DALLAS (March 10, 2021) — Major League Rugby (MLR) is taking a number of proactive steps to protect the health of both the players and staff as the 2021 MLR season kicks off on March 20. The League has joined forces with Optrel to provide N95 masks for all MLR teams and will be using MyLabs for players, staff, and officials testing throughout the pre-season and 2021 season.

The League’s medical committee set rugby centric COVID policies to ensure the health and safety of all involved in the 2021 season. All MLR players and team staff, designated as Tier 1 individuals, are required to complete daily symptom questionnaires on the MyLabs App prior to leaving for training and temperature checks are required before entering team facilities. Tier 1 individuals are tested regularly using the MyLabs RT-PCR test and anyone with a positive test is quarantined and monitored appropriately.

In addition to the League COVID policies, each team is responsible for establishing their own social agreement that incorporates the culture of the team, and follows CDC, local and state guidelines for professional sport. Team social agreements cover areas including social distancing, hygiene, cleaning, personal protective equipment, symptoms, training, and accommodation to ensure compliance with local and state policies.

“The health and safety of our players and on-field officials is our number one priority,” said MLR Commissioner George Killebrew. “In addition to the protection of N95 masks from Optrel and the regular testing from MyLabs, our teams have made extraordinary efforts in the lead up to the season to keep everyone healthy and set us up to provide an entertaining product on the pitch. Finally, although every market will have different fan protocols, I have no doubt our teams will take adequate care of everyone entering our stadiums.”

Optrel is a leading international manufacturer of innovative active eye and respiratory protection products for the welding, grinding, and healthcare industries. Optrel is headquartered in Wattwil, Switzerland, where it has been developing revolutionary industrial and medical products since 1986. Recently, as the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a worldwide shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), Optrel has provided emergency aid by shifting production focus towards the manufacturing of PPE products.

“We are excited to partner with Major League Rugby for their upcoming fourth season, in which they will face unique challenges and opportunities,” said Grant Cooper, CEO of North American Operations, with Optrel AG. “These unprecedented times certainly demand the utmost protection. We are proud to be Major League Rugby’s official N95 mask supplier and contribute to the continued health and safety of its members.”

MyLabs provides the tools, tests, and technology that empowers individuals to take control of their healthcare. Affordable and accessible tests, intuitive symptom analysis, and access to a healthcare expert—all HIPAA-compliant and available on any mobile device. In response to the worldwide coronavirus pandemic, MyLabs has focused on delivering an innovative suite of COVID-19 tests and technology for individuals as well as the enterprise, government, and education sectors.

“As organizations take preventative measures during this next phase of the global pandemic, accurate testing and timely results are of utmost importance,” said Charles Orlando, Chief Marketing Officer at MyLabs. “We’re proud to partner with Major League Rugby to help ensure the safety of players and staff, as well as those around them.”

About Major League Rugby     

Major League Rugby is a professional sports league entering its fourth season and represents      the highest level of rugby competition in North America. The League evolved from seven teams in 2018 to 12 teams in 2021, 11 from the United States and one from Canada. Matches are televised on CBS Sports Network, Fox Sports 2, and ESPN+, among other national and local market platforms. All matches are available on Facebook Live for international fans. MLR prides itself in fostering intense and high-stakes competition, while bringing together a passionate community built on the values of Respect, Inclusivity, and Tradition. For more information about MLR, visit www.MajorLeague.Rugby 

About Optrel AG

Optrel, shaped by the culture of a family business, instills its strong values, highest level of safety, protection, and wearing comfort by continuously focusing on fulfilling each of our customer’s needs and expectations. We continuously progress and innovate from our customers’ valued feedback, working to ensure that the Optrel experience is unlike any other. As the industry changes, we strive to lead the way with new welding, industrial, and medical technologies. We appreciate our long-lasting relationships and highly value the continuance of our strong partnerships. Optrel constantly aims to excel in the global, competitive world market, offering the best quality and operating at the highest level. Our products are made in Switzerland, and we are proud to offer an unparalleled service to all of our customers around the world through our presence across North America and Europe. Our ‘Swiss-made’ stamp symbolizes the long-standing tradition of the successes Swiss companies have exhibited by working in tandem with their clients and partners. Optrel has partnered with Major League Rugby as their official N95 supplier, ensuring their continued health and safety on and off the field. If you are interested in learning about Optrel’s products, contact us via phone (401-398-7240) or email (info_us@optrel.com) for more information.

About MyLabs

MyLabs, LLC is a leading remote healthcare technology and development company that was founded with a clear vision to improve health care access for everyone. Leading organizations in high-tech, entertainment, and sports count on MyLabs to provide their staff access to affordable and highly-accessible tests, intuitive symptom analysis, and access to a healthcare expert—all HIPAA-compliant and available from any mobile device. For more information, visit mylabs.com.