Seattle Seawolves & Olive Kilifi

The Seattle Seawolves re-signed USA Rugby Men’s Eagles prop Olive Kilifi for the 2019 Major League Rugby season. Kilifi is 32-years-old, 5’11”, 260 pounds.

Kilifi was born in Huntington Beach, California and resides in Seattle, Washington. He went to Tyee High School in Seatac, Washington, where he played center and later prop. Prior to graduation, he was selected as a USA High School All-American. He is a long-time player for the Seattle Saracens.

Olive Kilifi and USA Rugby National Team

Olive Kilifi made his Eagles debut in November 2013 against Georgia as a reserve and has been capped 24 times. His last test was against Canada in a 2019 Rugby World Cup Qualifier match on June 23, 2018, in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

In March 2014 he started in both Rugby World Cup qualifier matches against Uruguay. On November 1, 2014, he played tighthead prop against the New Zealand All Blacks in sold-out Soldier Field, USA Rugby’s all-time record crowd.

The following year was a very active year of international rugby. In April and early May 2015, Kilifi went on the USA Selects South American tour to play the Uruguay A team in Montevideo, Uruguay, and the Argentina Jaguars twice in Salta, Argentina. He Also played for the USA Eagles against the Aviva Premiership Harlequins on April 30, 2015, at PPL Park, now Talen Energy Stadium, in Chester, PA.

Olive was a member of the USA Eagles at the 2015 Rugby World Cup and played in three matches.

Olive was also selected for the Eagles for the November 2018 match against the Maori All Blacks, Samoa, Romania, and Ireland, but an injury during camp derailed his participation.

Professional Rugby

In 2016, Kilifi joined the PRO Rugby’s Sacramento Express, the first professional rugby league in the United States. He also played in the inaugural Major League Rugby 2018 season with the League Champions, the Seattle Seawolves. The Seawolves scrum was considered one of the best in the league.

In 2019 he returns to the Seawolves and his leadership and experience in the forwards will be invaluable.

Seattle Seawolves Comments

We are excited to announce 2019 re-sign, Oli Kilifi. The USA Rugby Eagle prop is bringing back his invaluable experience and technique to the Seawolves scrum. Kilifi is a threat on offense, often requiring two tacklers to take him down. Defensively, he is another key member of the Seawall with his dominant tackles. Welcome back to the Seattle Southside, Oli!

Club Rugby

In August 2017 Kilifi went to Bermuda for a match with the USA Islanders against the Saracens. There he captained the side against former Eagle team-mate, Chris Wyles, who was captain of the Saracens for that match.

He also is a long time member of the Seattle Saracens and plays with the team in the British Columbia CDI Premier League.