Rugby ATL re-signed Frederick Henry-Ajudua for the 2023 Major League Rugby season. The 29-year-old lock/back row is 6’3″ and 250 lbs.
Fred played 16 minutes in two matches for the Ratlers in 2022. He then played for Life University in the American Rugby Premiership this Fall.
In 2022 he returned to the team after originally signing in 2020, and playing in the preseason but departed the team with the intention of representing Nigeria in World Cup qualification. Those dreams changed when the Nigerian Federation was dissolved by government officials and subsequently suspended by World Rugby in May 2021. As a result, he retains his USA eligibility.
Fred is from Lagos, Nigeria, and after moving to the U.S., residing in Durham, North Carolina. He attended King’s College in Nigeria and then Hillside New Tech after he came to the U.S. at age 16. He played soccer before migrating from Nigeria and then was a kicker in football in high school.
He then went to North Carolina Central College where after being a walk-on, became a 1st Team All American, 1st Team All MEAC Defensive end. He’s a 3-time MEAC Conference champion and played in the HBCU National Championship.
In rugby, he was a 2019 and 2021 D1 Men’s Rugby National Champion with Life and won the American Rugby Premiership Championship in 2020 and 2021 with the Life Men’s Club.
Fred is a crossover athlete who was a defensive lineman with the Jacksonville Jaguars of the NFL and Montreal Alouettes of the CFL.
Freddie is enrolled in a Doctor of Chiropractic Degree at Life University since 2019. He’s played for Life Men’s Club, Tiger Rugby, and the Harford Harpooners at the Freetail 7s.
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