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.

The Utah Warriors re-signed Ratu Veremalua Taukanoa Vugakoto (aka Tuvere) for the 2024 Major League Rugby season. The 25-year-old hooker (26 at the end of December) is 6’1″ and 255 lbs. Tuvere played 482 minutes in 11 matches, starting 5, and scoring 1 try for the Utah Warriors in 2023. Tuvere played 673 minutes in 15 matches, starting 7, and scored 3 tries for the Utah Warriors in 2022. He played 647 minutes in 16 matches, starting 8, and scored 2 tries for the Utah Warriors in 2021, and started all five matches, playing 371 minutes, and scored one try…

The Dallas Jackals signed Tomás Cubilla for the remainder of the 2024 Major League Rugby season. The 25-year-old center (26 in February) is 6’0″ and 220 lbs. Tomás played 231 minutes in 3 starts for the Dallas Jackals in 2023. Tomás is from Buenas Aires, Argentina. He graduated from St George’s College, Argentina in 2015 and then enrolled at the University of San Andies in 2016, graduating with a degree in Economics in 2020. He played rugby for Alumni in the Nacional de Clubes and URBA Top 14 since 2017. In the 2019-2020 season, he played for Jaguares XV in…

The Seattle Seawolves obtained Tyren Al-Jiboori for the 2024 Major League Rugby season in a trade with the San Diego Legion for 2024 salary cap considerations. Tyren was the Legion’s 2023 MLR Collegiate draft first-round pick (#12). The 22-year-old wing is 6’2″ and 220 lbs. Tyren grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and is from a rugby family with his brothers Michael and Malon (Eagle #520) having played professional rugby. He attended Union High School from 2015 through his graduation in 2018. While there, he played varsity football as a strong and free safety and also played rugby. In 2016 he…

NOLA Gold Pat O’Toole received a contract extension through the 2025 Major League Rugby season. The 28-year-old hooker (29 in February) is 6’0″ and 240 lbs. Pat played 702 minutes in 13 matches, starting 11, and scored 3 tries for NOLA Gold in 2023. During the season, he was honored after appearing in his 50th MLR match. In 2022 he played in 11 matches, starting 7, and scored 5 tries, and in 2021, he played 828 minutes in 16 matches, starting 13, and scored 7 tries for NOLA Gold. Following the 2019 MLR season with the Houston SaberCats, Pat signed…

Old Glory DC re-signed John Rizzo for the 2024 Major League Rugby season. The 25-year-old wing/fullback (26 in June) is 6’0″ and 205 lbs. John played 332 minutes in 8 matches, starting 3, and scored 2 tires for Old Glory DC in 2023. He also helped the Cincinnati Wolfhounds advance to the Midwest Premiership Finals in the Fall. John played 133 minutes in 5 matches, starting one for Old Glory DC in 2022 after he joined them mid-season. He then was selected to play with the USA Falcons on their tour against Chile and Brazil A teams. John is from…

The New England Free Jacks signed Mason Koch for the 2024 Major League Rugby season. The 26-year-old hooker is 5’10” and 240 lbs. Mason played 308 minutes in 8 matches, starting 4, and scored 3 tries for the Chicago Hounds in 2023. Mason played 211 minutes in 12 matches, starting 1, scoring 1 try, carrying 16 times for 111 meters (6.9 MPC), and was perfect on his 30 tackle attempts for Austin Gilronis in 2022. In 2021 he played 267 minutes in 9 matches, starting 2, scoring 2 tries, carrying 20 times for 109 meters (5.5 MPC), and making 39…

The Chicago Hounds signed Paddy Ryan for the 2024 Major League Rugby season. The 32-year-old tighthead/loosehead prop (33 in December) is 6’2″ and 285 lbs. Paddy played 462 minutes in 11 matches, starting 8, for the Chicago Hounds in 2023. He carried the ball 33 times and gained 138 meters on those carries (4.2 meters-per-carry), and defensively he completed 54 tackles on 62 attempts and was credited with three breakdown steals. Additionally, Ryan had 98 first or second ruck arrivals. He made his 50th MLR appearance in the Hounds’ Week 13 contest against the New York Ironworkers and has played…

The Utah Warriors signed Logan Crowley for the 2024 Major League Rugby season. The 27-year-old scrumhalf (28 in March) is 5’9″ and 175 lbs. Logan is from Taranaki, New Zealand, and the son of Alan Crowley, who played for Taranaki, and the nephew of New Zealand All-Black Kieran Crowley. Logan earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Commerce in 2016 from Lincoln University and a Certificate in Nutrient Management from Massey University in 2022. Logan played for Taranaki in the ITM Cup/Bunnings NPC in 2017 through 2018 and again in 2021 through 2023. In 2019 and 2020 he played for the…

The Toronto Arrows signed Nick Brown for the 2024 Major League Rugby season. The 26-year-old back-row (27 in January) is 6’3″ and  238 lbs. Nick is from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and attended The Kings School, Parramatta, and a Master’s Degree in Construction Management from Leeds Beckett University. Nick began playing rugby when he was 8 for Dural Rugby Club in Northwest Sydney before playing for Chatswood Club. He represented Gordon District Rugby while winning four State Championships. He was a member of the Waratahs Generation Blue Program between the ages of 12 and 15. Since he was 16,…

The Seattle Seawolves signed Huw Taylor for the 2024 Major League Rugby season. The 27-year-old lock/back-row (28 in June) is 6’5″ and 250 lbs. Huw was born in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, England, and attended Old Swinford Hospital. He represented England U18s  in 2014 and the  England U20s 2016 Six Nations Under 20s Championship, as in the  Junior World Cup winning team in 2016. Huw played professionally for the Worcester Warriors in the English Premiership Rugby between 2014 and 2018, making 27 appearances. From 2018 through 2023 he played with the Dragons in Wales, making 52 appearances, and is a Welsh-qualified player…

The Houston SaberCats re-signed Emmanuel Albert for the 2024 Major League Rugby season. The 24-year-old lock/blindside flanker is 6’4″ and 240 lbs. Emmanuel played 567 minutes in 16 matches, starting twice, for the Houston SaberCats in 2023. He then played for the St. Louis Bombers, who won the Midwest Premiership in the Fall. He played 303 minutes in 13 matches, starting 1, and scored 1 try for the SaberCats in 2022. He also played for Rugby HTX, the team’s academy side in Fall 2022. Emmanuel is from Eagan, Minnesota, and attended Eagan High School. Before attending there, he played high…

The Chicago Hounds signed Justice Nkombua to a contract extension for the 2024 Major League Rugby season. The 24-year-old flanker/lock (25 in January) and is 6’5″ and 245 lbs. Justice played 165 minutes in 6 matches, starting 1, after joining the Chicago Hounds during the 2023 MLR season. He carried the ball ten times for 50 meters (5 meters-per-carry), and defensively completed 16 of his 18 tackle attempts with two of those 16 tackles dominant ones. Justice began playing rugby at CBC Boksburg High School and represented Valke Under-16 through Under-18 levels. His performance at Grant Khomo and the Academy…

The Toronto Arrows re-signed Shay Kerry for the 2024 Major League Rugby season. The 28-year-old lock/back-row (29 in February) is 6’6″ and 270 lbs. Shay played 422 minutes in 6 matches, starting 5, for the Toronto Arrows in 2023 after arriving mid-season. He had 203 carry meters on 43 carries, 101 ruck arrivals, and 51 tackles (87.9% completion). Shay was born in England and holds a New Zealand passport. He played both youth soccer and rugby. He began playing soccer in Folkestone with Millwall Football Club with their London junior sides. He moved to New Zealand when he was in…

Old Glory DC signed Logan Weidner through the 2026 Major League Rugby season. The 21-year-old back row/lock (22 in February) is 6’6″ and 255 lbs. With his signing with Old Glory, it is anticipated that he may play for the USA National Team in the future as a result of his father being from Iowa. That is speculation as he was raised by his mother and two siblings in Canada. Logan is from North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and is eligible to play for Canada, as well as for the United States. He attended Carson Graham Secondary School in North…

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