New England "Three" Jacks Win Rugby Title

Move over Patriots, New England has a new sports dynasty.

The New England Free Jacks defeated the Houston SaberCats 28-22 for their third-straight Major League Rugby (MLR) crown.

Paula Balekana scored a brace of tries, while Sam Caird also dotted down and their fly-half, Dan Hollinshead, got 13 points from the kicking tee.

Scoring Summary

• In the seventh minute, Dan Hollinshead completed a penalty goal to kick off the scoring.
• Shortly after, the SaberCats followed up with their own penalty goal, led by AJ Alatimu.
• The Free Jacks then scored twice in a row, with Paula Balekana completing a try, followed by a conversion from Hollinshead in the thirteenth minute. Then, in the eighteenth minute, Dan Hollinshead completed another penalty goal.
• The SaberCats answered back, though, with Max Schumacher scoring, followed by Alatimu’s conversion.
• The Free Jacks led going into halftime 13-10.
• Then, in the forty-sixth minute, Sam Caird completed a try, followed by another Hollinshead conversion.
• Houston answered back in the fifty-first minute with a Drake Davis try and another Alatimu conversion.
• In the fifty-eighth minute, Hollinshead completed a penalty goal.
• In the sixty-ninth minute, Paula Balekana ties the MLR record with his 15th try.
• In the seventy-seventh minute, Max Schumacher dives in for a try, making the score 28-22.

The final was played at Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket, Rhode Island in front of 5,702 fans.

You can watch highlights of the final here: https://youtu.be/6TvvvxMN9mk?si=EnpYjdVl56Q8Sl7D

Houston ends the season with a 12-0-7 record, earning the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference before claiming the team’s first Western Conference crown last week. The Free Jacks end the season with a 14-0-5 record, winning its league-leading third MLR Shield.

Season Recap

Eastern Conference (Wins-Draws-Losses)

1. New England Free Jacks (11-0-5)
2. Chicago Hounds (11-0-5)
3. Old Glory DC (8-0-8)
4. Miami Sharks (8-0-8)
5. New Orleans Gold (4-0-12)
6. Anthem Rugby Carolina (0-0-16)

Western Conference

1. Utah Warriors (11-0-5)
2. Houston SaberCats (10-0-6)
3. RFC Los Angeles (8-1-7)
4. Seattle Seawolves (8-1-7)
5. San Diego Legion (8-0-8)

Conference Semifinals

New England 32, Miami 10

Chicago 27, Old Glory DC 16

Utah 23, Seattle 21

Houston 27, RFC Los Angeles 21

Conference Finals

New England 21, Chicago 20

Houston 33, Utah 19

Final

New England 28, Houston 22