Major League Rugby: Five takeaways as Ilona Maher drives the hype train while San Diego Legion ‘pay the price’ as ‘new life’ breathed into Western Conference
San Diego Legion suffered their first loss of the MLR season. (Image credit John Matthew Harrison)
Every week of the 2025 Major League Rugby (MLR) season just keeps on getting better.
The past seven days have seen high drama in Week 7 of MLR, a change to the international calendar and a social media superstar asking her millions of followers to buy tickets for a double header in April.
Without further ado, here are five takeaways from another week in American rugby.
SaberCats end San Diego’s unbeaten start
The Houston SaberCats ended the San Diego Legion’s unbeaten start to the season thanks to their 34-14 win at SaberCats Stadium.
In the opening half Pote Human’s team registered tries through Andre Warner and Davy Coetzer, along with a penalty, to wipe out Shilo Klein’s 15th minute try.
As the second half wore on, a Rufus McLean score and a penalty try was enough to put the hosts out of sight.
That result means that the two teams are level on points in the Western Conference and there is plenty of new life in that contest.
Coming off a bye week John Manenti’s San Diego did not look at all like their usual selves from kick-off and paid the price for that, while the SaberCats will have added confidence thanks to their exploits.
Belgium drafted in for summer Tests
A fortnight on from announcing their Match Series for this summer, USA Rugby have already made an amendment to the men’s schedule.
Dropping the Netherlands in favour of Belgium, the Eagles will now play another team hoping to gain qualification for the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup qualification.
Playing the Black Devils on Saturday, July 5 at American Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, it will be a good measuring stick for the hosts.
The USA will go on to play Spain and England in the weeks after this clash with Belgium, in a summer that will culminate in a home Pacific Nations Cup campaign that offers World Cup qualification.
USA Rugby CEO, Bill Goren, said: “With both teams eager for Rugby World Cup qualification, this fixture will be a great test for our Men’s squad as we continue our journey toward 2027.”
LA edge 98-point thriller
Over the weekend Rugby FCLA and Old Glory DC played out a 54-44 thriller in California.
Last week the Houston SaberCats’ 45-44 win over Anthem RC took the headlines, but this win for Rugby FCLA maybe takes high drama to the next level.
There were 13 tries scored over the course of the 80 minutes, a late Tas Smith score confirmed victory for the hosts and took their winning streak to three matches.
At times it was an attritional game at Wallis Annenberg Stadium, English flanker Ed Timpson beat eight defenders, DC’s Collin Grosse made 20 tackles and LA full-back Rory van Vugt was by far and away the biggest attacking threat with 16 carries.
Anthem make history with all-MLR 23
Ahead of their Week 7 clash with the Seattle Seawolves, Anthem RC made history as the first MLR team to name a matchday 23 that was entirely domestic.
Set up to aid the development of USA-qualified players as part of a partnership between USA Rugby, MLR and World Rugby, Anthem may not have picked up a win since their establishment in 2024 but have seen players make great strides under the guidance of Alama Ieremia, Agustin Cavalieri, Elvis Seveali’i and Brendan Keane.
Also, a landing spot for Eagles to come to further their international careers, this roster announcement exemplifies exactly what the team are hoping to achieve long-term.
Unfortunately, the team are still yet to taste victory after losing 25-17 to the Seawolves.
Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference the Chicago Hounds beat the NOLA Gold 20-18 and the New England Free Jacks got a win on the board against the Utah Warriors.
Ilona Maher may have just sold out an MLR game
On Saturday afternoon Ilona Maher may well have given the Women’s Eagles a major boost ahead of their matches this year.
Last week the rugby sevens and social media superstar was named in Sione Fukofuka’s USA squad for their spring matches and Pacific Four Series.
Hosting Japan in Los Angeles before playing Canada in Kansas City, Maher took to her Instagram account and told her 4.9m followers about the game and included a ticket link for the match on Saturday, April 26.
When the 28-year-old joined Bristol Bears Women there was such interest there was so much interest that the club had to move their games to Ashton Gate Stadium.
When you consider that Wallis Annenberg Stadium only has a 2,145 capacity, you have to think that a packed out stadium for the Eagles versus Japan and RFCLA’s clash with San Diego Legion is not outside the realms of possibility.
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