Major League Rugby has unveiled a new-look schedule for the 2025 season, with teams competing for glory across a 16-week regular season and three playoff rounds. With the Dallas Jackals opting out of the competition in September, MLR will go ahead with 11 teams.
Seattle Seawolves headline the teams out west after taking out the conference title last season before falling to New England in the Championship game. Houston SaberCats, Rugby Football Club Los Angeles, San Diego Legion and Utah Warriors are also in that conference.
The Eastern Conference consists of back-to-back MLR champions the New England Free Jacks, Old Glory DC, Chicago Hounds, Miami Sharks, NOLA Gold, and Anthem Rugby Carolina. NOLA Gold finished second in the east last season, with the Hounds and Old Glory in third and fourth.
An eastern clash between Miami Sharks and Old Glory DC will kick off the new season on February 15, 2025, at 6:00 pm EST. This match will be held at IMFC SPortsField at FL Blue Training Center.
All 11 teams will play eight home matches and eight away fixtures. The five teams in the west will play eight in-conference games and eight cross-conference matches, but it’s a slightly different story for those who call the east home.
Eastern Conference sides will play a maximum of 10 games against their in-conference rivals, and the rest of their matches will be cross-conference showdowns. For New England, this includes a rematch of the Championship Final against Seattle on Saturday, March 8.
The Free Jacks will play their first home match of the 2025 season one week later against rivals NOLA Gold at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Saturday, March 15. New England split their matchups one-all with NOLA last season, including a 27-21 victory.
Anthem FC, who will have five 2024 MLR Draft selections and rising star Sam Golla, get their season underway against NOLA on Saturday, February 15. This is an intriguing matchup that will see some of North America’s brightest talents take the field.
“Major League Rugby is celebrating its eighth season of competition, and it comes off the heels of a historic 2024 campaign marked by growth success and unparalleled talent” Nic Benson, Commissioner of MLR, said in a statement.
“We are excited to continue the two-table format this season, which will heighten the existing rivalries between some of each conference’s foes.
“With the extension of many of last year’s stars and the inclusion of young talent from the 2024 MLR Draft, this season is poised to write a new page in our league’s enduring history and continue our positive trend of growing the game of rugby in America.”
The playoff format remains the same.
Following the regular season, the top four sides will be matched up in the Conference Semifinal Round, with the winners moving on to the respective Conference Finals. The 2025 MLR Championship will pit the Eastern and Western Conference winners against each other.
The host venue and date for the Championship game will be announced at another time.
To see the full schedule, click HERE.
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