The 2025 Major League Rugby Conference Semifinals brought high-stakes drama across the board, as four intense showdowns determined who would move one step closer to the MLR Shield.
Chicago shut out Old Glory after halftime, Utah edged Seattle in a tight finish, New England controlled the pace to eliminate Miami, and Houston outlasted RFC Los Angeles in wet, physical conditions.
- Chicago Hounds 27 – 16 Old Glory DC
- Utah Warriors 23 – 21 Seattle Seawolves
- New England Free Jacks 32 – 10 Miami Sharks
- Houston SaberCats 27 – 21 RFC Los Angeles
Here are all the semifinal results, game recaps, and highlights:
CHICAGO HOUNDS SHUT DOWN OLD GLORY IN SECOND HALF TO ADVANCE TO EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL
Chicago Hounds 27 – 16 Old Glory DC (HT: 10–16)
The Chicago Hounds booked their place in the 2025 MLR Eastern Conference Final with a gritty 27–16 win over Old Glory DC at SeatGeek Stadium. Trailing by six at halftime, the Hounds delivered a dominant second-half shutout and ran in 17 unanswered points to seal the semi-final victory. Old Glory took control early, capitalizing on Hounds’ penalties as Jason Emery slotted two kicks for a 6–0 lead. Chicago struggled to find rhythm, but fullback Tim Swiel’s interception and offload to Peyton Wall turned the tide, giving the hosts a 10–9 edge. DC responded just before the break, scoring a well-worked try out wide to retake the lead at 16–10 heading into halftime. The second half belonged entirely to the Hounds. Charlie Abel powered over from close range to put them ahead, and Chris Hilsenbeck’s reliable boot stretched the lead with a penalty. With ten minutes left, tighthead replacement Ignacio Peculo barged over for the final try, sealing a memorable comeback and sending Chicago to their first-ever conference final.
CHICAGO HOUNDS
- Tries: Wall (36’), Abel (50’), Peculo (69’)
- Conversions: Hilsenbeck (37’, 51’, 70’)
- Penalties: Hilsenbeck (29’, 59’)
OLD GLORY DC
- Tries: Rizzo (40’)
- Conversions: Emery (40’)
- Penalties: Emery (8’, 20’, 32’)
UTAH WARRIORS HOLD OFF SEATTLE TO REACH WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL
Utah Warriors 23 – 21 Seattle Seawolves (HT: 17–0)
The Utah Warriors advanced to the Western Conference Final with a dramatic 23–21 win over the Seattle Seawolves in a tense semifinal showdown at Zions Bank Stadium. Utah jumped out to a commanding 17–0 first-half lead, but had to weather a fierce Seattle comeback and deliver clutch defensive stands in the final minutes to book their spot in the next round. The Warriors opened the scoring in the 11th minute as Jordan Trainor finished a brilliant break from Kyle Brown. The pair combined again in the 32nd minute for Trainor’s second try, while D’Angelo Leuila added a penalty to make it 17–0 at the break. Seattle controlled much of the first-half possession but couldn’t convert territory into points, denied repeatedly by Utah’s disciplined goal-line defense. Seattle struck back early in the second half with a penalty try in the 47th minute, followed by a powerful finish from Lauina Futi. Leuila extended Utah’s lead with a long-range penalty before Futi crossed again in the 66th minute to bring Seattle within two. But with time running out, a not-straight lineout and repeated scrum resets drained the clock, and Utah held firm to seal the 23–21 victory.
UTAH WARRIORS
- Tries: Trainor (10’, 31’)
- Conversions: Hodgson(11’, 32’)
- Penalties: Hodgson (30’), Leuila (54’, 65’)
SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
- Tries: Penalty Try (46’), Futi (57’, 71’)
- Conversions: Iona (58’, 71’)
FREE JACKS END SHARKS’ FAIRYTALE RUN TO REACH MLR EASTERN FINAL
New England Free Jacks 32 – 10 Miami Sharks (HT: 12–3)
The New England Free Jacks delivered a clinical performance in Quincy to end the Miami Sharks’ maiden playoff journey, claiming a 32–10 win and booking their place in the Eastern Conference Final. In just their second MLR season, Miami showed incredible grit but couldn’t overcome the defending champions’ precision and composure. New England opened the scoring in stunning fashion, crossing the line within 25 seconds to jolt the home crowd into life. Miami responded with a composed penalty from Shane O’Leary, settling into the match at 5–3. The rest of the first half became a battle of attrition, with both sides trading heavy collisions and tactical kicks. The Free Jacks broke through again before halftime to extend the lead to 12–3 at the break. A third Free Jacks try early in the second half pushed the score to 19–3, but the Sharks struck back through hooker Kirby Myhill, who finished off a powerful maul to close the gap to 19–10. New England, however, showed their championship pedigree, adding a drop goal and penalty before sealing the win with a final try in the dying moments.
NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
- Tries: Balekana (1’), Quattrin (29’), Toleafoa (48’), Malan (78’)
- Conversions: Hollinshead (30’, 49’), Lennon (79’)
- Penalties: Hollinshead (61’)
- Drop Goal: Hollinshead (65’)
MIAMI SHARKS
- Tries: Myhill (57’)
- Conversions: O’Leary (58’)
- Penalties: O’Leary (9’)
SABERCATS SURVIVE LATE SCARE TO EDGE RFCLA IN MLR WESTERN SEMIFINAL MUDFEST
Houston SaberCats 27 – 21 RFC Los Angeles (HT: 12–14)
The Houston SaberCats secured their place in the Western Conference Final after a gritty, weather-soaked 27–21 victory over RFC Los Angeles in a dramatic playoff clash at SaberCats Stadium. In steamy conditions and a match defined by physicality and momentum swings, Houston’s two penalty goals proved the difference in a contest where both teams crossed the line three times. The home side roared out to a 12–0 lead before Tim Anstee and Reece Macdonald lit up the match with two tries. Houston responded early in the second half with two more tries, stretching the lead to 26–14 and seemingly taking control. But RFCLA wouldn’t go quietly. Ben Houston powered over in the 76th minute to bring the visitors within striking distance at 27–21. In the final moments, they surged 90 meters upfield in a breathtaking sequence, only to be denied as Semi Kunitani was bundled into touch just five meters from glory. Houston managed to retain possession on the delayed lineout and kicked into touch to close out the win. The SaberCats now advance to face the Utah Warriors in the Western Conference Final, while RFCLA exits the playoffs with heads held high after a valiant late charge.
HOUSTON SABERCATS
- Tries: Mclean (10’), Anae Ah-Sue (18’, 48’), Schumacher (43’)
- Conversions: Alatimu (19’, 49’)
- Penalties: Alatimu (66’)
RFC LOS ANGELES
- Tries: Anstee (24’), Macdonald (38’), Houston (76’)
- Conversions: Lealiifano (25’, 39’, 77’)
After a weekend packed with physical clashes and late-game heroics, the stage is now set for the 2025 MLR Conference Finals: Chicago vs New England in the East, and Houston vs Utah in the West.
Four teams remain in the hunt for the Shield, and if the semifinals are any indication, fans are in for another thrilling round of rugby.
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