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Major League Rugby’s finalists for the 2025 season will be determined on Saturday, with the Eastern Conference entry to be settled at Fort Quincy. Chicago’s path to Rhode Island is blocked only by the two-time defending champions New England, who are contesting their fourth Conference Final in as many years. The two sides split their regular season meetings with the Hounds coming up short in the most recent contest played on Free Jacks territory.
| REGULAR SEASON RANKING |
11-5-0 East 1st
11-5-0 East 2nd
| STARTING LINEUP CHANGES |
|
IN | OUT |
| none | none |
|
IN | OUT |
| none | none |
| CAPPED INTERNATIONALS |
(11) – Quattrin, von Dadelszen, LeSage, Webster, DeWitt, Larsen, Fryer (Canada), Koroiduadua (Fiji), Conradie, Malan (Namibia), Geiger (USA)
(14) – Pifeleti, Fawsitt, Campbell, Brown, White, Baska, O’Keeffe (USA), Flesch, Rumball, Higgins, Oworu (Canada), Hilsenbeck (Germany), Devoto (England), Péculo (Uruguay)
| NOTABLE ABSENTEES |
– Jerónimo Gómez Vara (FL/N8), Jayson Potroz (FH), Jack Reeves (CE/WI)
– Zura Zhvania (LH), Nate Augspurger (WI), Julián Domínguez (WI)
| PREDICTION |
Warm and sunny conditions are on the forecast, which is good news for fans and the home side. Chicago’s strength is undoubtedly up front, with their driving maul as good as any and Lucas Rumball among the league’s best at winning breakdown turnovers. The Free Jacks however counter with their own brand of aggressive defense, and field a more threatening backline on attack. If they can limit Peyton Wall’s opportunities with ball in hand, the defending champs have the goods to push on through to another final. New England are slight favorites at home.
| LINEUPS |
NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
1 Malakai Hala-Ngatai, 2 Andrew Quattrin, 3 Jone Koroiduadua, 4 Piers von Dadelszen, 5 Sam Caird, 6 Jed Melvin, 7 Joe Johnston (capt.), 8 Wian Conradie, 9 Cam Nordli-Kelemeti, 10 Dan Hollinshead, 11 Paula Balekana, 12 Le Roux Malan, 13 Ben LeSage, 14 Simon-Peter Toleafoa, 15 Brock Webster
Replacements: 16 Foster DeWitt, 17 Kyle Ciquera, 18 Kaleb Geiger, 19 Josh Larsen, 20 Ethan Fryer, 21 Oscar Lennon, 22 Wayne van der Bank, 23 Harrison Boyle
CHICAGO HOUNDS
1 Faka’osi Pifeleti, 2 Dylan Fawsitt, 3 Charlie Abel, 4 James Scott, 5 Hamish Bain, 6 Mason Flesch, 7 Maclean Jones, 8 Lucas Rumball (capt.), 9 Jason Higgins, 10 Christopher Hilsenbeck, 11 Peyton Wall, 12 Ollie Devoto, 13 Bryce Campbell, 14 Noah Brown, 15 Tim Swiel
Replacements: 16 Janus Venter, 17 Liam Fletcher, 18 Ignacio Péculo, 19 Luke White, 20 Matthew Oworu, 21 Michael Baska, 22 Adriaan Carelse, 23 Mark O’Keeffe
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Saturday, June 21
Venue: Veterans Memorial Stadium, Quincy
Kickoff: 13:00 local (10:00 Pacific, 12:00 Central)
Weather Forecast: sunny, 82°F (28°C), wind NW 7-11mph (11-18km/h)
Broadcasts: ESPN2, Sky Sports NZ, The Rugby Network
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Assistants: Lex Weiner (USA) & Cam Russell (Canada)
TMO: Derek Summers (USA)
| HISTORY |
HEAD-TO-HEAD (6) – New England 4, Chicago 2
2025-05-10 – New England Free Jacks 27, Chicago Hounds 17 (Veterans Memorial Stadium)
2025-03-02 – Chicago Hounds 36, New England Free Jacks 7 (SeatGeek Stadium)
2024-07-27 – New England Free Jacks 23, Chicago Hounds 17 (Veterans Memorial Stadium)
2024-05-05 – New England Free Jacks 20, Chicago Hounds 26 (Veterans Memorial Stadium)
2024-03-24 – Chicago Hounds 17, New England Free Jacks 22 (SeatGeek Stadium)
2023-04-08 – New England Free Jacks 31, Chicago Hounds 19 (Veterans Memorial Stadium)
