Round 13 of the 2025 Major League Rugby season delivered another weekend of intense competition as teams battled for playoff positioning across both conferences.
The Free Jacks stayed perfect at home, the SaberCats climbed to the top of the West with a statement road win in San Diego, and Seattle stunned Utah with a last-minute try in a wind-whipped thriller. Meanwhile, Miami, RFCLA, and Houston all grabbed critical victories to tighten the playoff race.
- NOLA Gold 19 – 24 Miami Sharks
- New England Free Jacks 27 – 17 Chicago Hounds
- San Diego Legion 20 – 37 Houston SaberCats
- RFC Los Angeles 45 – 17 Anthem RC
- Utah Warriors 24 – 28 Seattle Seawolves
Here are all the Round 13 recaps and highlights:
SHARKS EDGE GOLD IN NOLA AFTER SECOND-HALF SWING
NOLA Gold 25 – 19 Miami Sharks (HT: 12–7)
NOLA Gold fell just short at home on Sunday afternoon, dropping a tightly contested 25-19 battle to the Miami Sharks in Week 13 of the Major League Rugby season. Despite a strong start and three well-worked tries, the Gold were undone by a clinical second-half performance from Miami and had to settle for a losing bonus point. The home crowd at the Gold Mine was fired up early as Jonah Mau’u powered over to give NOLA the opening try. Jay Tuivati followed soon after, capitalizing on sustained pressure to extend the lead to 12-0. The Gold looked in full control through the first half hour. Miami responded before the break with a converted try to cut the deficit to 12-7, and the visitors carried that momentum into the second half. A quick try and a penalty kick pushed the Sharks in front for the first time, 17-12. Miami added another converted score to make it 25-12 midway through the second half. NOLA, however, showed their trademark grit. Scrum-half Damian Stevens sparked hope with a sniping try late in the game, and Reece Botha’s conversion brought the score to 25-19. The Gold mounted one final surge, but the Sharks’ defense held strong as the clock expired. While disappointed with the result, NOLA claimed a critical bonus point and continue to show flashes of attacking quality as the playoff race heats up.
NOLA GOLD
- Tries: Mau’u (2’), Tuivati (30’), Stevens (79’)
- Conversions: Jones (3’), Botha (80’)
MIAMI SHARKS
- Tries: Ardao (36’, 52’), Young (76’)
- Conversions: O’Leary (37’), Auto-Conversion (52’)
- Penalties: O’Leary (42’ 60’)
FREE JACKS SHUT OUT HOUNDS IN SECOND HALF TO STAY UNDEFEATED AT HOME
New England Free Jacks 27 – 17 Chicago Hounds (HT: 12–17)
The New England Free Jacks extended their home winning streak and tightened their grip on first place in the Eastern Conference with a 27–17 comeback win over the Chicago Hounds at a sold-out Veterans Memorial Stadium. Down by five at halftime, the defending champs blanked the Hounds in the second half and scored 15 unanswered points to secure a crucial conference victory. Chicago started brightly, dominating early possession and breaking through after five minutes via flanker Mason Flesch. The Free Jacks answered back with a well-executed maul that saw Joe Johnston score and Dan Hollinshead convert for a 7–5 lead. But the Hounds took control with back-to-back tries from Dylan Fawsitt and Noah Brown to go up 17–7. Just before the break, Paula Balekana ignited the crowd with a critical try to bring the Free Jacks within five. The second half saw both sides lose discipline with a flurry of yellow cards — including one apiece for Jeronimo Gomez Vara and Tim Swiel, followed by Zurabi Zhvania. After a disallowed try for Sam Caird, New England finally broke through as Jed Melvin powered over the line to tie it at 17–17. Momentum firmly shifted when Cam Nordli-Kelemeti sliced through the Hounds’ defense to give the Free Jacks the lead, before Hollinshead added a late penalty to seal the win. The victory lifts New England to 9-0-3 (45 points), seven points clear of second-place Chicago (38). The Free Jacks have now won seven straight and are one win away from clinching a top-two seed and a home playoff game.
NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
- Tries: Johnston (15’), Balekana (40’), Melvin (53’), Nordli-Kelemeti (62’)
- Conversions: Hollinshead (16’, 63’)
- Penalties: Hollinshead (72’)
CHICAGO HOUNDS
- Tries: Flesch (5’), Fawsitt (24’), Brown (29’)
- Conversions: Hilsenbeck (25’)
SABERCATS SURGE PAST LEGION IN STATEMENT ROAD WIN TO CLAIM TOP SPOT IN THE WEST
San Diego Legion 20 – 37 Houston SaberCats (HT: 10–17)
Houston SaberCats delivered a powerful, all-around performance on the road in San Diego, toppling the Legion 37–20 to leap into first place in the Western Conference. In a game loaded with playoff implications, the Cats put up four tries, three penalty goals, and dominated defensively, fending off San Diego’s home-field push despite trailing in territory and possession. It was Juan-Dee Oliver who opened the scoring early, crashing over for Houston’s first try, with Davy Coetzer adding the conversion and a penalty soon after. The returning fly-half added poise and control in his first game back, finishing with nine points and dictating the pace of Houston’s attack. San Diego responded with a try to cut the lead to 10–7, but the SaberCats surged again before halftime. Dominic Akina powered over for a try, and Coetzer converted to give Houston a 17–10 lead at the break. The second half saw Houston step on the gas. Johan Momsen extended the advantage with a try under the posts, followed by another Coetzer conversion. Then Tautalatasi Tasi added Houston’s fourth try of the night, with A.J. Alatimu knocking over the extras. The Legion added a late score to narrow the gap, but Alatimu’s penalty kick and Houston’s staunch defense closed out the match. Despite having less possession and territory, the SaberCats’ physicality, line speed, and precision finishing were too much for San Diego. Houston now sits atop the Western Conference at 8-4 (41 points), one point ahead of Utah, with the postseason in sight.
SAN DIEGO LEGION
- Tries: Wilkin (22’, 57’), Klein (64’, 80’)
HOUSTON SABERCATS
- Tries: Oliver (15’), Akina (35’), Momsen (42’), Tasi (49’)
- Conversions: Coetzer (16’, 36’, 43’), Alatimu (50’)
- Penalties: Coetzer (29’), Alatimu (69’, 76’)
RFCLA BLOW PAST ANTHEM TO CLOSE OUT UCLA HOME SLATE IN STYLE
RFC Los Angeles 45 – 17 Anthem RC (HT: 19–5)
Rugby Football Club Los Angeles delivered a commanding performance in their final 2025 match at UCLA’s Wallis Annenberg Stadium, cruising to a 45–17 victory over Anthem RC to remain firmly in the Major League Rugby playoff hunt. A dominant first-half display, bolstered by sharp finishing from Tim Anstee, Justus Tavai, and Billy Meakes, gave RFCLA a 19–5 halftime lead. Anthem managed a lone reply through Connor Mooneyham after a sustained spell in RFCLA territory. RFCLA extended their lead early in the second half with a try under the posts from Ben Strang before going down to 14 men after Ben Houston was sent off with a red card. Anthem capitalized, scoring through Ishma-eel Safodien and Toby Fricker to bring the game within reach at 26–17. But the hosts responded with a late surge: Franco Van Den Berg powered over to settle nerves, before captain Jason Dahm capped the day with a brace in the final minutes. RFCLA now turns its attention to a crucial home clash against the Miami Sharks at Great Park Stadium on May 25, a match that could shape the playoff picture in the Western Conference.
RFC LOS ANGELES
- Tries: Anstee (2’), Tavai (12’), Meakes (31’), Strang (56’), Van Den Berg (73’), Dahm (77’, 80’)
- Conversions: Lealiifano (13’), Auto-Conversions (31’, 56’), Isaacs (74’, 78’)
ANTHEM RC
- Tries: Mooneyham (26’), Safodien (65’), Fricker (70’)
- Conversions: Loubser (71’)
SEAWOLVES STUN WARRIORS WITH LAST-MINUTE TRY IN WIND-WHIPPED THRILLER
Utah Warriors 24 – 28 Seattle Seawolves (HT: 17–14)
Seattle Seawolves snatched a dramatic 28–24 road victory over the Utah Warriors with an 80th-minute try from Rhyno Herbst in a back-and-forth showdown at Zions Bank Stadium. Battling swirling 50 mph winds and a red-hot Utah side, the Seawolves overturned a 10-point second-half deficit to secure five vital points in the Western Conference playoff race. The Warriors opened strong, with Zion Going breaking away in the 6th minute to touch down. Seattle hit back through Malembe Mpofu under the posts, and after a pair of lead changes, Jordan Trainor’s slick finish off a Lance Williams offload gave Utah a 17–7 advantage. Just before the break, Ina Futi sliced through for Seattle’s second try, narrowing the gap to 17–14. After halftime, Joel Hodgson intercepted a loose Seawolves pass and raced away to score, giving Utah a 24–14 edge. But a yellow card to the home side proved costly. Seattle responded with Toni Pulu dotting down on the wing following patient buildup and a lucky bounce, then Herbst crashed over from close range in the final seconds to seal the comeback. Rodney Iona was flawless with the boot, converting all four tries. Despite outplaying the Seawolves for long stretches and earning two bonus points, the Warriors were left to rue late missed chances and discipline lapses.
UTAH WARRIORS
- Tries: Going (5’), Mano (22’), Trainor (32’), Hodgson (45’)
- Conversions: Leuila (33’, 45’)
SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
- Tries: Mpofu (13’), Futi (35’), Pulu (51’), Herbst (79’)
- Conversions: Auto-Conversion (3’), Iona (36’, 52’, 80’)
STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 13
With only a few weeks left in the regular season, the playoff race in both conferences is heating up fast.
Houston and Seattle made big moves in the West, while New England continued to set the pace in the East. As every match now carries major implications, Round 14 is shaping up to be another crucial chapter in the road to the MLR postseason.
Who impressed you most in Round 13? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let’s talk rugby.
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