your picks in: rangerpicks.rugby/week6
Old Mate stays with Chicago. OGDC will travel to Chicago to challenge for it. Old Glory have only won the lineal title one time, way back in week 2 of 2024 when they took it from New England. 2 unsuccessful challenges since then - the most recent against Chicago in week 5 of 2025. #mlr2026
Left family vacation early, drove 280 miles, 5 hours and 5 states to get to the @nefreejacks match! Huzzah! #LetsRide #mlr2026
Old Mate will now travel to Seattle with Chicago. Seattle have won it 7 times, with 8 failed challenges. The last time Seattle challenged Chicago for it, they won 28-22 in week 10 of 2025. They most recently lost it to New England in week 16 of that season after taking it back from Houston the prior week.
Ranger Picks Calendars are updated after Chicago Hounds announced some schedule changes for the upcoming Sunday Night Rugby.
The Old Mate stays with Chicago. I did manage to get a picture with it though.
🔥 OLD MATE CHAOS REPORT 🔥
How wild has the Major League Rugby Old Mate Challenge Cup really been?
Since the beginning of the league, runs of consecutive successful challenges have happened:
🥄 14 times — One-and-done chaos ⚔️ 6 times — Back-to-back takeovers 🔥 5 times — Three straight weeks of madness 👑 1 time — FOUR straight successful challenges
And that legendary 4-match streak?
📜 It happened in the very first weeks of MLR history.
The cup started life with absolute anarchy before anyone could hold onto it.
#OldMate #MLR2026
The Old Mate travels to Nashville this weekend! Can Chicago hold it or will New England force it to change hands for the 3rd time this season in only week 4?
#mlr2026 #rugby
Not without some hiccups but Sunday Night Rugby on ESPN was awesome. Technical difficulties handled with some seasoned announcers coming off the bench. #mlr2026 usmlr
And the Hounds take the Old Mate from California Legion on Legion’s first ever defense. This cup likes to move around! #mlr2026 #rugby
This post has a limited audience. Possibly only me. I created a TRMNL plugin for tracking the Old Mate. Get it here: trmnl.com/recipes/2…
You can now trace the MLR Supporters Challenge Cup history directly on the MLR website! #MLR2026 is shaping up awesome
Chicago Hounds have only won The Old Mate once when they took it from New England Free Jacks in week 3 of the 2025 season after 5 failed challenges across 2023 and 2024. They held it until Seattle took it from them in week 10. Will they get it back on #MLR2026 Sunday Night Rugby this week? #rugby
The Old Mate is a hot potato.
36% of holders lose it immediately, and most teams don’t survive more than a couple of defenses.
If you’ve got it, it probably won’t be yours for long. We’ll be watching California Legion! #MLR2026
Congrats to Legion for winning the Old Mate from the Free Jacks. The Old Mate is next up for challenge by Chicago Hounds next week! The Hounds previously held it for a streak of 5 matches in 2025 winning in week 3 from the Free Jacks https://oldmate.rugby
Eight clubs claimed the Old Mate on their very 1st challenge, and 3 more got there on their 2nd try.
But not everyone had an easy path: Old Glory needed four shots, Chicago needed 6, and Houston had to wait 7 challenge matches before finally getting their hands on it. California Legion has an opportunity to join the 1st attempt club.
The MLR Supporters Challenge Cup has already produced:
- 124 completed title matches
- 14 teams to win it at least once
- 47 separate reigns
- 2 current teams still waiting for their first hold
San Diego, Seattle, and New England are the big three of this hidden history. Match number 125 coming up!
In addition to Ranger Picks I also play @TheFantasyRuckers and their Weekly Challenge. Here’s my lineup for MLR Week 2:
