The 2023 Major League Rugby Championship Final was played today, Saturday July 8th 2023, at SeatGeek Stadium in Chicago, Illinois. The match featured the San Diego Legion and the New England Free Jacks, who were the top two teams in the league's regular season. The Legion entered the match as the favorites, having won a league-record 14 consecutive games. However, the Boston-based team were able to pull off the upset, winning 25-24.
The Free Jacks' victory was their first MLR championship. The match was close throughout, with neither team able to take a decisive lead. The Free Jacks took a 10-0 lead in the first half, but the Legion responded with 17 unanswered points to take a 17-10 lead at halftime. The Free Jacks came out strong in the second half, scoring 15 unanswered points to take a 25-17 lead with 10 minutes remaining. The Legion tried to rally, but they were unable to score the necessary points to tie the game. The Free Jacks' victory was a major upset, as they were the underdogs going into the match. However, they were able to overcome the Legion's hot streak and win their first MLR championship. Here are some of the key players in the match: Le Roux Malan of the Free Jacks scored two tries, including the game-winning try with two minutes remaining. Tevita Nabura of the Legion scored two tries, including a try in the final minute that gave the Legion a brief lead. Will Hooley of the Free Jacks kicked four conversions and a penalty goal. Mack Hansen of the Legion kicked two conversions and a penalty goal.
The match was attended by a crowd of 12,000 fans, which was the largest crowd to ever attend an MLR match. The match was also broadcast live on FOX. The Free Jacks' victory was a major boost for the MLR, as it showed that the league is growing and becoming more competitive. It also showed that the Free Jacks are a team to be reckoned with, and they will be a contender for the championship again next season.
