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MLR champions New England chase four-peat as 2026 schedule announced


New England Free Jacks players lineup for the National Anthem prior to a MLR game between Miami Sharks and Free Jacks at Florida Blue Training Center on May 16, 2025 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by Chris Arjoon/Getty Images)
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Three-time defending Major League Rugby champions the New England Free Jacks are only a few months away from launching their quest for an unprecedented fourth-straight crown.

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New England have revealed their full regular season schedule ahead of the 2026 MLR campaign, which includes five home matches at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Quincy.

The Free Jacks kick off another title defence on Saturday, April 4, away to California Legion. San Diego Legion and Rugby Football Club Los Angeles announced a merger four months ago, forming a new professional side that will host matches in San Diego, Los Angeles and Orange County.

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In round three, New England will play their second match of the campaign, and their first at their fortress in Fort Quincy. Old Glory DC will travel to New England, renewing a rivalry between two Eastern Conference playoff sides from the 2025 season.

New England travel to Chicago for a clash with the Hounds on Sunday, April 19, before a run of three consecutive home matches. They will host Anthem Rugby Carolina on April 26, Seattle Seawolves on May 3, and the Lions in round seven on May 9.

By then the league standings would have begun to take shape, making the final four teams crucial for all teams as they look to either rise up the ladder or solidify their place. The Free Jacks will take on Old Glory, Anthem RC and Seattle in three straight away matchups.

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The Free Jacks close out their round-robin against the Hounds in Quincy. New England will release ticketing information and community event details shortly. Individual match tickets will be available for purchase on December 15 at 10 am.

New England have bolstered their squad ahead of their quest for a fourth title, with USA Eagles outside back Mitch Wilson returning to the club. Wilson recently started on the wing for the USA against Scotland at Murrayfield, with the hosts winning a one-sided fixture.

After spending last season with Anthem RC, the established USA international headlines a list of new recruits and re-signings for 2026.

“I’m thrilled to be back in a community that I have built many connections with during my professional career and to play for a club that has high standards both on and off the pitch,” Wilson said in a statement last month.

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Olly 33 minutes ago
Is defence going out of fashion? 'The trick now is how quickly you stop the bleeding'

IMO, with all the physical changes to the players and the law changes for faster more ball minutes etc…The Def role has changed. All the usual stuff of the def system, line speed structure, communication, pressure etc etc are all critical. For me, game management has become def and the role of the modern def coach. Yes, it has always been important, but I feel it has switched from more attack focus to a def focus. It is very hard to stop teams from coming away with points when they get in range now and we are seeing more and more of just pick-and-goes over actual attack in this red zone. You can tackle your heart out, but the system will fail, and from what I have been seeing in SRP (with the new laws), teams seem to be holding on in def….then suddenly the opposition gets in the right area (mostly a run of penalties), and we have a run of points. Lots of points in bunches at critical points of games which make a tight contest look like a comfortable win.

Not sure if I am getting my point over clearly (at the end of a tiring day so rambling); I guess I just see the game is all about managing where the game is played, which has always been important…But I think it is def more important now then he has been in the past and a critical part of def coaching now. A def team stopping a team from getting points when in the reds zone is celebrated as a miracle now and a complete failure from the attacking team….



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