Free Jacks Back on Top

Free Jacks back on top

Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss. The New England Free Jacks are the Major League Rugby (MLR) champs for a third straight year after downing the Houston SaberCats 28-22 at Centerville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket, RI. Before 5,673 mostly home fans, the Free Jacks led virtually the whole way. Paula Balekana posted two tries, his 14th and 15th of the season. Dan Hollinshead converted three penalty goals and two conversions for 13 points. The F…

'Proud Of Everybody,' SaberCats Fall Short In Championship - Houston SaberCats Rugby

By Aaron Wilson It was the most successful season in the history of the Houston SaberCats rugby club.     It was a hard-fought, valiant effort that ultimately came up short in the championship match against the New England Free Jacks as they earned an unprecedented three-peat victory to earn the Shield of Major League Rugby on Saturday afternoon.     In a 28-22 loss at Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket, Rhode Island,…

A Special and Surprising Curtain-Raiser for the MLR Final

Age-grade select sides from Connecticut and Rhode Island will play each other Saturday as curtain-raisers to the Major League Rugby between the New England Free Jacks and Houston Sabercats. For Connecticut, this is just another step in what they have been doing for a few years. Their boys program just came off winning a tournament with New Jersey and Met NY, and with several teams in the state—Greenwich, Trumbull, Fairfield Prep, Fairfield Pegas…

MLR 2025: Championship Final - New England Free Jacks vs Houston SaberCats - ARN Guide - Americas Rugby News

The 2025 Major League Rugby season comes to a close on Saturday when the Free Jacks attempt the first three-peat in league history against the SaberCats. New England haven’t been beaten in a postseason game since 2022, a run of seven consecutive wins including back-to-back titles. This is the first crack at the MLR Shield for Houston, one of MLR’s founding franchises who had fallen short in the playoffs three times previously before finally clai…