Ohio native Sam Klimkowski played in Major League Rugby between 2022-2024. He played with the LA Giltinis (2022) and the NOLA Gold (2023-2024).

Klimkowski played varsity football at Avon Lake High School in Ohio, before picking up rugby in his Senior year and winning the State Championship. He continued to play rugby while at Notre Dame College, winning a National Championship in 2017 before delcaring for the 2021 MLR draft, where he was selected by the LA Giltinis in the first round, 13th overall. The Giltinis signed Klimkowski for the 2022 season but he did not feature, and played with the NOLA Gold academy side during the ARP Fall season that year after NOLA GM Ryan Fitzgerald noticed his talent while at The Rugby Showcase in Connecticut in 2021.

Following his play with the Academy side in 2022, the NOLA Gold signed Klimkowski for the 2023 MLR season, which he spent playing with New Orleans RFC and the Gold academy side once again, earning another MLR contract for 2024. In 2024, Klimkowski finally earned his MLR debut, earning 4 MLR appearances including 1 start for the Gold, helping them to finally end their playoff drought that year. On October 12th 2024, the NOLA Gold announced the departure of Klimkowski, and it is unclear if he will be returning to MLR for 2025.

achievements:

• 2021 MLR Draftee: 1st Rd (13th Overall) – LA Giltinis