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2025 Major League Rugby final

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2025 Major League Rugby Final
Event2025 season
New England Free Jacks Houston SaberCats
Massachusetts Texas
28 22
DateJune 28, 2025
VenueCentreville Bank Stadium, Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Man of the MatchBrock Webster
RefereeLuke Rogan (USA)
Attendance5,702
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The 2025 Major League Rugby Championship Final was the seventh Major League Rugby (MLR) championship match, held at the conclusion of the eighth season of the rugby union club competition in North America. The match was played on June 28, 2025, at Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. It was contested by the Houston SaberCats and New England Free Jacks.

Background

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Road to the final

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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

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

Eastern Conference Semi-Final (June 15)

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June 15, 2025
13:00 EDT
New England Free Jacks32 – 10Miami 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[1]Try: Myhill 57' c
Con: O'Leary (1/1) 58'
Pen: O'Leary (1/2) 9'
Veterans Memorial Stadium
Referee: Robin Kaluzniak

Eastern Conference Finals (June 21)

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June 21, 2025
13:00 EDT
New England Free Jacks21 – 20Chicago Hounds
Try: Melvin 53' c
Nordli-Kelemeti 58' c
Ciquera 77' c
Con: Hollinshead (2/2) 54', 59'
Auto Conversion 78'		Report[2]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
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

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

Western Conference Semi-Final (June 16)

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June 16, 2025
18:30 CDT[3]
Houston SaberCats27 – 21RFC 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[4]Try: Anstee 24' c
Reece MacDonald 38' c
Ben Houston 76' c
Con: Lealiifano (3/3) 25', 39', 77'
SaberCats Stadium
Referee: Lex Weiner

Western Conference Finals (June 21)

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June 21, 2025
19:00 MDT
Utah Warriors19 – 33Houston SaberCats
Try: Lance Williams 17' m
Lasike 75' c
Tu Vugakoto 81' c
Con: Hodgson (2/3) 76', 82'		Report[5]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

Venue selection

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On March 14, 2024, MLR announced that Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket, Rhode Island would host the Championship Final. It is the home stadium of Rhode Island FC of the USLC and the first league championship to be hosted in the northeast since 2022; and will be the first major championship sporting event to be held at Centreville Bank Stadium.[6]

Broadcasting

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The Championship Final was broadcast in the United States on ESPN2.[7]

Championship Final

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Details

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June 28, 2025
14:00 EDT
New England Free Jacks28 – 22Houston 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[8]
Attendance: 5,702[9]
Referee: Luke Rogan

References

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  1. ^ "Free Jacks take giant step toward defending MLR crown with 32-10 win over Miami". NBC Sports Boston. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  2. ^ "Free Jacks back to the Final with comeback win over Hounds". Americas Rugby News. Retrieved June 22, 2025.
  3. ^ Postponed due to weather. Originally scheduled June 15, 2025 at 19:30 CDT. Match called at 21:00 CDT.
  4. ^ "MLR Semifinal Saturday Match Recaps New England Free Jacks vs Miami Sharks Houston SaberCats vs RFCLA". Major League Rugby. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
  5. ^ "Houston Blasts Utah Warriors In Western Conference Final". KSL Sports. Retrieved June 22, 2025.
  6. ^ "Major League Rugby names new stadium in Rhode Island as location for 2025 MLR Championship". Major League Rugby. April 23, 2025. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  7. ^ "Major League Rugby inks media deal with ESPN". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
  8. ^ "Major League Rugby names new stadium in Rhode Island as location for 2025 MLR Championship". Major League Rugby. Retrieved April 24, 2025.
  9. ^ "Free Jacks complete historic three-peat with 28-22 MLR championship victory". NBC Sports Boston. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
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