The expanded Major League Rugby kicked off this past weekend, and the message is, in part, there's always room for more.

The expansion team from New York won its opener on the road, showing how there's certainly enough talent to go around. The expansion team from Toronto didn't win, but it was a close one. In fact, every game was close, with all four league games decided by less than a try, with Seattle's 20-18 win over Glendale in a rematch of last season's final headlining the games.

But first, New York. Rugby Union NY took an early lead thanks to a Chris Mattina try and, no surprise here, power around the scrum. Conor Wallace-Sims added a try and a Cathal Marsh conversion and penalty made it 15-0. San Diego replied with a try late in the first half, and then added another. Marsh added a penalty making it 18-14.

San Diego then took the lead with a penalty and a try, but New York put the pressure on, and earned a penalty try that regained the lead for the visitors. And that was it, 25-23.

The Toronto Arrows could quite replicate that result. Home team NOLA Gold ran out to a 24-7 halftime lead and held on 31-26. 

Meanwhile, Houston edged Austin 21-20 in a tight back-and-forth game. The Sabercats were led by a player-of-the-game performance by flyhalf Sam Windsor.

So on to the defending champs. The Seattle Seawolves tout their defense as the "Sea Wall" and it was in evidence Sunday.