The Major League Rugby playoffs are finally here, and this weekend gave rugby fans plenty to argue about.

On this week's episode of the A&D Podcast, Austin and Dietrich break down the final weekend before the postseason and debate which teams are peaking at the perfect time—and which teams are headed for disappointment.

The boys kick things off in the nation's capital as Old Glory DC hosts Anthem RC. Old Glory came out firing, spending most of the opening ten minutes camped inside Anthem's 22 and showing exactly why they're a dangerous playoff side. Anthem struggled to hold possession early, and once again the issues that have plagued them all season—poor execution, inconsistent lineouts, and an inability to sustain momentum—came back to haunt them.

But the match wasn't without drama. Anthem clawed their way back into the game, finally finding rhythm in the second half and even taking the lead at the hydration break. Was this proof that Anthem's young core is finally turning a corner, or was it simply Old Glory losing focus? Austin argues that outside of a brief lapse after halftime, Old Glory was comfortably the better side. Dietrich isn't so sure.

And after another season of missed opportunities, the boys ask the big question: What changes does Anthem RC need this offseason to finally become a playoff contender?

Next, it's off to Quincy, Massachusetts, where the New England Free Jacks hosted the Chicago Hounds in a match that perfectly summed up both teams' seasons.

The opening twenty minutes were chaotic—penalties, handling errors, questionable decisions, and almost no scoring opportunities. Was it playoff nerves, roster rotation, or just sloppy rugby? Chicago's heavily rotated lineup struggled to find cohesion early, and New England capitalized, even taking their first lead late in the opening half.

But once the Hounds unleashed their regular starters in the second half, the match completely changed.

Chicago reclaimed the lead around the 67th minute and never looked back, showing why many fans believe they're one of the favorites to win the MLR Championship. Austin believes the first half struggles were nothing more than growing pains from giving the backups a chance. Dietrich asks a tougher question: If Chicago's depth struggles this much, can they really survive a playoff grind?

Meanwhile, the Free Jacks' disappointing season officially comes to an end. Are the three-time defending champions just one offseason away from returning to dominance, or has the rest of Major League Rugby finally caught up?

Finally, Seattle hosted California in what was essentially a playoff preview with home-field advantage on the line.

California controlled the scrums early and even dominated possession in the first half, but Seattle struck first the moment they entered the Legion 22 and never truly looked back. Despite both teams struggling with discipline and seeing yellow cards for repeated infringements, the Seawolves steadily took control through elite defense, clinical finishing, and outstanding efficiency inside the opposition's 22.

By the 60-minute mark, Seattle led five tries to one, and California looked desperate for answers.

Was this simply Seattle proving they're the team to beat at Starfire Stadium, or did California uncover enough in the early stages of the match to engineer an upset in the semifinals? Dietrich believes the Legion may have found a blueprint to beat Seattle if they're willing to adjust their game plan. Austin thinks the Seawolves are simply too complete.

To wrap up the show, the boys give their Major League Rugby playoff predictions, debate potential upset picks, and discuss what this postseason could mean for the future of rugby in America.

Can Old Glory shock the Chicago Hounds? Is Seattle unbeatable at home? Have the Free Jacks dynasty years come to an end? And what does Anthem RC need to do to finally take the next step?

Drop your predictions and hottest takes in the comments

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The show begins in Washington, D.C., where Old Glory DC looked poised to hand the league-leading Chicago Hounds their first loss of the season. Chicago struck first, with their powerful forward pack immediately making their presence felt, but DC responded with pace, support running, and relentless pressure, keeping the Hounds on the back foot for much of the contest. By halftime, Old Glory held a 19-14 lead, and around the 60-minute mark, they had stretched that advantage to 32-19, forcing penalties and threatening to pull off one of the biggest upsets of the MLR season. So what happened? Did Old Glory expose a blueprint to beat Chicago, or did the Hounds prove that dominant forward play and elite ball retention are enough to survive even when everything else isn't going your way? The hosts debate whether this one-point escape should concern Chicago fans heading into the playoffs.

Next, Anthem RC welcomed the California Legion in a clash between two teams committed to playing fast, expansive rugby. Both sides came out determined to attack from sideline to sideline, but early lineout struggles and handling errors disrupted the flow. While Anthem showed impressive defensive grit and spent large stretches of the match inside Legion territory, California's experience ultimately made the difference. The Legion consistently turned scoring opportunities into points, securing a bonus-point try before halftime and building a commanding lead through sharp offloads, space creation, and clinical execution. Anthem's young roster never stopped fighting, producing a late surge that earned a valuable try bonus point, but was youth and inexperience the deciding factor? Or does the final scoreline unfairly overlook how competitive parts of this match actually were? Austin and Dietrich discuss whether Anthem is closer to becoming a legitimate contender than the standings suggest.

The main event takes us to Starfire Stadium, where the Seattle Seawolves hosted the New England Free Jacks in a match that felt personal from the opening whistle. The intensity was evident immediately, with Nate Salmon delivering a massive hit on JP Smith before later finding himself in the middle of controversy after receiving a yellow card following a frightening collision with Davey Coetzer. A scuffle shortly afterward left no doubt that emotions were running high, and what followed was one of the most physical contests of the season. Turnovers piled up, scoring opportunities were limited, and neither side could establish sustained momentum. As the game evolved into a tactical chess match, Seattle's scrum began to dominate in the second half, gradually creating the platform the Seawolves needed to break the deadlock. Was this the moment Seattle announced themselves as genuine championship contenders, or are the Free Jacks still dangerous despite their struggles? The guys break down the turning points, key collisions, and whether the famous Seattle "Seawall" defense could be the difference-maker when the postseason arrives.

Plus, playoff race implications, standout performers, controversial moments, tactical analysis, and the biggest questions facing Major League Rugby as the regular season enters its final stretch.

Do you think Old Glory proved Chicago can be beaten? Is Anthem's rebuild ahead of schedule? And was Seattle vs New England the most physical match of the MLR season so far? Let us know your thoughts in the comments and join the debate.

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On this episode of the A&D Podcast, Austin and Dietrich leave the weight room behind and step back onto the rugby pitch to break down all the biggest storylines, reactions, controversies, and playoff implications from Major League Rugby Week 9. With the MLR playoffs approaching, every result matters — and every debate gets louder.

Before diving into the league action, Austin’s French rugby fandom makes an appearance as the guys take a quick detour overseas to react to the Champions Cup Final between Leinster and Union Bordeaux Bègles. Did Europe’s biggest stage deliver, and what does it say about the modern game?

Back stateside, the discussion opens with Anthem Rugby Carolina vs New England Free Jacks. Has New England finally flipped the switch at the perfect time? Austin and Dietrich debate whether offseason turmoil and roster shakeups buried the Free Jacks early, or if this late-season surge is simply classic New England rugby. Meanwhile, Anthem’s season officially reaches its end — but the bigger question remains: What now? Dietrich wants answers about Anthem’s future and how the organization will take the next step, while Austin believes the foundation is already in place, with young talent that needs time. Who’s right?

Then the spotlight shifts to the heavyweight showdown: Chicago Hounds vs Seattle Seawolves, a clash between the league’s top teams that turned into a statement performance. Austin makes a bold claim: the MLR Shield belongs to Chicago unless someone takes it from them. Are the Hounds truly the dominant force of 2026, or is the hype getting out of control? Dietrich asks the question every rugby fan should be debating: Has Chicago looked this dominant all season—or are we witnessing a perfectly timed hot streak?

The episode wraps with California Legion vs Old Glory DC, where Old Glory left Austin asking one question: What happened? Momentum came and went, opportunities disappeared, and now a playoff race with New England is turning into one of the biggest storylines of the season. Is Old Glory collapsing at the worst possible time, or can they still fight their way in?

The final weeks of the Major League Rugby season are here, the playoff race is tightening, and the debate is only getting louder. Drop your takes in the comments: Are Chicago already champions? Can New England complete the comeback? And where does Anthem go from here?

Follow A&D Podcast for rugby clips, reactions, and updates on TikTok (@ad.podcast) and Instagram (@ad.podcast0), and tune in for more MLR analysis, rugby debates, match reactions, and weekly breakdowns.

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