2025 Major League Rugby season
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CountriesUnited States (11 teams)
DateFebruary 15, 2025 – June 28, 2025
ChampionsNew England Free Jacks (3rd title)
Runners-upHouston Sabercats
| 2025 Major League Rugby Season | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Countries | United States (11 teams) |
| Date | February 15, 2025 – June 28, 2025 |
| Champions | New England Free Jacks (3rd title) |
| Runners-up | Houston Sabercats |
| Matches played | 94 |
| Top point scorer | Chris Hilsenbeck (109) |
| Top try scorer | Paula Balekana (15) |
The 2025 Major League Rugby season was the eighth season of Major League Rugby, the professional rugby union competition sanctioned by USA Rugby. The regular season began on February 15, 2025, and ended on June 28, 2025. Following the shutdown of the Dallas Jackals in September 2024, Major League Rugby featured 11 teams competing in the 2025 season.[1]
The season marked the first of a multiyear media agreement between Major League Rugby and ESPN, with all games streaming on ESPN+ and select games aired nationwide.[2]
For the first time, the MLR Championship Final would be played in Rhode Island at Centreville Bank Stadium.
The New England Free Jacks would go on to capture their third-straight MLR Championship title in beating the Houston SaberCats, 28-22. The club became the first three-time champions in Major League Rugby history,[3] and the first U.S. professional sports team to win three consecutive championships since the Los Angeles Lakers from 2000 to 2002.[4][5]
The Dallas Jackals ceased to exist after the 2024 season, leaving 11 teams in the 2025 season.[1]
Regular season
All teams will play eight home games and eight away games followed by a postseason.
Standings updated through 17 June 2025[6]
| 2025 MLR Eastern Conference | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | |
| 1 | * - New England Free Jacks | 16 | 11 | 0 | 5 | 425 | 341 | +84 | 61 | 47 | 9 | 2 | 55 |
| 2 | c - Chicago Hounds | 16 | 11 | 0 | 5 | 422 | 353 | +69 | 57 | 49 | 7 | 2 | 53 |
| 3 | x - Old Glory DC | 16 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 438 | 478 | -40 | 63 | 67 | 11 | 2 | 45 |
| 4 | x - Miami Sharks | 16 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 380 | 442 | -62 | 45 | 66 | 6 | 3 | 41 |
| 5 | e - New Orleans Gold | 16 | 4 | 0 | 12 | 428 | 473 | -45 | 60 | 71 | 8 | 8 | 32 |
| 6 | e - Anthem Rugby Carolina | 16 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 282 | 570 | -288 | 42 | 86 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Tiebreakers
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreaker criteria are as follows (coin tosses or draw of lots will be used if those below fail):
| |||||||||||||
| 2025 MLR Western Conference | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | |
| 1 | z - Utah Warriors | 16 | 11 | 0 | 5 | 529 | 443 | +86 | 77 | 59 | 12 | 2 | 58 |
| 2 | y - Houston SaberCats | 16 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 458 | 365 | +93 | 63 | 53 | 10 | 4 | 54 |
| 3 | x - RFC Los Angeles | 16 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 501 | 497 | +4 | 76 | 71 | 14 | 3 | 51 |
| 4 | x - Seattle Seawolves | 16 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 460 | 422 | +38 | 67 | 56 | 11 | 4 | 49 |
| 5 | e - San Diego Legion | 16 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 490 | 429 | +61 | 74 | 60 | 12 | 4 | 48 |
| Tiebreakers
If teams are level at any stage, tiebreaker criteria are as follows (coin tosses or draw of lots will be used if those below fail):
| |||||||||||||
Notes
- * - League Champions
- z – Clinched home field advantage for the entire playoffs
- c – Clinched home field advantage for the conference semi-finals
- y – Clinched conference title
- x – Clinched playoff spot
- e – Eliminated from playoff contention
Matches
Week 1 (February 15–16)
| February 15 | (1 BP) Miami Sharks | 29–31 | Old Glory DC (1 BP) | Baptist Health Community Field | ||
| 19:00 EST | Report[7] | Referee: Luke Rogan (USAR)
Assistants: Federico Anselmi (UAR) & Tom Ciampa (USAR) TMO: Mike Kelly (USAR) |
| February 15 | (1 BP) New Orleans Gold | 35–14 | Anthem RC | The Gold Mine | ||
| 18:00 local | Report[8] | Referee: Marquise Goodwin (USAR)
Assistants: Jacob Gonzales (USAR) & Allen Alongi (USAR) TMO: Cam Russell (RC) |
| February 15 | (1 BP) Houston Sabercats | 22–25 | Chicago Hounds | SaberCats Stadium | ||
| 19:00 local | Report[9] | Referee: Robin Kaluzniak (RC)
Assistants: Kat Roche (USAR) & Jono Cooper (USAR) TMO: Chris Assmus (RC) |
| February 15 | (1 BP) Rugby Football Club Los Angeles | 17–24 | New England Free Jacks (1 BP) | Wallis Annenberg Stadium | ||
| 18:00 local | Report[10] | Referee: Derek Summers (USAR)
Assistants: Mike Lawrenson (USAR) & Austin Reed (USAR) TMO: Saro Turner (RC) Man of the Match: |
| February 16 | (1 BP) San Diego Legion | 40–26 | Seattle Seawolves (1 BP) | Torero Stadium | ||
| 14:00 local PST | Report[11] | Referee: Lex Weiner (USAR)
Assistants: Mike Lawrenson (USAR) & Will Nelson (USAR) TMO: Chris Assmus (RC) |
| Bye/s: Utah Warriors |
Week 2 (February 21–23)
| February 21 | Anthem Rugby Carolina | 5–52 | San Diego Legion | American Legion Memorial Stadium | ||
| February 23 | Chicago Hounds | 31–45 | Utah Warriors | SeatGeek Stadium | ||
| February 23 | Miami Sharks | 30–25 | New Orleans Gold | Baptist Health Community Field | ||
| February 23 | RFC Los Angeles | 28–45 | Houston SaberCats | Wallis Annenberg Stadium | ||
| Bye/s: New England Free Jacks, Old Glory DC, Seattle Seawolves |
Week 3 (February 28–March 2)
| February 28 | Anthem Rugby Carolina | 31–32 | Miami Sharks | Mecklenburg County Sportsplex | ||
| March 1 | Old Glory DC | 10–26 | San Diego Legion | Maryland SoccerPlex | ||
| March 1 | Utah Warriors | 55–21 | New Orleans Gold | Zions Bank Stadium | ||
| March 1 | Houston SaberCats | 24–21 | Seattle Seawolves | SaberCats Stadium | ||
| March 2 | Chicago Hounds | 36–7 | New England Free Jacks | SeatGeek Stadium | ||
| Bye/s: RFC Los Angeles |
Week 4 (March 7–8)
| March 7 | Miami Sharks | 18–31 | Chicago Hounds | Baptist Health Community Field | ||
| March 8 | Old Glory DC | 26–22 | Anthem Rugby Carolina | Maryland SoccerPlex | ||
| March 8 | Utah Warriors | 17–37 | Houston SaberCats | Zions Bank Stadium | ||
| March 8 | San Diego Legion | 36–28 | RFC Los Angeles | Torero Stadium | ||
| March 8 | Seattle Seawolves | 27–24 | New England Free Jacks | Starfire Stadium | ||
| Bye/s: New Orleans Gold |
Week 5 (March 15)
| March 15 | Chicago Hounds | 30–27 | Old Glory DC | SeatGeek Stadium | ||
| March 15 | New England Free Jacks | 35–31 | New Orleans Gold | Veterans Memorial Stadium | ||
| March 15 | Miami Sharks | 19–36 | Utah Warriors | Baptist Health Community Field | ||
| March 15 | RFC Los Angeles | 35–29 | Seattle Seawolves | Wallis Annenberg Stadium | ||
| Bye/s: Anthem Rugby Carolina, Houston SaberCats, San Diego Legion |
Week 6 (March 22)
| March 22 | Old Glory DC | 28–14 | New England Free Jacks | Maryland SoccerPlex | ||
| March 22 | Anthem Rugby Carolina | 45–46 | Houston SaberCats | American Legion Memorial Stadium | ||
| March 22 | New Orleans Gold | 24–31 | RFC Los Angeles | The Gold Mine | ||
| March 22 | Seattle Seawolves | 27–30 | Utah Warriors | Starfire Stadium | ||
| March 22 | San Diego Legion | 31–12 | Miami Sharks | Torero Stadium | ||
| Bye/s: Chicago Hounds |
Week 7 (March 29)
| March 29 | RFC Los Angeles | 54–44 | Old Glory DC | Wallis Annenberg Stadium | ||
| March 29 | New Orleans Gold | 18–20 | Chicago Hounds | The Gold Mine | ||
| March 29 | Houston SaberCats | 34–14 | San Diego Legion | SaberCats Stadium | ||
| March 29 | Utah Warriors | 26–33 | New England Free Jacks | Zions Bank Stadium | ||
| March 29 | Seattle Seawolves | 25–17 | Anthem Rugby Carolina | Starfire Stadium | ||
| Bye/s: Miami Sharks |
Week 8 (April 5–6)
| April 5 | Old Glory DC | 29–12 | Seattle Seawolves | Maryland SoccerPlex | ||
| April 5 | Anthem Rugby Carolina | 19–33 | New Orleans Gold | American Legion Memorial Stadium | ||
| April 5 | Houston SaberCats | 22–24 | RFC Los Angeles | SaberCats Stadium | ||
| April 5 | San Diego Legion | 20–27 | Chicago Hounds | Torero Stadium | ||
| April 6 | New England Free Jacks | 43–6 | Miami Sharks | Veterans Memorial Stadium | ||
| Bye/s: Utah Warriors |
Week 9 (April 12–13)
| April 12 | New England Free Jacks | 39–12 | San Diego Legion | Veterans Memorial Stadium | ||
| April 12 | New Orleans Gold | 51–29 | Old Glory DC | The Gold Mine | ||
| April 12 | Miami Sharks | 31–22 | Houston SaberCats | Baptist Health Community Field | ||
| April 12 | RFC Los Angeles | 28–45 | Utah Warriors | Wallis Annenberg Stadium | ||
| April 13 | Chicago Hounds | 28–20 | Anthem Rugby Carolina | SeatGeek Stadium | ||
| Bye/s: Seattle Seawolves |
Week 10 (April 18–19)
| April 18 | Anthem Rugby Carolina | 6–26 | New England Free Jacks | American Legion Memorial Stadium | ||
| April 18 | Seattle Seawolves | 28–22 | Chicago Hounds | Starfire Stadium | ||
| April 19 | Old Glory DC | 35–37 | Miami Sharks | Maryland SoccerPlex | ||
| April 19 | Houston SaberCats | 17–15 | New Orleans Gold | SaberCats Stadium | ||
| April 19 | San Diego Legion | 18–31 | Utah Warriors | Torero Stadium | ||
| Bye/s: RFC Los Angeles |
Week 11 (April 22–27)
| April 22 | New England Free Jacks | 23–21 | RFC Los Angeles | Veterans Memorial Stadium | ||
| April 23 | Anthem Rugby Carolina | 19–60 | Seattle Seawolves | Mecklenburg County Sportsplex | ||
| April 26 | RFC Los Angeles | 36–38 | San Diego Legion | Wallis Annenberg Stadium | ||
| Report 1 | Attendance: 2,856 |
| April 26 | Houston SaberCats | 48–27 | Old Glory DC | SaberCats Stadium | ||
| April 26 | Utah Warriors | 41–31 | Chicago Hounds | Zions Bank Stadium | ||
| April 27 | New Orleans Gold | 44–36 | Seattle Seawolves | The Gold Mine | ||
| April 27 | Miami Sharks | 31–5 | Anthem Rugby Carolina | Baptist Health Community Field | ||
Week 12 (April 30–May 4)
| April 30 | Utah Warriors | 38–31 | San Diego Legion | Zions Bank Stadium | ||
| May 2 | Seattle Seawolves | 26–26 | RFC Los Angeles | Starfire Stadium | ||
| May 4 | Old Glory DC | 28–12 | Utah Warriors | Maryland SoccerPlex | ||
| May 4 | New England Free Jacks | 36–17 | Houston SaberCats | Veterans Memorial Stadium | ||
| May 4 | Chicago Hounds | 14–7 | Miami Sharks | SeatGeek Stadium | ||
| May 4 | San Diego Legion | 45–36 | New Orleans Gold | Torero Stadium | ||
| Bye/s: Anthem Rugby Carolina |
Week 13 (May 9–12)
| May 9 | New Orleans Gold | 19–25 | Miami Sharks | The Gold Mine | ||
| May 10 | New England Free Jacks | 27–17 | Chicago Hounds | Veterans Memorial Stadium | ||
| May 10 | San Diego Legion | 20–37 | Houston SaberCats | Torero Stadium | ||
| May 10 | RFC Los Angeles | 45–17 | Anthem Rugby Carolina | Wallis Annenberg Stadium | ||
| May 12 | Utah Warriors | 24–28 | Seattle Seawolves | Zions Bank Stadium | ||
| Bye/s: Old Glory DC |
Week 14 (May 13–19)
| May 13 | Old Glory DC | 27–14 | New Orleans Gold | George Mason Stadium | ||
| May 16 | Miami Sharks | 30–19 | New England Free Jacks | Baptist Health Community Field | ||
| May 17 | Houston SaberCats | 40–19 | Utah Warriors | SaberCats Stadium | ||
| May 17 | Seattle Seawolves | 29–25 | San Diego Legion | Starfire Stadium | ||
| May 18 | Anthem Rugby Carolina | 19–41 | Old Glory DC | American Legion Memorial Stadium | ||
| May 19 | Chicago Hounds | 24–26 | RFC Los Angeles | SeatGeek Stadium | ||
Week 15 (May 23–24)
| May 23 | RFC Los Angeles | 26–20 | Miami Sharks | Wallis Annenberg Stadium | ||
| May 23 | Seattle Seawolves | 14–9 | Houston SaberCats | Starfire Stadium | ||
| May 24 | New England Free Jacks | 17–20 | Old Glory DC | Veterans Memorial Stadium | ||
| May 24 | New Orleans Gold | 28–31 | Utah Warriors | The Gold Mine | ||
| May 24 | Anthem Rugby Carolina | 19–33 | Chicago Hounds | American Legion Memorial Stadium | ||
| Bye/s: San Diego Legion |
Week 16 (May 30–June 1)
| May 30 | Miami Sharks | 36–32 | San Diego Legion | Baptist Health Community Field | ||
| May 30 | Utah Warriors | 31–10 | Anthem Rugby Carolina | Zions Bank Stadium | ||
| May 31 | Old Glory DC | 32–43 | RFC Los Angeles | Maryland SoccerPlex | ||
| May 31 | Chicago Hounds | 38–17 | New Orleans Gold | SeatGeek Stadium | ||
| Attendance: 4,889 |
| June 1 | New England Free Jacks | 37–30 | Seattle Seawolves | Veterans Memorial Stadium | ||
| Bye/s: Houston SaberCats |
Week 17 (June 4–8)
| June 4 | Chicago Hounds | 15–12 | Houston SaberCats | SeatGeek Stadium | ||
| June 7 | New Orleans Gold | 17–21 | New England Free Jacks | The Gold Mine | ||
| June 7 | Utah Warriors | 41–33 | RFC Los Angeles | Zions Bank Stadium | ||
| June 7 | San Diego Legion | 50–5 | Old Glory DC | Torero Stadium | ||
| June 8 | Houston SaberCats | 26–14 | Anthem Rugby Carolina | SaberCats Stadium | ||
| June 8 | Seattle Seawolves | 42–17 | Miami Sharks | Starfire Stadium | ||
Championship Series
Bracket
| Conference Semi-Finals | Conference Finals | Championship final | ||||||||||||
| E1 | New England Free Jacks | 32 | ||||||||||||
| E4 | Miami Sharks | 10 | ||||||||||||
| E1 | New England Free Jacks | 21 | ||||||||||||
| Eastern Conference | ||||||||||||||
| E2 | Chicago Hounds | 20 | ||||||||||||
| E2 | Chicago Hounds | 27 | ||||||||||||
| E3 | Old Glory DC | 16 | ||||||||||||
| E1 | New England Free Jacks | 28 | ||||||||||||
| W2 | Houston SaberCats | 22 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Utah Warriors | 23 | ||||||||||||
| W4 | Seattle Seawolves | 21 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Utah Warriors | 19 | ||||||||||||
| Western Conference | ||||||||||||||
| W2 | Houston SaberCats | 33 | ||||||||||||
| W2 | Houston SaberCats | 27 | ||||||||||||
| W3 | RFC Los Angeles | 21 | ||||||||||||
Conference Semi-Finals (June 14–15)
| June 14, 2025 18:00 CDT |
| Chicago Hounds | 27 – 16 | Old Glory DC |
| Try: Wall 36' c Abel 50' c Péculo 69' c Con: Hilsenbeck (3/3) 37', 51', 70' Pen: Hilsenbeck (2/2) 29', 59' | Report[12] | Try: Rizzo 40' c Con: Emery (1/1) 41' Pen: Emery (3/3) 8', 20', 32' Cards: Gattas 76' yellow |
| SeatGeek Stadium Referee: Luke Rogan |
| June 14, 2025 20:00 MDT |
| Utah Warriors | 23 – 21 | Seattle Seawolves |
| Try: Trainor 10' c, 31' c, Con: Hodgson (2/2) 11', 32' Pen: Hodgson (1/1) 30' Leuila (2/2) 54', 65' Cards: Trainor 46' yellow Jones 70' yellow | Report[13] | Try: Penalty Try 46' Futi 57' c, 71' c Con: Iona (2/2) 58', 72' |
| Zions Bank Stadium Referee: Saba Abulashvili |
| June 15, 2025 13:00 EDT |
| New England Free Jacks | 32 – 10 | Miami Sharks |
| Try: Balekana 1' m Quattrin 29' c Simon-Peter Toleafoa 48' c Malan 78' c Con: Hollinshead (2/3) 30', 49' Oscar Lennon (1/1) 78' Pen: Hollinshead (1/1) 61' Drop: Hollinshead (1/1) 65' Cards: von Dadelszen 56' yellow | Report[14] | Try: Myhill 57' c Con: O'Leary (1/1) 58' Pen: O'Leary (1/2) 9' |
| Veterans Memorial Stadium Referee: Robin Kaluzniak |
| June 16, 2025 18:30 CDT[15] |
| Houston SaberCats | 27 – 21 | RFC Los Angeles |
| Try: McLean 10' m Pita Anae-Ah Sue 18' c, 48' c Max Schumacher 43' m Con: Alatimu (2/4) 19', 49' Pen: Alatimu (1/1) 66' Cards: Scott 71' yellow Redelinghuys 76' yellow | Report[16] | Try: Anstee 24' c Reece MacDonald 38' c Ben Houston 76' c Con: Lealiifano (3/3) 25', 39', 77' |
| SaberCats Stadium Referee: Lex Weiner |
Conference Finals (June 21)
| June 21, 2025 13:00 EDT |
| New England Free Jacks | 21 – 20 | Chicago Hounds |
| Try: Melvin 53' c Nordli-Kelemeti 58' c Ciquera 77' c Con: Hollinshead (2/2) 54', 59' Auto Conversion 78' | Report[17] | Try: Swiel 11' c Noah Brown 43' c Con: Hilsenbeck (2/2) 12', 44' Pen: Hilsenbeck (2/4) 18', 61' |
| Veterans Memorial Stadium Referee: Federico Anselmi |
| June 21, 2025 19:00 MDT |
| Utah Warriors | 19 – 33 | Houston SaberCats |
| Try: Lance Williams 17' m Lasike 75' c Tu Vugakoto 81' c Con: Hodgson (2/3) 76', 82' | Report[18] | Try: Basson 3' c Alatimu 30' c Tasi 35' c Drake Davis 54' c Seth Smith 65' m Con: Alatimu (4/4) 4', 31', 36', 55' Cards: Redelinghuys 80' yellow |
| Zions Bank Stadium Referee: Robin Kaluzniak |
Championship final (June)
| June 28, 2025 14:00 EDT |
| New England Free Jacks | 28 – 22 | Houston SaberCats |
| Try: Balekana 13' c, 69' m Caird 45' c Con: Hollinshead (3/4) 14', 46', 58' Pen: Hollinshead (2/2) 7', 18' | Try: Max Schumacher 20' c, 78 m Drake Davis 51' c Con: Alatimu (2/3) 21', 52' Pen: Alatimu (1/2) 10' |
| Centreville Bank Stadium[19] Attendance: 5,702[20] Referee: Luke Rogan |
Records, milestones, and notable statistics
Preseason
- Rugby Football Club Los Angeles played the Fijian Drua in an exhibition match, the first match between teams from MLR and Super Rugby.[21]
Week Two
- Chicago Hounds' hooker Dylan Fawsitt becomes the first player with 100 MLR appearances.[22]
Week Seven
- Anthem Rugby Carolina became the first team to field an all-domestic roster in an MLR game.[23]
Week Nine
- Anthem RC sets the record for longest losing streak in MLR history, with 23 consecutive losses. The previous record of 22 was set by the Dallas Jackals between the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
Week Ten
- Seattle Seawolves' scrum half Juan-Philip Smith becomes the second player with 100 MLR appearances, and the first to do so with one team.[24]
Week Eleven
- Utah Warriors' prop Angus MacLellan becomes the first American-born player, and third overall, to appear in 100 MLR games.[25]
- The Houston Sabercats and New Orleans Gold both record the 50th wins in their franchises' histories.
Week Sixteen
- The Miami Sharks qualify for the MLR playoffs for the first time in franchise history after defeating the San Diego Legion 36-32.[26]
Week Seventeen
- Anthem RC finishes with an 0–16 record for the second consecutive season, becoming the first team in MLR season with multiple winless seasons.
- The Utah Warriors and Chicago Hounds both clinch a home playoff game for the first time in their franchise histories.[27][28]
Conference Semifinals
- The Utah Warriors win their first postseason game in club history, defeating the Seattle Seawolves 23-21.[29]
- The New England Free Jacks advance to their fourth consecutive Eastern Conference Finals, becoming the first MLR team to play in four conference finals games.[30]
- The Houston SaberCats win their first postseason game in club history, defeating RFC Los Angeles 27-21.[31]
Conference Finals
- The New England Free Jacks win their third-straight Eastern Conference title, becoming the first team to play in three consecutive MLR Championship finals.[32]
- The Free Jacks also set the record for largest postseason comeback in MLR history, overcoming a 17-point deficit to defeat the Chicago Hounds 21-20.[33]
- The Houston SaberCats defeat the Utah Warriors to advance to their first MLR Championship final.[34]
Championship Final
- The New England Free Jacks win their third-straight MLR Championship Final, becoming the first three-time champions in Major League Rugby history,[3] and the first U.S. sports team to win three consecutive championships since the Los Angeles Lakers from 2000 to 2002.[4][5]
Postseason
- Utah Warriors lock Frank Lochore sets the MLR single-season tackles record with 303, breaking the previous record of 246 set in 2024 by Cory Daniel.[35]
- MLR referee Lex Weiner is appointed by World Rugby to officiate the third-place match between France and Argentina in the 2025 World Rugby U20 Championship, the highest level of competition reached by an American male MLR referee.[36]
- Paula Balekana is named MLR Player of the Year, the fourth-straight year a member of the New England Free Jacks won the award.[37]
- Miami Sharks CEO Milagros Cubelli wins the inaugural MLR Executive of the Year Award[38]
