Round 12 of the 2025 Major League Rugby season delivered statement wins, dramatic finishes, and key shifts across both conferences.
Old Glory DC snapped a three-game skid with a dominant win over Utah, while the Free Jacks and Chicago Hounds strengthened their Eastern playoff positions. San Diego outlasted NOLA in a 13-try thriller, and the Seawolves and RFC Los Angeles played out a high-quality draw. As postseason races tighten, every point now matters—and this round proved it.
- Seattle Seawolves 26 – 26 RFC Los Angeles
- Old Glory DC 28 – 12 Utah Warriors
- New England Free Jacks 36 – 17 Houston SaberCats
- Chicago Hounds 14 – 7 Miami Sharks
- San Diego Legion 45 – 36 NOLA Gold
Here are all the results and highlights from Round 12:
SEAWOLVES AND RFCLA SHARE THE SPOILS IN PULSATING 26–26 DRAW
Seattle Seawolves 26 – 26 RFC Los Angeles (HT: 14–14)
A playoff-intensity clash under the lights at Starfire Stadium ended in dramatic fashion as the Seattle Seawolves and RFC Los Angeles battled to a 26–26 draw on Friday night. Both teams crossed for four tries and walked away with two competition points — one for the draw and one bonus point for four tries — but were left unsatisfied as missed opportunities haunted the final minutes. Seattle came out firing in the opening stages, with Duncan Matthews dotting down just three minutes in, followed by Dewald Koetz before the hydration break to give the hosts a 14–0 lead. But RFCLA fought back with clinical precision. Star center Billy Meakes powered over to spark the LA offense, and flanker Tim Anstee followed with a try of his own, both converted to lock the halftime score at 14–14. The second half saw momentum swing wildly. RFCLA were reduced to 13 men after two yellow cards early in the period, and Seattle capitalized through a weaving finish from Malacchi Esdale to regain the lead. Once back to full strength, RFCLA answered with a try to draw level again before Divan Rossouw struck in the 70th minute to give Seattle a 26–21 advantage. But just as the Seawolves looked poised to close it out, RFCLA captain Jason Damm delivered a clutch try in the 79th minute to bring the score level once again. Both teams missed their final conversion attempts, sealing the 26–26 draw. Fullback Rory van Vugt was a standout for RFCLA, forcing two turnovers, breaking five tackles, and leading the team in meters gained. Rodney Iona’s defensive heroics for Seattle, including a crucial try-saving kick, also stood out on a night packed with physicality and drama. With the draw, RFCLA remain in fourth place in the Western Conference while Seattle continue to battle from the bottom with six games left. Both teams will be desperate to turn tight contests into full wins as the postseason race intensifies.
SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
- Tries: Matthews (3’), Koetz (19’), Esdale (48’), Rossouw (70’)
- Conversions: Iona (4’, 20’, 49’)
RFC LOS ANGELES
- Tries: Meakes (28’), Anstee (34’), Tavai (62’), Damm (78’)
- Conversions: Lealiifano (29’, 35’), Auto-Conversion (62’)
OLD GLORY DC BOUNCE BACK WITH DOMINANT WIN OVER UTAH WARRIORS
Old Glory DC 28 – 12 Utah Warriors (HT: 20–0)
Old Glory DC reignited their playoff push with a convincing 28–12 victory over a worn-down Utah Warriors side on Sunday afternoon in Leesburg. The win snapped a three-game losing streak for OGDC and came at a crucial time in the Eastern Conference race, while the Warriors—playing their third game in eight days—struggled to keep pace. Jason Emery opened the scoring in the 5th minute with a penalty goal after Utah’s first of several scrum infringements. Shortly after, winger Perry Humphreys capitalized on a slick backline move, breaking a tackle off a Damien Hoyland assist to touch down in the corner. OGDC led 8–0 by the 12-minute mark. DC controlled possession and territory for much of the first half, and their forward pack delivered in the 24th minute. Off a lineout and maul deep in Utah’s 22, Tevita Naqali powered over from close range to make it 15–0. With a yellow card compounding Utah’s woes, OGDC continued to press. A brilliant counterattack in the 38th minute—sparked by a quick shift from touchline to touchline—resulted in John Rizzo finishing on the wing for a third try. Emery’s conversion attempt fell short, but the hosts entered halftime with a commanding 20–0 lead. Early in the second half, DC secured the bonus point. After a penalty at the five-meter line, Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz picked and drove his way over to stretch the advantage to 25–0. Utah finally got on the board with two second-half tries, but the result was never in doubt. Emery slotted a second penalty goal in the 70th minute to round out the scoring at 28–12, capping a clinical, complete performance.
OLD GLORY DC
- Tries: Humphreys (11’), Naqali (20’), Rizzo (36’), Fa’anana-Schultz (48’)
- Conversions: Emery (21’)
- Penalties: Emery (4’, 69’)
UTAH WARRIORS
- Tries: Noaese (59’), Apulu (65’)
- Conversions: Hodgson (60’)
FREE JACKS DOMINATE FIRST HALF TO DOWN SABERCATS IN KEY CROSS-CONFERENCE CLASH
New England Free Jacks 36 – 17 Houston SaberCats (HT: 28–5)
The New England Free Jacks capitalized on a blistering first-half performance to defeat the Houston SaberCats 36–17 on Sunday at Veterans Memorial Stadium, holding off a second-half surge and strengthening their grip on the Eastern Conference playoff race. Houston, who came into the match sitting second in the West, dropped to third place with the loss and now trail the Utah Warriors by four points. Despite a stronger second-half showing, the SaberCats couldn’t recover from a sluggish opening 40 minutes that saw them concede four tries and fall behind 28–5 by the break. The Free Jacks controlled territory for over 60% of the match and struck early and often, punishing Houston errors and maintaining relentless pressure in attack. Dominic Akina got Houston on the board in the first half with an unconverted try, but the defending champions ran riot through the SaberCats’ defense, taking a 23-point lead into the interval. Houston looked more composed after halftime. Seth Smith crossed for a try in the 60th minute, converted by Drew Wild, who later added a try of his own by chasing down an open-field kick to dive over and cut the deficit. The late rally, however, wasn’t enough. Dan Hollingshead added a penalty goal in the closing stages to seal the 36–17 win for New England. The SaberCats now turn their attention to a critical Western Conference showdown with the San Diego Legion this weekend — a match that could prove pivotal in the playoff race.
NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
- Tries: Caird (15’), Balekana (18’, 45’), Reeves (24’), Nordli-Kelemeti (31’)
- Conversions: Hollinshead (16’, 20’, 25’, 32’)
- Penalties: Hollinshead (62’)
HOUSTON SABERCATS
- Tries: Akina (35’), Wild (50’), Smith (60’)
- Conversions: Wild (61’)
CHICAGO HOUNDS GRIND OUT GRITTY WIN OVER MIAMI SHARKS IN RAIN-SOAKED CLASH
Chicago Hounds 14 – 7 Miami Sharks (HT: 0–7)
The Chicago Hounds rallied from a halftime deficit to defeat the Miami Sharks 14–7 in a rain-drenched Week 12 battle at SeatGeek Stadium, snapping Miami’s three-game winning streak and strengthening their grip on second place in the Eastern Conference. With handling errors and tough conditions impacting both teams, the match quickly became a test of discipline and forward dominance. Miami opened the scoring just before halftime when hooker Kirby Myhill powered over off a close-range pick-and-go. Santiago Videla added the conversion to give the Sharks a 7–0 lead heading into the break. The second half, however, belonged to the Hounds. Led by dominant scrum play—particularly after Zurabi Zhvania entered in the 48th minute—Chicago clawed their way back. A scrum penalty deep in Miami territory set the platform for Luke White, who finished from the base of a dominant scrum. Chris Hilsenbeck slotted the conversion to level the score at 7–7. Just ten minutes later, the Hounds struck again. After kicking for territory, Chicago launched their trademark driving maul off a lineout. Dylan Fawsitt dotted down for his sixth try of the season, and Hilsenbeck’s conversion made it 14–7. Despite late pressure from Miami, Chicago’s defense held firm. The Hounds’ pack controlled the tempo, and repeated infringements from the Sharks allowed Chicago to close out a crucial win. With the win, the Hounds improve to 8–3 and sit just two points behind the first-place Free Jacks in the Eastern Conference.
CHICAGO HOUNDS
- Tries: White (53’), Fawsitt (66’)
- Conversions: Hilsenbeck (54’, 67’)
MIAMI SHARKS
- Tries: Myhill (40’)
- Conversions: Videla (40’)
SAN DIEGO LEGION OUTGUN NOLA GOLD IN HIGH-SCORING THRILLER
San Diego Legion 45 – 36 NOLA Gold (HT: 21–24)
In a pulsating Week 12 showdown on the West Coast, the San Diego Legion edged out NOLA Gold 45–36 in one of the most entertaining matches of the Major League Rugby season. Despite a gutsy effort and four tries from NOLA—including a brace from Moni Tonga’uiha—the Legion’s late surge sealed the victory, keeping San Diego firmly in the playoff hunt. San Diego raced out of the gates with two early converted tries to grab a 14–0 lead. NOLA clawed back through Tonga’uiha, who powered over for his first of the night. But the Legion struck again immediately to stretch their advantage to 21–7. The tide turned late in the first half as NOLA’s attack exploded. Tonga’uiha added his second try before Harley Wheeler and Reece Botha crossed in quick succession to hand the visitors a 24–21 halftime lead. The second half was an end-to-end battle. San Diego scored early to reclaim the lead at 28–24, but Damian Stevens answered with a brilliant finish following a clever kick-and-chase from Cooper Coats, nudging NOLA ahead 31–28. The final quarter, however, belonged to the Legion. San Diego scored three unanswered tries to build a 45–31 cushion. Wheeler crossed again in the 78th minute to close the gap, but it was too late for a full comeback. Despite the loss, NOLA earned a valuable bonus point for scoring four tries, keeping them in the mix for a playoff spot in the crowded Eastern Conference.
SAN DIEGO LEGION
- Tries: Roach (5’, 62’), Poidevin (11’, 70’), Tupai (21’), Klein (42’, 65’)
- Conversions: McClutchie (6’, 12’, 22’, 43’), Crimp (67’)
NOLA GOLD
- Tries: Tonga’uiha (15’, 26’), Wheeler (34’, 78’), Botha (40’), Stevens (56’)
- Conversions: Botha (16’, 40’, 58’)
STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 12
With just a few weeks remaining in the regular season, the playoff picture is beginning to take shape—but there’s still little room for error.
Round 12 showed how fine the margins can be, with crucial bonus points and head-to-head tiebreakers already coming into play. The stretch run is here, and Round 13 promises even more pressure-packed rugby.
Who impressed you most in Round 12? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let’s talk rugby.
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