North American Rugby Database

Report

The New England Free Jacks host the California Legion at Veteran’s Memorial Stadium in Quincy during Round 7 of the 2026 MLR season. This game marks the first ‘Northeast v Southwest’ game of the year.

A fully rested California Legion travel across the country following their bye last week and enter this game currently 2nd in the league with a 3-2 record. This is close to a must-win game for the New England Free Jacks, who sit at the bottom of the league with a 1-4 record after falling to the Seattle Seawolves last week. In a shortened 2026 season, time is running out to turn things around. The Legion dispatched the Free Jacks with relative ease back in Round 2 by a score of 43-5, but the defending champions have brought in reinforcements, and are playing at the formidable Fort Quincy this time.

The California Legion had to compete against two of their biggest rivals in this game, the New England Free Jacks, and the rain. The last time the Legion played in the wet, they were thoroughly beaten by the Chicago Hounds, and the weather frustrated them again this week. The Free Jacks struck first through Sione Tupou at the back of their rolling maul, before a perfect crossfield kick from Coby Miln got the California Legion on the board through Corbin Smith before Miln added the extras to give the Legion their lone lead. The Free Jacks would strike from short range shortly after with Reuben Palmer recording his first MLR try, and the Legion would never be ahead again. The rain began to pick up which bogged the game down and although the Free Jacks conceded more penalties, the Legion conceded in critical areas and struggled with handling on top of that. A pair of yellow cards meant the Legion were on the defensive for a significant portion of the first half, and the Free Jacks would extend their lead with another Sione Tupou score right before the break.

The second half started with the Legion down 17-7 on the scoreboard, and down a man. A Joel Hodgson penalty just nudged the Free Jacks further out of reach, before another 10 minutes later took teh score to 23-7 with 20 to go. The rain hammered down and the Legion seemed far slower to adapt, with the Free Jacks happy to play a more close quarters, grinding game. A moment of magic from the Legion saw an outrageous offload from Ben Houston put Gonzalo Bertranou in to give the visitors some life, now within 9pts, but the boot of Hodgson would once again keep the Free Jacks ahead and another pair of yellow cards for the Legion saw their chances for a victory disappear. New England thought they had secured the win until a California team challenge gave the guests back possession (their 3rd successful challenge of the game), and Ben Houston would eventually cross for his 5th try of the season in the 84th minute to salvage a losing BP, but the New England Free Jacks win this must win affair, and improve to 2-4.

The California Legion remain second in the standings, now on an even 3-3 record and 18pts. They return home to prepare for next week’s clash with the Chicago Hounds. The Free Jacks will be getting some big reinforcements next week, and look to make it 2 wins in a row against their rivals Old Glory DC on the road.