Major League Rugby turns on a full round of matches this weekend starting with the Atlanta Renegades taking on NOVA of Northern Virginia.

NOVA has been in a downward spiral going 0-3 in MLR match play with no points on the Group Three Merit table and things won't get any easier for them on the road this weekend. Atlanta's new captain Spencer Maggard, formerly of the Gentlemen of Aspen, has the Gades fired up for the their first match of the fall season and the club has added former NPC eightman Richard Watson. Scioto Valley has already clinched the Cup in Group Three, but the Renegades could secure a berth in November's MLR Plate Championship Tournament with a victory this weekend. With a win and a bonus point, NOVA would surpass Atlanta in the Group Three standings.

The Tempe Old Devils took their medicine in a narrow 30-26 loss to underdog El Paso in Texas last weekend and this quick turnaround match gives them a chance to purge a bitter pill. The Group Seven Merit table is packed tighter than Anna Nicole's blue jeans and the winner of this match will jump past Dallas into first place. Idle Dallas (1-0-1) currently leads Group Seven with seven points on the table, El Paso (1-1) sits second with five points. Tempe (0-1-1) has made the most of its winless campaign, squeezing four points out of a loss and a tie.

The Cincinnati Wolfhounds (1-0) lead Group Four with five points, but must win this weekend on the road against the Kansas City RFC to stay at the top. KC (1-1) is nipping at their heels with four points and is the favorite at home. The Wolfhounds bested KCRFC last March by a score of 27-12 and played powerhouse Scioto Valley tough last weekend, losing 23-18.

GOATS tackle the Kansas Jayhawks in another Midwest matchup. GOATS (1-0) are tied with Fort Worth (1-1) atop Group Six with four points, while Kansas has yet to put a point on the Merit table.

New York Athletic Club, MLR's 2001 Cup Champion, will defend the MLR Challenge Cup for the second time in a year against Montauk this weekend in the Hamptons. The Challenge Cup is similar to New Zealand's Ranfurly Shield and is up for grabs every time its holder plays another MLR club. NYAC grabbed the shield in June 2001, beating the Chicago Griffins at USARFU's Club Championship in Pittsburgh.