Playoff First-Timers RFCLA Ready to Roar Against Battle-Tested SaberCats

Two teams with unfinished business face off in Houston this Sunday, and only one will secure a ticket to the Western Conference Final.

At 8:30 p.m. ET on June 15, the Houston SaberCats host RFCLA at SaberCats Stadium in a much-anticipated MLR Western Conference Semifinal. The match will be broadcast on ESPN+.

Houston enters with playoff scars but motivated, having fallen early in the 2024 postseason. RFCLA, on the other hand, is writing history, stepping into the playoffs for the first time in franchise existence.

The teams split their 2025 season series 1-1, with both matches decided by slim margins. Houston earned a 45-28 win in February, dominating the second half with five tries. But RFCLA struck back in April, taking a narrow 24-22 win thanks to a missed Houston conversion in stoppage time.

Houston's biggest strength? Consistency. They finished 6-0-2 against Western Conference teams, the best in the region. 

The SaberCats also led Major League Rugby in total kicks (549) and were clinical in Week 17, rebounding from a loss to Chicago with a playoff-clinching win over Anthem RC.

But RFCLA brings firepower. They lead the league in attacking ruck entries, clean breaks, defenders beaten, total carries, and meters gained, while also collecting the most cards. 

That edge is personified by flyhalf Christian Lealiifano, who racked up 94 kicks, 103 tackles, and 92 ruck entries. He’ll go head-to-head with Houston’s AJ Alatimu, the SaberCats’ leading scorer and territorial general.

It’s the disciplined experience of Houston versus the raw fire of RFCLA. One will advance. The other’s season ends in Texas this Sunday.