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2026 Major League Rugby Season Fixtures

The 2026 Major League Rugby season is the ninth season of Major League Rugby, the professional rugby union competition sanctioned by USA Rugby. The regular season will begin on March 28, with the season being concluded on June 21 in the MLR Championship Final.

Major League Rugby 2026 — Complete Overview

  • Season: 9th MLR season
  • Start: Late March / early April 2026
  • Teams: 6 (down from 11 in 2025)
  • Format: Single-table league (no conferences)
  • Regular season games: 10 per team

2026 Fixtures & Format (Full Details)

Regular Season

  • Each team plays:
    • 10 matches total
    • Faces every other team:
      • Home & Away (round-robin)

 Example (from fixtures):

  • Opening match:
    • California Legion vs Anthem RC (March 28)

Typical weekly fixtures:

  • 2–3 matches per round
  • Runs for ~10–11 weeks

Week 3

Date Match
11 Apr 2026 New England Free Jacks vs Old Glory DC
12 Apr 2026 Seattle Seawolves vs Anthem Rugby Carolina
12 Apr 2026 Chicago Hounds vs California Legion

Week 4

Date Match
18 Apr 2026 Old Glory DC vs Anthem Rugby Carolina
19 Apr 2026 Chicago Hounds vs New England Free Jacks
19 Apr 2026 Seattle Seawolves vs California Legion

Week 5

Date Match
24 Apr 2026 Seattle Seawolves vs Chicago Hounds
26 Apr 2026 New England Free Jacks vs Anthem Rugby Carolina
26 Apr 2026 Old Glory DC vs California Legion

Week 6

Date Match
3 May 2026 New England Free Jacks vs Seattle Seawolves
3 May 2026 Chicago Hounds vs Old Glory DC

Week 7

Date Match
9 May 2026 New England Free Jacks vs California Legion
10 May 2026 Old Glory DC vs Seattle Seawolves
10 May 2026 Chicago Hounds vs Anthem Rugby Carolina

Week 8

Date Match
16 May 2026 California Legion vs Chicago Hounds
17 May 2026 Seattle Seawolves vs New England Free Jacks
17 May 2026 Old Glory DC vs Anthem Rugby Carolina

Week 9

Date Match
23 May 2026 Anthem Rugby Carolina vs New England Free Jacks
24 May 2026 Chicago Hounds vs Seattle Seawolves
24 May 2026 California Legion vs Old Glory DC

Week 10

Date Match
30 May 2026 Old Glory DC vs Chicago Hounds
31 May 2026 Anthem Rugby Carolina vs California Legion
31 May 2026 Seattle Seawolves vs New England Free Jacks

Week 11

Date Match
7 Jun 2026 New England Free Jacks vs Chicago Hounds
7 Jun 2026 California Legion vs Seattle Seawolves

🏆 Playoffs

Stage Date
Semi-finals June 2026
Final 21 June 2026

How to Watch MLR 2025 (Full Guide)

Primary Broadcast (Global Key Info)

  • All matches streamed live on:
    • ESPN+

 TV Coverage

  • Selected matches aired on:
    • ESPN2

Replays & Highlights

  • Available on:
    • The Rugby Network (after delay)

Related Topics

Mustafa Walsh is a dedicated rugby writer at All Blacks Nation, where he delivers in-depth coverage of international rugby, Super Rugby, and major global tournaments. With a strong focus on the New Zealand All Blacks, Southern Hemisphere rugby, and elite Test matches, Mustafa combines sharp analysis with clear, fan-friendly storytelling.

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