New Zealand Lock/Flanker Frank Lochore played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2025. He represented the Utah Warriors for his entire MLR career.

Lochore represented the Hawke’s Bay Magpies in New Zealand’s NPC competition between 2021-2023, where he played alongside fellow Warrior Caleb Makene as well as a number of other MLR names. On 14th November 2023, the Utah Warriors announced the signing of then-23yo Frank Lochore for the 2024 MLR season, his first pro season in North America. In that season, he started all 16 of the Warriors’ games, scoring 5 tries and finishing 2nd League-Wide in Tackles Completed during the regular season with 221, behind only Cory Daniel of Old Glory DC on a huge 276. Daniel and Lochore were the only players over 200 tackles completed in 2024, and he finished 2nd League-Wide despite not appearing in the post-season. He was named as the 2024 Utah Warriors Player of the Year for his stand-out season, also earning an All-MLR First XV selection.

On 16th July 2024, the Hawke’s Bay Magpies announced the return of Lochore for their NPC season in 2024. On January 7th, 2025 after spending the off-season back in his native New Zealand, the Utah Warriors announced the return of Frank Lochore for the 2025 season. Lochore was a standout for the Warriors in 2025. He scored 2 tries and appeared in all 18 of the Warriors’ games that season as they claimed their first postseason victory and advanced to the Western Conference Final, starting 17. He set a new MLR record for tackles in a single season, averaging 16.7 tackles per game for a total of 301 tackles completed, becoming the first player in MLR history to complete over 300 tackles in a season. For his outstanding season, Lochore was selected for his second All-MLR 1st XV selection in as many seasons.

An interview between Joe Harvey and Frank Lochore released on 10th September, 2025 revealed that Lochore would not be returning to MLR for the 2026 season. Instead, he would be heading to Japan after the 2025 Bunnings NPC campaign with the Hawke’s Bay Magpies. On September 16th, the NEC Green Rockets confirmed the signing of Lochore for the 2025/26 season, where he would be reuniting with fellow Utah Warriors alum Dylan Nel, and former Warriors HC Greg Cooper.

achievements

• 2025 All-MLR First XV Selection
• 1st in MLR Tackling: 2025 (301)
• MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 17
• MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 15
• MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 12
• MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 9
• MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 6
• MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 3
• 2024 All-MLR First XV Selection
• 2nd in MLR Tackling: 2024 (221)
• 2024 Utah Warriors Player of the Year
• MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 17
• MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 12
• MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 9
• MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 6
• MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 3
• MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 1