For the first time since Major League Rugby’s first two seasons as a league, there is a back-to-back champion as the New England Free Jacks did so against the Seattle Seawolves, who won the final in 2018 and 2019 – both in San Diego.

The Free Jacks won 20-11 for their second championship victory in five seasons.

They defeated the San Diego Legion for their first in the 2023 Final in Bridgeview, Ill.

The match also set a record for the largest crowd in MLR history with 12,085, surpassing the San Diego Legion’s record of 11,423 set in their 2023 home opener, their first match at Snapdragon Stadium.

Snapdragon Stadium holds the two highest-attended MLR matches in just two years.

Free Jacks inside center Le Roux Malan scored the game’s first try in the 15th minute.

Seawolves hooker Joseph Taufete'e put Seattle within three points of New England in the 31st minute.

The Free Jacks led, 14-8, at halftime.

Both teams scored only one try each. The Free Jacks won the game with five penalty goals by fly half Jayson Potroz. The Seawolves had two penalty goals from fly-half Mack Mason.

It was the third championship match to be hosted in San Diego. The first two were at Torero Stadium with this being the first one at Snapdragon Stadium.

The 2024 MLR season was its seventh season (sixth with playoffs due to COVID in 2020). The Seawolves and Free Jacks, now tied with two championships, lead the league. Defunct teams LA Giltinis (2021) and New York Ironworkers (2022) each won in their only Final appearances.

Seattle leads the league with four Final appearances (2018, 2019, 2022, 2024). San Diego (2019, 2023) and New England (2023, 2024) each have two. Rugby ATL (now known as Rugby Football Club LA) (2021) and the Glendale (Colorado) Raptors (2018) each had one Final appearance.