Day: May 17, 2026

WER 2026 – RD 3: TC Gemini v Bay Breakers

The Twin Cities Gemini celebrate their 2026 Home Opener against the Bay Breakers at TCO Stadium during Round 3 of the WER season!

These two sides split the 2025 season series which now sits 1-1 all-time for this matchup. The most recent meeting came in Round 6 of the 2025 season, when the Gemini claimed an impressive 17-12 victory over the Breakers at home. The Breakers enter this game at the top of the WER standings as the only undefeated team remaining in the competition, logging impressive wins over the defending champion Denver Onyx, and New York Exiles. The TC Gemini sit 3rd with a 1-1 record and are looking to bounce back after a loss to Onyx last week.

While the last meeting between these sides was a nailbiter, this started the same way but once it got going, it did not stop. It took almost 20 minutes for either side to open the scoring, with a try from Hannah Pfersch giving the Gemini the lead, which they would hold onto for the rest of the game. The Breakers and Gemini traded scores from the 26th minute, with both sides scoring twice in a roughly 10 minute span to take the score to 21-10 at the half time break, thanks in part to Chloe Headland’s reliability off the tee. The second half was all Gemini, adding another 3 scores and shutting out the visiting Breakers to balloon the score to 42-10 and hand the Bay Breakers their first defeat of the season.

The TC Gemini managed only 2 wins in the entirety of the 2025 WER season, but they have already matched that in just 3 games this year, improving to a 2-1 record to match the Breakers, and taking the lead in the WER standings by a single point.

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2026 – RD 8: Old Glory DC v New England Free Jacks

Old Glory DC host rivals the New England Free Jacks at George Mason University during Round 8 of the 2026 MLR season. This match marks the 2nd leg of the 2026 Red, White, & Blue Bowl as a Sunday Night Rugby marquee matchup.

Both sides come into this game with 2-4 records through their first 6 games, with Old Glory DC in 5th place only ahead of the 6th placed New England Free Jacks by virtue of their better points difference. The Flags are looking to snap a 3 game skid, while the Free Jacks are still scrambling to get going. The defending champs are coming off a big win over the California Legion last week, but the Flags have had their number in the last 3 meetings.

Red, White & Blue bowl matches have a tendancy to produce nailbiters, and this one was no different! These teams were the lowest scoring clubs entering this game, but they both opened their accounts early in this one. The hosts got on the board first through a break out wide, finished by Ross Depperschmidt running a great support line. This was almost immediately cancelled out by an Oscar Lennon score from a slick set play off an attacking lineout. There wouldn’t be another score for roughly 20 minutes despite significant pressure from the Free Jacks, but the Old Glory DC defence held firm with some huge stands on their own line. Eventually however, the Free Jacks found a gap from well within their own end and some kicking over the top from the New England backs and Ben LeSage gathered it after a couple of fly-hack past defenders, and trundled over the line. Despite an initial call of held up, referee Robbie Jenkinson reviewed the play and found sufficient evidence to award the try, giving the defending champions a 7-14 lead after Hodgson added the extras. A penalty try for Old Glory DC roughly 10 minutes later evened things up at 14-14 however with Reuben Palmer shown a yellow card, but a last minute penalty kick by Joel Hodgson gave the visitors a 14-17 lead at the break.

Hodgson would also bank the first points of the 2nd half, slotting another penalty in the 49th minute to extend the Free Jacks lead to 6, before the Flags struck back with a beautiful crossfield kick from Jason Robertson right into the hands of Perry Humphreys, who fed it inside to Damien Hoyland for an easy, but very pretty, score. Robertson then added the extras to give DC a narrow 21-20 lead with about 23 minutes to play. The Free Jacks were clearly trying to take points whenever they could, as Hodgson added a 3rd penlaty kick just after the second hydration break to give the visitors back the lead, now up 21-23 with just under 20 to play. Advantage, New England. A few minutes later, DC were given a penalty of their own but Jason Robertson’s attempt at points rang off the upright. Thankfully for the hosts, he was given another chance a few minutes later, and made no mistakes. Old Glory DC take a 24-23 lead with 10 to play, and the Free Jacks were unable to shift the scoreboard any further.

Old Glory DC record their 4th straight victory over the New England Free Jacks, sweeping the regular season series for the second year in a row and jumping into a playoff spot, now sat 4th with 15pts and a 3-4 record. The Free Jacks’ playoff hopes take a knock, but a losing BP puts them ahead of Anthem RC on points difference, and their game next week against the Rising Stars is critical.

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2026 – RD 8: Seattle Seawolves v Anthem RC

The Seattle Seawolves host Anthem RC at Starfire Stadium during Round 8 of the 2026 MLR season.

The Seattle Seawolves return home after a big road win over Old Glory DC to give their playoff push a big boost, and now sit 3rd with a 3-3 record. Anthem RC on the other hand, started the season strong but are currently on a 3 game skid after falling to the Chicago Hounds last week despite scoring 36pts, falling 61-36 against the undefeated Hounds. It will be a big ask for the Rising Stars to steal on the road in Seattle, but it’s necessary if they want their playoff aspirations to stay intact.

Both sides got off to great starts, with Andre Warner and Dewald Kotze tries for the Seawolves sandwiching a Campbell Robb score for Anthem within the first 10 minutes. The Seawolves would step on the gas just after this, however, and blew the Rising stars away with 4 more tries in the next 15 minutes to run out to a 42-7 lead. Anthem would hit back through Julian Roberts and Conner Mooneyham on either side of the half time break, but already these were nothing more than consolation scores. Seattle would run in 3 more scores in the second half to record a 57-21 home victory, the first time the Seawolves have recorded over 50pts scored since Round 11 of the 2025 season.

Anthem seem to fall into their old ways a bit in this game, and limp back to Carolina to regroup. They fall to 2-5 with their 4th straight defeat, and if this game wasn’t ‘must win’ enough, next week’s challenge against the New England Free Jacks is doubly so. The Seattle Seawolves jump to 2nd place with a bonus point win, overtaking the California Legion after their loss to the Hounds yesterday.

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WER 2026 – RD 3: New York Exiles v Chicago Tempest

The Chicago Tempest travel to the east coast to face the New York Exiles at Mt. Vernon Memorial Stadium during Round 3 of the 2026 WER season!

The New York Exiles come into this game having swept the 2025 series against the Chicago Tempest, with a 43-14 victory in Round 13 of the 2025 season being the most recent meeting between these sides. The Tempest are coming off their first ever victory last week, defeating the Boston Banshees 36-32 so are riding high, while the NY Exiles are sat last in the league with a 0-2 record and are struggling to get things going.

Luckily for the Exiles, they found their stride this week…just. The Tempest showed just how confident they were with a strong first half showing, throwing up 3 tries to take a 12-19 lead into the sheds at half time, and it looked to be another week to forget for New York. However, the second half was a complete turnaround. The Exiles shut out the Tempest in the second half and recorded 4 tries of their own and raced to a 40-19 bonus point victory, buoyed by a hat trick from hooker Caoimhe O’Sullivan-Roche!

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