Major League Rugby teams got a bit of a run-out on Saturday, with the NOLA Gold playing a scrimmage against the Capital Selects and the Houston Sabercats hosting the Uruguayan national team.

NOLA defeated the Capital Selects 68-15, and Houston lost 32-24 to Uruguay.

“We took a lot out of the game,” Gold head coach Nate Osborne said. “For most of the guys it was the first time running the attack and defense shape together in a match. There are some things we need to be better at.”

But the coach said he was fairly happy with what he saw on the field and added it was a good start.

While this was NOLA’s first game, and some other MLR teams haven’t really played at all, the Houston Sabercats have been very busy. They opened up this month with a victory over the Seattle Saracens and a loss to the Vancouver Ravens.

On Saturday, the Sabercats went up against a Uruguay national team that was getting some time on the field in advance of its Americas Rugby Challenge opener, which is also a World Cup Qualifier, against Canada next weekend.

Reviví el try de @santiiarata para @RugbyUruguay frente a los @Hou_Sabercats pic.twitter.com/y3McTurdyz

— U.R.U. (@RugbyUruguay) January 21, 2018

After falling behind 10-0, Houston held on well to make it 10-7 and then answer another Uruguay score to keep the margin close at 17-14. But in the second half, Uruguay pulled away somewhat at 32-17 before a late Sabercats try made it 32-24.

Overall, it was much-needed training for Los Terms and an impressive loss for the Sabercats.