Major League Rugby is a professional North America league.

Browsing: Major League Rugby

Major League Rugby is a professional USA league that began in 2018 and has teams in the U.S. and in Canada. Current MLR teams include Austin Elite Rugby, Glendale Raptors, Houston SaberCats, New Orleans Gold, Rugby United New York, San Diego Legion, Seattle Seawolves, Toronto Arrows, and the Utah Warriors. In 2020, teams in Atlanta, New England, and Washington, D.C. will join the league and have exhibition matches in 2019.

Photo: Aaron Cornia of Fets Vainikolo

Utah Warriors & Fetu’u Vainikolo

By djcoilrugby on December 12, 2018 Major League Rugby

The Utah Warriors Fetu’u Vainikolo spent the off-season playing for Tonga at the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco in July. Fets is 33-years-old, 6’0, and 209 pounds and plays either wing or center. His speed, elusiveness in the open field, and power made him a dangerous offensive threat to opposing teams in 2018 and in 2019, Major League Rugby teams will need to contend with him again. Fets previously played with the Otago Highlanders, Exeter Chiefs, and is Tonga’s international wing and leading try scorer. Fets was born and raised in the small Tongan village of Ha’alalo. He moved…

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Photo: Toronto Arrows - Rob Brouwer (left), Kolby Francis (center), Paul Ciulini (right)

Toronto Arrows Signs Kolby Francis

By djcoilrugby on December 12, 2018 Major League Rugby

The Toronto Arrows signed Kolby Francis for the 2019 Major League Rugby season. Kolby is from Brantford, Ontario and plays back row and lock. He is 22-years-old, 6’5″, and 250 pounds. Kolby attended St. John’s College and then the University of Guelph from 2015-2019, where he is pursuing a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree. He will be attending Guelph while playing for the Arrows and is expected to graudate in December, 2019. He played to the Guelph Gryphons and in 2017 was named to the Canadian University Men’s All-Stars, who played against the USA Collegiate All-Stars. Kolby has progressed through the Rugby…

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Photo: Toronto Arrows

Toronto Arrows Name MLR Staff

By djcoilrugby on December 11, 2018 Major League Rugby

Toronto Arrows Release – 11 December 2018 (TORONTO, ON) – The Toronto Arrows have announced their on-field management staff for 2019. The club’s on-field staff structure for its inaugural season in Major League Rugby will feature both some familiar and new faces in the mix. Vice President & General Manager – Mark WinokurThe longtime Ontario Blues and Canada senior men’s team manager is also a former head coach of the Irish Canadian Rugby Club and Toronto Super League sides, and a former Canadian media executive. Director of Rugby – Chris SilverthornAs head coach of the Ontario Blues senior men’s program since 2012,…

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Houston SaberCats Sign Charlie Connolly

By djcoilrugby on December 11, 2018 Major League Rugby

The Houston SaberCats signed Charlie Connolly for the 2019 Major League Rugby season. The 21-year-old tighthead prop is 5’9″, and 251 pounds. Charlie is from Dublin, Ireland and played for Black Rock College, Trinity College, Leinster, and Ireland Under-20s at the World Rugby Championship and the U20 Six Nations in 2017. He then played for Mogliano in the Italian Eccellenza, starting the three matches he played. He then moved to Northern Wales and played with RGC 1404 in the Welsh Principality Premiership. Charlie will be a welcome addition at prop for the team with the retirement of Adam Macklin and…

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Photo: Toronto Arrows

Toronto Arrows Announce Additional Players

By djcoilrugby on December 11, 2018 Major League Rugby

Toronto Arrows Release. (TORONTO, ON) – The Toronto Arrows have announced another group of signings ahead of their Major League Rugby season opener on Jan. 26, 2019 in New Orleans. The club has continued to focus on Canadian players to serve as the primary components of its roster construction. Committing to the Arrows are: PROPSDolezel, Tom (London, Ont.) | London St. George’s HOOKERSQuattrin, Andrew (Holland Landing, Ont.) | Aurora Barbarians LOCKSFrancis, Kolby (Brantford, Ont.) | Brantford HarlequinsSheppard, Mike (Brampton, Ont.) | Stoney Creek Camels BACK ROWMoonlight, John (Pickering, Ont.) | Ajax WanderersNay, Jack (Hertfordshire, England) | SaracensWainwright, Marcello (Toronto, Ont.) | Toronto…

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Photo: Steve Zomberg

Austin Elite Rugby Signs Dominique Bailey

By djcoilrugby on December 10, 2018 Major League Rugby

Austin Elite Rugby & Dominique Bailey Austin Elite Rugby has signed Dominique Bailey for the 2019 Major League Rugby season. The 24-year-old back row is 6’1″ and 205 pounds. Dominique was born in Louisville, Kentucky, but grew up in Kansas City, Kansas for the majority of his youth. He moved back to Kentucky for high school, attending Eastern High School from 2008-2012. While there the rugby team won the State Rugby Championship in 2011, with Dominique selected a the Forwards MVP. He also was involved in wrestling, football, and track. Dominique then attended Davenport University from 2012-2017, earning a BBA…

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Photo: Glendale Raptors - Kieran 'Ted' Browner & Peter Borlase

Glendale Raptors Add Peter Borlase to Coaching Staff

By djcoilrugby on December 10, 2018 Major League Rugby

Glendale Raptors Release Following the inaugural season in the Major League Rugby competition, Glendale Raptors forwards coach Kieran “Ted” Browner recently announced he is stepping down from his position, handing the torch to Peter Borlase for the 2019 season. “It was a very difficult decision,” Browner reflected recently. “I have been with the Raptors since the very beginning and have loved every moment of coaching these players over the years. I will no doubt continue to work with the club and look forward to helping Luke Gross mold the next generation of professional players and coaches. As the MLR enters…

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Photo: NOLA Gold Rugby

NOLA Gold Defeats USA Rugby South

By djcoilrugby on December 10, 2018 Major League Rugby

The New Orleans Gold Rugby Club began its exhibition season fielding an A side against the USA Rugby South Panthers on Saturday, December 8 at City Park (Magnolia pitch. For NOLA Gold, the match provided a chance to assess which Academy players might contribute during the Major League Rugby season along with some local players that might be added to the squad. NOLA Gold left with a 45-10 win in the rain with all but one try scored by the forwards. For the USA Rugby South Panthers, the preseason match against NOLA Gold is a great opportunity for the Panthers…

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Houston SaberCats Defeat Dallas RFC

By djcoilrugby on December 10, 2018 Major League Rugby

By Liam ‘Poach’ Madigan-Fried, Earful of Dirt/Penguin Tundra Rugby The rain had slowed to a light drizzle by the time the players took the field, but that didn’t make the conditions any more desirable. It was wet, it was cold, and all 46 eligible players knew this was going to be one the most miserable experiences of their season. Despite Mother Nature providing an extra opponent, Coach Justin Fitzpatrick and his pack of SaberCats left Mountain View College with a 34-8 victory over the Dallas Reds. Don’t let that point margin fool you, however. This was as hard fought of…

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Seattle Seawolves Sign Roland Suniula

By djcoilrugby on December 7, 2018 Major League Rugby

Seattle Seawolves & Roland Suniula The Seattle Seawolves signed Roland Suniula for the 2019 Major League Rugby season. Roland is 31-years-old, 5’8″, and 200 pounds. He is one of three bothers who has represented the U.S. National team. Roland has been in Seattle for several months and played for the Seattle Saracens this Fall. He also spent time coaching with Atavus Rugby. In 2018 he played with his brother Andrew with Austin Elite Rugby and this year he will be playing with Shalom. Prior to joining Austin Elite Rugby, Roland played with Rugby Reggio in Emilia, Italy in the Italian…

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Glendale Raptors Harley Davidson

Glendale Raptors Re-Sign Harley Davidson

By djcoilrugby on December 7, 2018 Major League Rugby

Glendale Raptors & Harley Davidson The Glendale Raptors signed Harley Davidson for a second Major League Rugby season. The 25-year-old, 5’9″, 185-pound wing or fullback is from Tampa, Florida but grew up in Boise, Idaho. He attended Capital High School and played football, wrestled, and then played rugby with Snake River Rugby Club from 2011-2013. Harley attended Life University from 2013-2017, graduating with a B.S. in Exercise Science. He played in four Collegiate Rugby Championships and was the team XVs captain in 2017. He was a two-time first-team Collegiate All-American in XVs and a second team selection in 7s. Following…

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Austin Elite Rugby Adds Uruguay Prop Juan Echeverria

By djcoilrugby on December 7, 2018 Major League Rugby

Austin Elite Rugby & Juan Echeverria Austin Elite Rugby has signed Uruguayan international, Juan Echeverria. He is 27-years-old, 5’9″, and 250 pounds. The tight-head prop has earned 43 caps with the Uruguayan Teros, starting 25 times and scoring 3 tries. His debut with the Uruguayan Teros was against Paraguay on April 26, 2014. His last came against Romania in Bucharest on November 24, 2018. Prior to playing with the Uruguayan national side, Echeverria played with La Olla Rugby Club in Florida, Uruguay. He then played for Old Christians helping the team to win three consecutive Uruguayan Championships in 2015, 2016,…

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Glendale Raptors Kelepi Fifita

Glendale Raptors Re-Sign Kelepi Fifita

By djcoilrugby on December 7, 2018 Major League Rugby

Glendale Raptors & Kelepi Fifita The Glendale Raptors signed Kelepi Fifita for his second Major League Rugby season with the club. The 23-years-old tighthead prop is 6’1″ and 260 pounds. Kelepi is from Phoenix, Arizona and attended Central High School. He was a four-year Varsity football player and achieved both First and Second Team All-State honors, was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and MVP, and a three-time All-Section Defensive and Offensive lineman. He also played for Arizona against the SoCal All-Stars. While in high school, he began to play rugby for Tempe Rugby Club in 2009. Following his…

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Glendale Raptors Chad London

Glendale Raptors Re-Sign Chad London

By djcoilrugby on December 7, 2018 Major League Rugby

Glendale Raptors & Chad London The Glendale Raptors have signed Chad London for the 2019 Major League Rugby season. Chad is 30-years-old 6’1″, 220 pounds, and plays center. Chad is originally from Johannesburg, South Africa and has been with the Glendale Raptors since 2013. Chad began playing rugby by age 6 in Johannesburg. He came from a rugby family with his grandparents, parents, and brother Ryan has played. Chad and Ryan also represented South Africa in BMX racing as a youth and today is an avid golfer. Chad attended the University of Johannesburg for two years in chiropractic studies. He…

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