Rugby United New York Re-Signs Kara Pryor

Rugby United New York re-signed Kara Pryorfor the 2021 Major League Rugby season. The 29-year-old flanker (30 in February) is 6’2″ and 231 lbs.

Kara signed with RUNY for the 2020 MLR season, however visa delays precluded him from playing during the truncated season. Kara is currently playing for Northland in the 2020 Mitre 10 Cup.

Kara is from Auckland, New Zealand, and competed with Auckland Grammar School as a teenager before attending Auckland University and featuring for the Grammar Carlton Club. His grandfather a Maori All Black and his brother Dan also played rugby. Both he and his brother are of Ngati Pikiao and Ngati Awa descent.

Kara began his professional career with Auckland in the Mitre 10 Cup competition. He then joined his brother Dan with the Northland Taniwha in 2014 and has played with the team since then.

From 2016-2018 he played with the Super Rugby Blues, before joining Dan again with the Sunwolves in Japan in 2019. He played with the Blues 13 times in 2016, however, injuries impacted his playing time in 2017-2018. He finished with 23 caps for the Blues.

In 2017 he played for the Maori All Blacks competing against the British & Irish Lions, Canada, the United States, and the French Barbarians. He spent the 2018 season in the Mitre 10 with Northland before joining the Sunwolves for the 2019 campaign, working with Marty Veale, the current RUNY Forwards Coach. The pair will re-connect in New York.

Rugby United New York 2020 Comments

“I’m honored to play for Rugby United New York,” Kara shared. “I hope to improve both as a player and a person. I’m excited to contribute to the development of this organization during the 2020 season.”

“While Kara’s physical ability speaks for itself,” RUNY Head Coach McWilliams continued. “His leadership and intellect are really what sets him apart. Coaches aren’t close enough to see everything that happens on the field, we need smart minded athletes that can understand tiny details Kara provides just that.”