The 2026 Major League Rugby Championship Final was the eighth Major League Rugby (MLR) championship match, held at the conclusion of the eighth season of the rugby union club competition in North America. The match was played on June 21, 2026, at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois. It was contested by the California Legion and Chicago Hounds, with Chicago defeating California 35-17 to claim their first championship and complete the first perfect season in league history. It is currently the highest-scoring championship game in MLR history at 52 combined points, surpassing the previous record of 50 scored in 2025.
Background Road to the final
Notes
z – Clinched home field advantage for the entire playoffs c – Clinched home field advantage for the conference semi-finals x – Clinched playoff spot e – Eliminated from playoff contention
Semi-finals
Venue selection On February 16, 2026, MLR announced that SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois would host the Championship Final. It is the home stadium of Chicago Hounds and the second league championship to be hosted in the venue, after the 2023 Major League Rugby final.
Broadcasting The Championship Final was broadcast in the United States on ESPN2, with streaming on ESPN+.
Championship Final
Rosters
Source:
LP1 Oti PifeletiHK2 Theo FourieTP3 Charlie AbelLL4 Brandon HarveyRL5 Nathan Den HoedtBF6 Mason FleschOF7 Lucas Rumball (c)N88 Jake KinneeveaukSH9 Ruben de HaasFH10 Christopher HilsenbeckLW11 Peyton WallIC12 Ollie DevotoOC13 Tavite LopetiRW14 Noah BrownFB15 Brock WebsterReplacements:HK16 Jackson ZabierekPR17 Jake TurnbullPR18 Wilton ReboloLK19 Tomás CasaresFL20 Emmanuel AlbertSH21 Michael BaskaFH22 Reece BothaCE23 Santiago VidelaCoach: Chris LathamLP1 Ma'ale MutiHK2 Joe Taufete'eTP3 Tonga KofeLL4 Keni NasoqeqeRL5 Jason Damm (c)BF6 Lance WilliamsOF7 Ed TimpsonN88 Ben HoustonSH9 Gonzalo BertranouFH10 Coby MilnLW11 Joe ManoIC12 Bill MeakesOC13 Cassh MaluiaRW14 Oscar TreacyFB15 Rory van VugtReplacements:HK16 Ale LopetiPR17 Declan LeaneyPR18 Justus TavaiLK19 Ronan MurphyFL20 Cyrille CamaSH21 Tasman SmithCE22 Corbin SmithWG23 Cole SemuCoach: Stephen Hoiles
Officials Referee: Robin Kaluzniak
Touch Judge/Assistant 1: Derek Summers
Touch Judge/Assistant 2: Luke Rogan
Robin Kaluzniak, who officiated more matches in Major League Rugby in the 2026 season than any other referee, became the first Canadian official to referee an MLR final.
References