Day: April 26, 2026

2026 – RD 5: Old Glory DC v California Legion

Old Glory DC finally celebrate their home opener at George Mason University, playing host to the California Legion during Round 5 of the 2026 MLR season. This match marks the first ‘Shield Showdown’ of the year as a Sunday Night Rugby marquee matchup.

The California Legion travel to DC off the back of a hard fought victory over the Seattle Seawolves in Los Angeles last week, and sit with a record of 2-2 through 4 games. DC share a 2-win record, but come in 2-1 having only played 3 games, all on the road. A very well executed victory over Anthem RC last week has them currently in 4th.

The visitors struck first through Ben Houston, and despite an early red card to Billy Meakes for a dangerous tackle, DC only managed 3pts during the 20min man advantage, with Ben Houston picking up his 2nd of the game with the clock in the red at the end of the first half to put a dagger into the hosts who trailed 6-17 at the break. The Flags would hit back early in the 2nd half with their first try of the game through Kirby Myhill to cut the score to 11-17, before Cassh Maluia went over about 7 minutes later to restore the Legion’s solid lead. DC pushed hard in the final quarter and added a second through Connor Robinson, his first try in an Old Glory jersey, which cut the deficit to 16-24, but a pair of interceptions from Joey Mano and Tas Smith in the final 10 minutes put the game to bed and secured the try BP for the visitors. Old Glory would get the last laugh with a try out wide from John Powers with the clock in the red, but it was nothing more than a consolation score.

The Legion now get a week off as one of just two teams that get a mid-season bye in 2026, while Old Glory DC look towards next week, where they face the unbeaten Chicago Hounds on the road.

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2026 – RD 5: New England Free Jacks v Anthem RC

The New England Free Jacks host Anthem RC at Veteran’s Memorial Stadium in Quincy during Round 5 of the 2026 MLR Season.

Anthem RC enter this game with a 2-2 record through 4 games, and are looking to get back in the win column following a defeat at home to Old Glory DC last week. They will have to overcome the formidable Fort Quincy to earn that win, however. That being said, Fort Quincy may have lost some of it’s shine this season, with the New England Free Jacks sitting at the bottom of the MLR table with a 0-3 record. The reigning champs are running out of time to kickstart their 2026 campaign, and will be desperate to earn a win in front of their home fans.

Clearly the Free Jacks were aware of that, so came out firing. They opened the scoring after only a minute through Wayne van der Bank, were 14-0 up after only 10 minutes, and kept a rather shellshocked Anthem RC side out for the best part of the half before Payton Telea-Ilalio broke their goose egg in the 36th minute. The hosts led 17-5 at the half, but a quick Anthem score from Zion Going briefly threatened that. That threat was quickly eliminated thanks to a further two Free Jacks scores before the 50th minute to take the score to 31-12. The visitors had the lions share of the possession in this game, but had a knack for mishandling the ball at crucial times. The Free Jacks added a 5th try through Nathan Salmon to all but put the game to bed as it entered it’s final 10 minutes, but credit to Anthem who scored twice in the final 10 to salvage a try BP from their trip to Quincy. Final score here 38-26, with the defending champions finally getting into the win column and hopping up to 5th in the standings.

Anthem RC now get to rest up as one of only two teams this season with a mid-season bye week, currently sat with a 2-3 record in 3rd place.

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