Major League Rugby: Five takeaways as ex-Wallabies star’s side end San Diego Legion’s 321-day streak

Joe Harvey
New England Free Jacks wing Paula Balekana. (credit Griff Lacey and Brendan Buckley)

Chicago Hounds scrum-half Mitch Short and New England Free Jacks wing Paula Balekana. (credit Griff Lacey and Brendan Buckley)

Every week that passes in Major League Rugby (MLR) and it gets a little bit more difficult to predict.

Over the weekend five matches took place, with the Chicago Hounds, LA, Old Glory DC, New England Free Jacks and NOLA Gold all picking up wins.

Here are five takeaways from Week 8 of the 2025 MLR season.

Hounds end San Diego’s unbeaten run at home

Before the Chicago Hounds rolled into Torero Stadium, the San Diego Legion had not tasted defeat at home for 321 days.

Over the course of 80 minutes Chicago underlined their title credentials with a 27-20 win and consigned their hosts to a second loss in a row.

It was in the first half that the Hounds laid the foundation for their victory.

Mason Flesch and Hamis Bain crossed the whitewash, while a duo of penalties for Chris Hilsenbeck helped to cancel out Rhian Stowers and Christian Poidevin tries, along with a Lincoln McClutchie place-kick.

McClutchie drew the scores level with a 56th minute effort, before a converted Lucas Rumball score handed Chicago victory.

The Hounds have got an impressive body of work behind them eight weeks into the 2025 season.

Frontrunners for the Eastern Conference, this win will rank among their finest to date and you have to put Chris Latham’s side firmly into the frame for success this season.

LA survive late scare to secure SaberCats victory

At full-time between the Houston SaberCats and Rugby Football Club Los Angeles there were two very contrasting sets of emotions.

With the final play of the game the SaberCats had battled to get Pita Anae-Ah Sue across the whitewash and allow AJ Alatimu a shot at goal to level the scores at 24-all.

When the Samoa international struck the ball, it was clear that it was fading wide of the mark and left LA screaming with joy as they picked up their fourth win in a row.

In a close first-half the two teams traded two tries each, with Andre Warner and Johan Momsen crossing for the hosts, while Gonzalo Bertranou and Rory Van Vugt dotted down for LA.

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At the start of the second half Tautalatasi Tasi scored for Houston, before Will Leonard and Billy Meakes scores gave LA the lead before the dramatic conclusion.

Thanks to their win, LA are now third in the Western Conference and face off with the Utah Warriors this Sunday in California. The SaberCats travel to the Miami Sharks in Week 9.

Old Glory hit overdrive to beat Seattle

Old Glory DC have cemented their place as Play-Off contenders with a 29-12 victory over the Seattle Seawolves.

Having picked up wins over the New England Free Jacks, Anthem and Miami Sharks, Simon Cross’ team have impressed more and more with every outing.

Despite going behind early to a Toni Pulu score, when Rob Harley was in the sin bin, Nick Grigg, Collin Grosse, John Rizzo and Owen Sheehy all crossed the whitewash to maintain second in the Eastern Conference.

In stark contrast the Seawolves are now rock bottom of the Western Conference, six points behind their closest rivals, the Utah Warriors.

Balekana registers hat-trick in Free Jacks whitewash

So far in 2025 the New England Free Jacks have had an indifferent start to the season.

Heading into Week 8, Ryan Martin’s side had a 3-3 record and were preparing to meet a Miami Sharks team just five points adrift and hurting from three consecutive losses.

What followed was a comprehensive performance from the back-to-back champions.

Beating the Sharks 43-6, Fijian wing Paula Balekana scored a hat-trick and flanker Jed Melvin scored a late brace.

Thanks to his trio of tries Balekana now has 34 MLR tries.

Former Gloucester back Jack Reeves also crossed the whitewash in the victory and the boot of Faletol Peni helped put the hosts out of sight.

The Free Jacks have another match at home in Week 9 against the San Diego Legion, before a trip to Anthem RC and then returning home to face off with Rugby FCLA.

Sit tight, a storm could be brewing in Massachusetts.

Anthem RC break records with NOLA loss

With their Week 8 defeat Anthem RC have now lost 23 games in a row.

This is a new record losing streak in MLR, having lost all 16 of their games in 2024 and seven games at the start of this season.

On Saturday afternoon the North Carolina club welcomed the NOLA Gold to American Legion Memorial Stadium.

JP du Plessis opened the scoring for the visitors early on and the Gold also registered first-half tries through Isaac Te Tamaki, Chase Jones and Luke Campbell.

Anthem did respond with Toby Fricker and Joe Apikotoa efforts in that opening 40 minutes, and took the advantage in the second half with a Colin Turner score when Aidan King was in the sin bin.

To close out the contest NOLA scored their fifth try of the game through Ale Lopeti and have moved up to fourth in the Eastern Conference.

That hunt for a first win does not get any easier for Anthem.

In the weeks to come Alama Ieremia’s team face the Chicago Hounds, New England Free Jacks, Seattle Seawolves and Miami Sharks over the rest of April.

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