Round 14 of the 2025 Major League Rugby season brought playoff intensity across the board.
Miami stunned the Free Jacks, Old Glory DC climbed the Eastern standings with two wins in five days, and RFC Los Angeles delivered a walk-off try to stay in the Western hunt. From comeback thrillers to dominant statement wins, this round reshaped both conferences as the regular season enters its final stretch.
- Old Glory DC 27 – 14 NOLA Gold
- Miami Sharks 30 – 19 New England Free Jacks
- Houston SaberCats 40 – 19 Utah Warriors
- Seattle Seawolves 29 – 25 San Diego Legion
- Anthem RC 19 – 41 Old Glory DC
- Chicago Hounds 24 – 26 RFC Los Angeles
Here are all the match recaps and highlights from Round 14:
OLD GLORY DC STORM BACK TO BEAT NOLA GOLD AND CLIMB EASTERN STANDINGS
Old Glory DC 27 – 14 NOLA Gold (HT: 8–14)
Old Glory DC overcame a slow start and a slippery Tuesday night pitch in Fairfax to surge past NOLA Gold 27–14, scoring 24 unanswered points and securing a crucial four-try bonus point in the Eastern Conference playoff race. NOLA struck first through a penalty try in the 26th minute, following a missed penalty attempt from Luke Carty. Just six minutes later, Julian Roberts finished off a crisp phase of attack to extend the visitors’ lead to 14–3. Old Glory, however, ended the half on the front foot, dominating possession and territory. After a yellow card to NOLA near their own line, Facundo Gattis powered over to cut the deficit to six just before the break. The second half belonged entirely to Old Glory. Cory Daniel scored just two minutes after the restart, with Jason Emery converting to give OGDC a 15–14 lead. Gattis then set up Nick Grigg with a clever offload to extend the lead, before grabbing his second try in the 68th minute off a lineout to seal the bonus point. Despite late pressure from NOLA, including a disallowed try by Jonah Mau’u, the hosts held firm defensively and claimed their sixth win of the season. Old Glory leapfrogs to third in the Eastern Conference with four matches remaining, while NOLA will look to bounce back next week at home against Utah.
OLD GLORY DC
- Tries: Gattis (37’, 68’), Daniel (41’), Grigg (54’)
- Conversions: Emery (42’, 55’)
- Penalties: Emery (23’)
NOLA GOLD
- Tries: Penalty Try (26’), Roberts (32’)
- Conversions: Carty (33’)
MIAMI SHARKS SHOCK LEAGUE-LEADING FREE JACKS IN STATEMENT WIN
Miami Sharks 30 – 19 New England Free Jacks (HT: 13–7)
The Miami Sharks delivered their biggest win of the season under the Friday night lights at Florida Blue Training Center, stunning the top-seeded New England Free Jacks with a commanding 30–19 victory to keep their playoff hopes alive in Major League Rugby’s Eastern Conference. The Sharks set the tone early with a Shane O’Leary penalty in the 5th minute, followed quickly by a try from Marcos Young off a perfectly executed cross-kick from Martín Elías. Although New England responded through Tevita Sole’s opportunistic score—capitalizing on a Miami handling error—the Sharks went into halftime with a 13–7 lead after O’Leary dotted down following another kick assist from Elías. Miami’s momentum surged early in the second half as Giuseppe du Toit made an immediate impact off the bench, crashing over for a try just three minutes in. O’Leary’s boot continued to add pressure, slotting another penalty to stretch the lead to 23–7. The Free Jacks showed fight with two second-half tries from Wian Conradie, both converted by Dan Hollinshead, but they couldn’t contain Miami’s surging attack. Matías Orlando sealed the win with a clinical finish in the closing stages, and O’Leary’s perfect night off the tee took the final score to 30–19. It was a full-team performance from Miami—structured, physical, and inspired—shaking up the playoff picture. Despite the loss, New England remain top of the table and have already clinched a playoff berth. The Sharks, meanwhile, just proved they’re not done yet.
MIAMI SHARKS
- Tries: Young (7’), O’Leary (32’), Du Toit (41’), Orlando (68’)
- Conversions: O’Leary (42’, 69’)
- Penalties: O’Leary (5’, 57’)
NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
- Tries: Sole (23’), Conradie (63’, 78’)
- Conversions: Hollinshead (24’, 64’)
SABERCATS DOMINATE FIRST HALF TO CLINCH STATEMENT WIN OVER WARRIORS
Houston SaberCats 40 – 19 Utah Warriors (HT: 27–0)
In one of their most complete performances of the season, the Houston SaberCats roared back to the top of the Western Conference with a commanding 40–19 victory over the Utah Warriors on Saturday night. Fueled by a relentless first-half surge, the SaberCats raced to a 27–0 lead at the break and never looked back in front of a raucous home crowd at SaberCats Stadium. Juan-Dee Oliver and Seth Smith each crossed the whitewash twice, leading the offensive onslaught for Houston. Smith’s tries, both powerful efforts from close range, reflected the SaberCats’ forward dominance, while Oliver’s blistering pace in the open field proved too much for Utah to handle. The hosts’ fast start was exactly what they had been craving all season. Shane Coetzer kept the scoreboard ticking with nine points off the tee, while Tautalatasi Tasi added a second-half try to stretch the lead further. Davy Coetzer’s calm control and goal-kicking, along with strong defensive work from Pono Davis (15 tackles) and Johan Momsen (14 tackles), kept the visitors in check. Utah tried to respond after halftime, finally getting on the board with three second-half tries, but the damage had been done. Houston’s suffocating first-half defense and clinical finishing sealed the bonus-point win and vaulted them back into first place in the Western Conference standings with four rounds remaining. With a trip to Seattle on deck, the SaberCats look to keep climbing—one week at a time.
HOUSTON SABERCATS
- Tries: Oliver (1’, 34’), Smith (15’, 24’), Tasi (41’)
- Conversions: Coetzer (2’, 16’, 42’)
- Penalties: Coetzer (32’), Alatimu (50’, 66’)
UTAH WARRIORS
- Tries: Penalty Try (58’), Lochore (68’), Hodgson (80’)
- Conversions: Hodgson (69’)
SEAWOLVES STRIKE LATE TO EDGE LEGION IN WESTERN CONFERENCE CLASSIC
Seattle Seawolves 29 – 25 San Diego Legion (HT: 15–8)
In one of Major League Rugby’s fiercest rivalries, the Seattle Seawolves delivered a thrilling 29–25 comeback win over the San Diego Legion on Saturday night at Starfire Stadium. The back-and-forth battle saw Seattle storm to an early lead, survive a second-half San Diego surge, and steal it at the death through a heroic solo effort from Olajuwon Noa. Seattle came out flying, with Divan Rossouw opening the scoring in the fourth minute after a sharp line break. Minutes later, Riekert Hattingh doubled the lead after Nick Boyer forced a turnover with a thunderous hit. The hosts held a 15–8 lead at the break, but the second half belonged to the visitors—at least temporarily. San Diego capitalized on Seattle’s indiscipline, scoring 17 points while Duncan Matthews and Dan Kriel sat in the bin. A maul try and a brilliant attacking phase saw the Legion surge ahead 25–22 with ten minutes to play. But Seattle refused to fold. Just minutes after returning from the bin, Matthews powered through for the equalizing score. Then, with time nearly expired, Noa broke through the line and slammed the door shut with the match-winning try—his Player of the Match performance capped by raw determination. Rodney Iona controlled the kicking game, adding two conversions and a penalty, while Seattle’s composure in the final minutes—despite two yellow cards—proved decisive. With the win, Seattle improves to 6–6 and keeps their playoff hopes very much alive.
SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
- Tries: Rossouw (4’), Hattingh (27’), Matthews (52’), Noa (80’)
- Conversions: Iona (28’, 53’), Auto-Conversion (80’)
- Penalties: Iona (12’)
SAN DIEGO LEGION
- Tries: Telea-Italio (8’), Wilkin (47’), Klein (56’), James (68’)
- Conversions: Crimp (48’)
- Penalties: Crimp (24’)
OLD GLORY DC DOMINATE ANTHEM RC TO SECURE THIRD STRAIGHT WIN
Anthem RC 19 – 41 Old Glory DC (HT: 7–24)
Old Glory DC continued their late-season playoff charge with a commanding 41–19 bonus-point victory over Anthem RC on Sunday night in Charlotte. Seven tries from the visitors proved far too much for the expansion side, who remain winless in their inaugural Major League Rugby campaign. DC opened the scoring early through Cory Daniel off a driving maul, but Anthem quickly responded with a try under the posts from Dylan Fortune to take a brief 7–5 lead. That would be the hosts’ final moment in front, as OGDC took complete control of the first half. Damien Hoyland capitalized on a misfired Anthem lineout with a brilliant solo try, and a yellow card to Anthem opened the floodgates. Steffan Hughes set up Connor Buckley for DC’s third, and Tommaso Boni’s offload to Axel Muller added a fourth just before the break. With a bonus point secured and a 24–7 halftime lead, DC were in full control. Anthem started the second half brightly with a score from Jake Turnbull to cut the deficit to 24–14, but once again, DC responded immediately. Buckley linked up with Perry Humphreys for the winger’s sixth try of the season, restoring a two-score cushion. KoiKoi Nelligan and Ignacio Dotti both added second-half tries as OGDC ran rampant. Rookie EJ Freeman added a late try for Anthem — his first in MLR — but it was purely consolation. With the result, Old Glory jump to second in the Eastern Conference and keep their playoff destiny in their own hands.
ANTHEM RC
- Tries: Fortune (20’), Turnbull (50’), Freeman (79’)
- Conversions: Auto-Conversion (20’), Loubser (50’)
OLD GLORY DC
- Tries: Daniel (8’), Hoyland (22’), Buckley (27’), Muller (40’), Humphreys (54’), Nelligan (66’), Dotti (73’)
- Conversions: Emery (23’, 28’), Powers (74’)
RFCLA SEAL DRAMATIC BONUS-POINT WIN OVER CHICAGO WITH FINAL-PLAY TRY
Chicago Hounds 24 – 26 RFC Los Angeles (HT: 10–14)
RFC Los Angeles kept their playoff hopes alive in sensational fashion on Saturday night, snatching a 26–24 bonus-point victory over the Chicago Hounds at SeatGeek Stadium with a try after the 80th minute. It was a gritty, comeback performance filled with adversity, heart, and late-game heroics. The Hounds struck first to take an early lead, but LA responded through scrumhalf Gonzalo Bertranou, whose try and conversion leveled the score. However, momentum briefly swung back in Chicago’s favor after Bertranou was sent to the bin with a yellow card. Despite being down a man, RFCLA’s defense limited the damage to just three points, keeping them within striking distance. Back at full strength, LA rgained control and found their rhythm just before the break, with Ed Timpson crashing over for a key score. That try gave the visitors a 14–10 lead heading into halftime. The second half was a battle of attrition. Both sides exchanged tries, with Chicago inching ahead as LA endured another yellow card. The hosts looked set to close out the win at 24–19. But RFCLA showed relentless spirit, pressing deep into stoppage time and eventually powering over for the bonus-point try that stole the win at the death. The conversion was not needed—RFCLA had claimed all five points and kept their playoff dream alive.
CHICAGO HOUNDS
- Tries: Jones (9’), Wall (45’), Penalty Try (68’)
- Conversions: Hilsenbeck (10’, 46’)
- Penalties: Hilsenbeck (25’)
RFC LOS ANGELES
- Tries: Bertranou (13’), Timpson (39’), Damm (59’), Van Der Berg (80’)
- Conversions: Lealiifano (14’, 40’, 60’)
STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 14
With just a few rounds remaining, every result is magnified—and every point matters. Teams are rising, slipping, and fighting to stay alive in both conferences.
Stay tuned for more weekly MLR coverage as the playoff picture sharpens and the tension builds toward the postseason.
Who impressed you most in Round 14? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let’s talk rugby.
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