Season: MLR 2025

The 8th season of Major League Rugby, held from START DATE to CHAMPIONSHIP GAME DATE.

2025 – RD 17: Chicago Hounds v Houston SaberCats

The Chicago Hounds host the Houston SaberCats for a rare Wednesday night clash at Seatgeek Stadium. The Hounds are coming off a tight turnaround, having also hosted the NOLA Gold just 5 days ago on Saturday May 31st. The SaberCats are fresh off an extended bye, but will be flying back to Houston to host Anthem RC at the weekend, on a 4 day turnaround.

Heading into this game, the Hounds sit 2nd in the East and just 2pts back from 1st place following a strong win over the NOLA Gold last week. They only need a point to secure a home semifinal as the 2nd seed, but will want to pressure the Free Jacks in 1st. In the West, the Houston SaberCats are in a 3-way fight for the top seed, and will want as many points as they can to try and secure home advantage of their own with two games remaining, both in Round 17. These teams have met 4 times in the past, with the Houston SaberCats holding a 3-1 series lead. Who will take the 5th installment of the Cats v Dogs clash!?

With the rain coming down in Chicago, both teams struggled to handle the ball early on but it was the Hounds who adjusted faster. A yellow card to the SaberCats gave Chicago the perfect opportunity off of an attacking lineout, and Jackson Zabierek rumbled over at the back of the Hounds rolling maul to open the scoring with his first MLR try. In his first start of the season, Zabierek would score almost a carbon copy try just 7 minutes later to give the Hounds a 0-12 lead just after the first water break. Chicago would receive a yellow card of their own just before half-time due to a high tackle from Hamish Bain, and the SaberCats would strike back through Pita Anae-Ah Sue. Alatimu’s conversion pulled the score back to 12-7 at the break.

When the 2nd half began, the Hounds were almost immediately shown another yellow for another high tackle, this time by Matt Oworu. With Bain still in the bin, Chicago were down to 13 men for roughly two minutes, but held firm. The second half was characterized by handling errors and strong defensive stands, and the first points of the half didn’t come until the 65th minute when AJ Alatimu trotted over unopposed in the corner from short range following another yellow card to Chicago, this time Ollie Devoto. He was unable to convert however, so the score sat at 12-12 with 15 minutes to play. With just over 10 minutes remaining, the Hounds were awarded a penalty and opted to go for points. Hilsenbeck stepped up and nailed a long distance, but relatively straight, attempt to give the Hounds a narrow lead. They looked like they would extend their lead in the 77th minute as the Chicago forwards barrelled over the try line but it was deemed held up, and the SaberCats had one last chance to take the victory. Unfortunately for the ‘Cats, Matt Oworu won a superb turnover and the Hounds kicked the ball out to take a 15-12 victory despite 3 yellow cards throughout the match.

Chicago take the lead in the Eastern Conference and record a 11-5 record for the 2025 regular season, meaning that the Free Jacks need a victory to claim the number 1 spot for the 4th year in a row. Coming off of a bye week, the Houston SaberCats have 1 game remaining this year to fight for home advantage in the Western Conference.

v

2025 – RD 16: New England Free Jacks v Seattle Seawolves

For the second time in 2025, we get a rematch of the 2024 Championship Game as the New England Free Jacks host the Seattle Seawolves in a cross-conference clash! The Seattle Seawolves are enjoying a 3-game win streak (and 4 games undefeated) and are coming off of a low scoring victory over the Houston SaberCats to keep their playoff push alive. The Free Jacks have long since clinched their spot in the post season, but a win would get them closer to home field advantage. It would also snap their two-game skid!

These teams have met 7 times in the past, with the regular season series split 3-3, but the Free Jacks taking the edge with their victory in the 2024 Championship Game. Their most recent meeting was a 27-24 Seawolves victory in Seattle.

v

2025 – RD 16: Chicago Hounds v NOLA Gold

The NOLA Gold travel to Illinois to face the Chicago Hounds for an Eastern Conference clash at SeatGeek Stadium! The Hounds are coming off of a road victory over Anthem RC where they clinched a playoff spot for the 2nd season in a row, and are not fighting for home field advantage. The Gold’s comeback attempt fell just short against the Utah Warriors last week, and need a victory here to keep their slim playoff chances alive. A Miami Sharks win would eliminate NOLA, but they need a victory for any chance of making it.

These teams have met 5 times in the past and split the all-time regular season series 2-2, but the Hounds hold the lead thanks to their big post-season victory last year. Chicago extended their all-time season series lead with a 38-17 bonus point victory over the Gold in this one. Although the scoreline looks comfortable, the Gold took a 7-0 lead in the first 10 minutes through a JP du Plessis try and held this until the half hour mark, when Ollie Devoto struck for the Hounds to even things up. Oti Pifeleti doubled up the Hounds score just before half time, and Chicago never looked back. With 8 points in this game, Chris Hilsenbeck’s 2025 total now sits at 84pts. This is a new Chicago Hounds single season scoring record!

The Hounds take the lead in the Eastern Conference and will be hoping that the Free Jacks slip up against Seattle tomorrow. The NOLA Gold, already eliminated, now have one last chance to play for pride this season.

v

2025 – RD 16: Old Glory DC v Rugby FC LA

Rugby FC LA travel to the nation’s capital to face Old Glory DC in a cross-conference clash at the Maryland Soccerplex! The California club have an opportunity to clinch their first ever playoff berth with a bonus point victory here, and are entering this game on a 3-game win streak and undefeated in 4. Old Glory DC have already locked up a playoff spot in the East, but are in a 3-way battle with Chicago and New England for 1st place and home advantage. The Flags are entering this game on a 4-game win streak of their own and are fresh off of a huge road victory over their rivals, the New England Free Jacks.

These teams have met twice in the past, with LA taking 1 game and the other ended in a draw. The broadcast cut out after roughly 30 minutes following a power outage in the area around the stadium, so fans watching from home had to rely on text updates from the league and teams. These updates informed us that the game was a back-and-forth affair, with Rugby FC LA eventually securing a 43-32 victory to clinch their place in the 2025 post-season. Old Glory DC picked up a try BP, but with a Chicago Hounds victory, have lost ground in the hunt for 1st in the West. The Flags will have to hope that the Free Jacks slip up tomorrow.

 

**Due to the power outage, exact substitution information for this game is unknown.**

v

2025 – RD 16: Utah Warriors v Anthem RC

The Utah Warriors host Anthem RC in a cross-conference clash at Zion’s Bank Stadium during Round 15 of the 2025 MLR season!

Long eliminiated from playoff contention, Anthem RC are playing for pride and are still looking for their first ever victory as a franchise. The USA’s rising stars are coming off of a 19-33 home defeat to the Chicago Hounds in which they showed glimpses of promise, but struggle to put it together for longer than 30 minutes. On the other hand, the Utah Warriors are fighting for first place in the Western Conference and are coming off of a nailbiting road win in New Orleans. A victory in this game would guarantee the Warriors their first playoff berth since 2021.These teams have met just the once in the past, with the Utah Warriors taking a big 44-19 victory back in Round 6 of the 2024 season.

It was the Utah Warriors that came out on top in this game as well, with a 5 try bonus point victory and a healthy scoreline of 31-10. Taking the full 5 points, the Utah Warriors become the first team in the Western Conference to secure their place in the 2025 post-season. For Anthem RC, they fall to 0-31 all time and have just one more chance to pick up their first victory in 2025, or record two back-to-back winless seasons.

v

2025 – RD 16: Miami Sharks v San Diego Legion

The Miami Sharks host the San Diego Legion for their last home game of the 2025 regular season, a cross-conference clash with huge playoff implications! The Sharks are coming off a road loss to Rugby FC LA, and find themselves simply needing a win to guarantee their spot in the post-season for the first time. The San Diego Legion on the other hand, are desperate for a win and sitting 5th in the Western Conference, having gone 2-7 since their 5-0 start to the season. The Legion are fresh off of a bye, but how much will the travel affect them?

These teams have met twice in the past with the Legion currently undefeated against the Sharks. Their most recent meeting was a 31-12 San Diego victory in Round 6 of the 2025 season.

With a 36-32 victory in front of their home crowd, thanks in part to 19pts off the boot of Shane O’Leary, the Miami Sharks record their first ever victory over the San Diego Legion and clinch their first ever playoff spot! The Sharks are the 4th and final team in the Eastern Conference to secure a post-season berth, in just their 2nd season in the competition. For the San Diego Legion, they fall to 2-8 since their 5-0 start to the 2025 season. They pick up two bonus points in this match to keep a playoff appearance possible, but the chances are razor-thin.

v

2025 – RD 15: NOLA Gold v Utah Warriors

The NOLA Gold host the Utah Warriors in a cross-conference clash during Round 15 of the 2025 Major League Rugby season!

Currently sat 5th in the Eastern Conference and on a 3-game skid following losses to both Miami and DC, the NOLA Gold are desperate for a win if they want a chance at a post season spot this season. The Utah Warriors are on a 3-game losing streak of their own, but are sat 2nd in the Western Conference. The West is a dogfight however, and they will want to try and get home field advantage, so don’t expect them to roll over!

These teams have met 7 times in the past, with the Gold holding a dominant 6-1 lead in the head to head series.  The Warriors’ lone victory over the gold came this season however, with a big 55-21 victory at Zion’s Bank back in Round 3.

v

2025 – RD 15: Anthem RC v Chicago Hounds

Anthem RC host the Chicago Hounds in an Eastern Conference clash in Charlotte. The Hounds had a tight turnaround coming into this game, having hosted Rugby FC LA just 5 days ago during the week. The Hounds look to bounce back after a loss to RFCLA on the final play, and now 3rd in the Eastern Conference, are desperate for poitns to secure home advantage in the playoffs. Anthem RC’s new head coach Agustin Cavalieri has only been in change for a few games and with nothing to lose, will be looking for his side to gel and play more consistently if they want their first ever victory.

These teams have met 3 times in the past with the Chicago Hounds currently undefeated over the winless Anthem side.

v

2025 – RD 15: Rugby FC LA v Miami Sharks

The Miami Sharks travel across the country to face Rugby FC LA in a cross-conference clash at Wallis Annenberg Stadium in UCLA. RFCLA, although hosting, are straight off a flight from Chicago after facing the Hounds on the road during the week. LA emerged victorious in Chicago thanks to a try in the final play of the game, the 5th game in a row where RFCLA have scored in the 77th minute or later. The Miami Sharks are flying high after a victory over the Free Jacks, and are on a 2-game win streak. Both teams are on winning streaks and both are pushing for their first ever playoff spot.

These teams have met once in the past, with LA emerging as big winners with a 45-15 victory back in 2024.

v

2025 – RD 15: New England Free Jacks v Old Glory DC

The New England Free Jacks host their Eastern Conference rivals Old Glory DC for the 2nd Red, White, & Blue bowl of 2025! Old Glory DC are flying high after two wins in 5 days and sit 2nd in the Eastern Conference on a 3-game win streak, and will be looking to close the gap to their rivals here. The Free Jacks, however, are looking to bounce back after the Miami Sharks snapped New England’s 7-game win streak.

These teams have met 13 times in the past, with the Free Jacks holding a 9-4 series lead that includes a 2-0 lead in Playoff matchups. Old Glory DC got the better of New England in their last meeting, however, with a 28-14 victory back in Round 6.

v