What to know, how to watch

The game: Houston SabreCats (11-1) vs. RFC Los Angeles (4-7-1)
When or: 7 p.m., Saturday, SaberCats Stadium
How to watch: FS2

The SaberCats begin the final stretch of the Major League Rugby regular season, hosting RFC Los Angeles for the first of three home games over the past four weeks. The SaberCats will also be at home on June 15 against Seattle and June 29 against Dallas.

There will be at least one playoff game as the SaberCats became the first MLR team to win last week. Their 21-7 win at NOLA Gold also set a franchise record for wins.

Houston continues to hold first place in the MLR with 52 points, seven ahead of Western Conference rival Seattle and 12 ahead of San Diego and Eastern Conference leader New England.

The top four teams in each conference will advance to the playoffs, which could include sixth-place RFC Los Angeles after last week’s 45-15 loss to Miami.

RFC Los Angeles, which relocated from Atlanta before the 2024 season, tied Utah with 27 points, six behind fourth-place Dallas.

The SaberCats defeated RFC Los Angeles 27-12 in their first meeting on March 10 at SaberCats Stadium. Houston has yet to lose to a Western Conference opponent and leads the MLR in point differential (123), points for (368) and fewest points against (245).

Freestyle prop Ezekiel Lindenmuth is the only SaberCats player to have started every game this season and was recognized for his efforts this week, winning the MLR First XV with fullback Drew Wild.

Lindenmuth carried 11 times for 55 yards while recording 14 breakdowns, nine tackles and one defender beat against NOLA Gold. He was at No. 1 in his first year with the SaberCats.

Davy Coetzer was among the stars last week, making all three converted kicks in addition to 446 kicking yards and 12 tackles. Ronan Murphy, Keni Nasoqeqe and Andre’ Warner scored tries, while Pita Anae-Ah Sue ran for a record 105 meters from 13 carries.

RFC Los Angeles was led by Jason Emery’s 13 points, including 5-for-5 conversions, against Miami. James Stokes gained 137 yards on 10 carries, adding 242 yards. Max Katjijeko contributed 15 tackles and a try.

Western Conference
*Houston 11-1-0 (52 points)
Seattle 9-3-0 (45)
San Diego 8-4-0 (40)
Dallas 5-7-0 (33)
Utah 4-8-0 (27)
Los Angeles 4-7-1 (27)
Eastern Conference
New England 8-4-0 (40)
New Orleans 7-5-0 (34)
Chicago 5-6-1 (30)
DC 5-5-2 (30)
Miami 4-8-0 (21)
Caroline 0-12-0 (6)

Week 14 results
DC 47, Caroline 29
Houston 21, New Orleans 7
San Diego 27, Utah 20
New England 26, Dallas 24
Los Angeles 45, Miami 15

Program for week 15
SATURDAY
New England at DC, 6 p.m.
Los Angeles to Houston, 7 p.m.
Sunday
Caroline in San Diego, 3 p.m.
New Orleans to Miami, 5 p.m.
Chicago to Dallas, 7 p.m.
Utah at Seattle, 9 p.m.

* — clinched a playoff spot