League: Major League Rugby

Founded in 2017 with it’s inaugural season played in 2018, Major League Rugby (MLR) is the highest level of professional rugby in North America.

Matt Giteau

Australian rugby legend Matt Giteau played in Major League Rugby between 2021-2022, and again in 2024. He represented the LA Giltinis (2021-2022) and the San Diego Legion (2024).

Giteau played Rugby League until the age of 12, before turning his attention to Union. He represented the Wallabies in the 2001/02 IRB World Sevens Series, and represented the U21s at the Junior World Championship in South Africa in 2002. He earned the first of his 100+ test caps for the Wallabies in November of that year against England. He represented Australia at 3 Rugby World Cups, in 2003, 2007, and 2015, finishing as a Runner-Up twice (2003, 2015).

At club level, Giteau played in Super Rugby between 2001-2011, earning over 100 appearances in the competition between the Brumbies (2001-2006 & 2010-2011) and the Western Force (2007-2009). He won two Super Rugby titles with the Brumbies (2001 & 2004, Super 12 at the time). In 2011 Giteau signed with Toulon in the French Top 14 whom he represented over 120 times through 2017. He won the 2013, 2014, and 2015 Heineken Cups with the French side, as well as the 2013/14 Top 14 season. In 2017, Giteau moved to Japan to represent the Suntory Sungoliath in the Japanese League One. He played with Sungoliath between 2017-2020, before moving stateside.

Giteau signed with the LA Giltinis ahead of their inaugural MLR season in 2021. He earned 13 appearances for the Giltinis (12 starts), scoring 1 try and 98pts as LA advanced to the 2021 Championship Final, defeating Rugby ATL 31-17 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to lift the 2021 Shield. He was signed with the Giltinis for the 2022 season, but did not appear due to injury. Shortly before the 2022 Championship Series, the LA Giltinis, along with sister team the Austin Gilgronis, were disqualified from the 2022 season for alleged Salary Cap violations. Following this, Giteau announced the end of his professional rugby career.

His retirement wouldn’t last long however, as Giteau would announce on his podcast, Kickoffs and Kick-ons, on 19th December 2023 that the 41yo had signed with the San Diego Legion for the 2024 MLR season. He joined the Legion for their playoff push and scored 59pts in 8 games (7 starts) as the San Diego Legion qualified 3rd in the Western Conference, before falling to arch rivals Seattle Seawolves in the Western Conference Semifinal.

achievements

  • MLR Champion: 2021 (LA Giltinis)
  • 2021 MLR Championship MVP
  • 6th in MLR Scoring: 2021 (98pts)
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2021 – Round 7

DTH van der Merwe

South African born internationally capped Canadian Daniel Tailliferre Hauman “DTH” van der Merwe played in Major League Rugby between 2021-2022. He represented the LA Giltinis for his entire MLR career.

van der Merwe started playing rugby at the age of 5 and played throughout his youth prior to moving with his family to Saskatchewan, Canada in 2003. He played with the Regina Rogues and impressed enough to earn spots on the Saskatchewan U18 & U21 sides, as well as playing with the Prairie Fire in the Rugby Canada Super League before moving to Victoria, British Columbia in 2005. In BC, van der Merwe began playing with the James Bay Athletic Association between 2005-2009, winning 3 consecutive provincial championships between 2006-2008, and a national championship in 2017. Van der Merwe’s professional career began during with James Bay AA, when he joined English Premiership side Saracens for the 2007/08 season but was injured on his debut and sidelined for 18 months.

He recovered, and his ‘breakout’ period came when he joined the Glasgow Warriors in the PRO 12 (later PRO 14 and now the URC) with whom he played between 2009-2015, scoring a whopping 43 tries in his first stint with the club. After 6 years in Glasgow, van der Merwe joined the Scarlets between 2015-2017, scoring another 20 tries in 41 appearances for the Welsh side, before dipping his toe into the English Premiership once again for the 2017/18 season with the Newcastle Falcons. After a season with Newcastle, van der Merwe returned to the Glasgow Warriors for a second stint between 2018-2020, scoring another 12 tries. In total, he scored an incredible 75 PRO12/PRO14 tries, including 63 in 124 appearances for Glasgow, before even touching his international career.

DTH van der Merwe made his international debut for Canada in June 2006 against Barbados. He earned 61 caps for Canada and leads the national team in tries scored, with 38. He represented his adopted nation at FOUR World Cups, in 2007, 2011, 2015, and 2019, retiring from international rugby following the 2019 competition in Japan. The LA Giltinis confirmed the signing of DTH van der Merwe in November 2020, ahead of their inaugural MLR season in 2021 where he continued his prolific scoring. He scored 11 tries in 13 MLR games (12 starts), finishing T-2nd with Utah’s Sama Malolo for tries scored, and 9th for Meters Gained with 931m as LA advanced to the Championship final in their inaugural season, defeating Rugby ATL 31-17 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Van der Merwe was signed with LA for the 2022 season, but injury prevented him taking the field and, when the LA Giltinis and Austin Gilgronis folded shortly after they were disqualified from the 2022 MLR Championship Series for a violation of league rules, he announced his retirement.

achievements:
  • 2021 MLR Champion: LA Giltinis
  • 9th in MLR Meters Gained: 2021 (931)
  • T-2nd in MLR Try Scoring: 2021 (11)

Sean McNulty

English born Irish hooker Sean McNulty played in Major League Rugby between 2019-2026. He represented the Rugby New York Ironworkers (2019), the New England Free Jacks (2020), the LA Giltinis (2021), Seattle Seawolves (2022, 2026), San Diego Legion (2023), and Miami Sharks (2024-2025)

Born in London, England to Irish parents, McNulty moved to New York aged 1 but still calls Dublin his hometown and represented Ireland at both U19 & U20 levels. He represented the New England Free Jacks for their exhibition season in 2019, before being loaned to Rugby United New York (now the Rugby New York Ironworkers) for their inaugural 2019 season. He returned to the Free Jacks for their inaugural season in 2020, a season that was shortened due to COVID-19. McNulty moved across the country to join the LA Giltinis for their inuagural MLR season in 2021, playing a key role in their Championship-winning season. He remained with the Giltinis into the 2022 season but was traded to the Seattle Seawolves part way through in exchange for 2022 Cap Considerations (unknown), and finished the season in the PNW with Seattle on their run to the Championship Final against his former team, Rugby New York. Following the 2022 season, the Seattle Seawolves traded Sean McNulty to the San Diego Legion in exchange for Ben Mitchell, and McNulty remained with the Legion for the 2023 season, again going to the Championship Final but falling 24-25 to the New England Free Jacks. On 21st December 2023, the San Diego Legion traded McNulty to the Miami Sharks in exchange for 2024 Salary Cap Considerations (unknown). McNulty appeared in all 16 Sharks games during their inaugural season, starting 10 times and scoring 2 tries. He set career highs in both metres gained (337m) and tackles completed (122).

As of the conclusion of the 2024 MLR season, McNulty had earned a total of 56 MLR Caps (26 starts) scoring 5 tries. He has featured in the Inaugural Seasons of 4 different MLR Teams: Rugby United New York (2019), the New England Free Jacks (2020), the LA Giltinis (2021), and the Miami Sharks (2024). McNulty appeared in 2 consecutive MLR Championship Finals, the LA Giltinis (2021, won), Seattle Seawolves (2022, lost), and was with the San Diego Legion (lost) for the 2023 Final but did not feature.

Following the 2024 MLR season, McNulty was included in the USA squad for the Pacific Nations Cup, and earned his test debut as Eagle #577 in a win against Canada on August 31st, 2024. On October 23rd, 2024, the Miami Sharks announced the return of Sean McNulty for their 2025 MLR season, where he started 7 of 16 appearances and added a 6th career MLR try as well as 55 tackles and 119m gained in possession to help the Miami Sharks to their first and only postseason appearance. Following the withdrawal of the Miami Sharks from Major league Rugby in August 2025, Sean McNulty returned to the Seattle Seawolves, who announced his signing for the 2026 season on Christmas Eve 2025.

Achievements

Adam Ashe

Internationally Capped Scottish Number 8 Adam Ashe represented the LA Giltinis in Major League Rugby from 2021-2022.

Ashe joined LA ahead of the 2021 MLR season following a nearly 10yr stint with Glasgow Warriors of the URC. He made 13 appearances (12 starts) during the Giltinis’ 2021 MLR Championship season and earned 16 MLR caps in total (13 starts), scoring 2 tries!

On 2nd July 2022, a then 28yo Ashe announced an end to his playing career following a neck injury early in the 2022 MLR season exacerbating existing issues from 2014. He has shifted his focus to coaching, having already been a Defence & Forwards coach with UCLA during his time in California, and joined Stirling County RFC in Scotland as a Defence coach in summer of 2022.

MLR Honours:

  • 2021 MLR Champion – LA Giltinis

Luke Carty

US-capped Irishman Luke Carty played in Major League Rugby between 2021-2025. He represented the LA Giltinis (2021-2022), the Chicago Hounds (2023-2024), the NOLA Gold (2025), and Anthem RC (2026).

Carty, an Athlone native who qualifies for the USA through his New York-born grandfather, represented the Ireland U18 side, and the U20s at World Rugby Championship in 2017. He played with the Connacht Academy as well as the ‘A’ side and the Connacht Eagles. He signed with Australian side Gordon in the Shute Shield competition for 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic meant Carty was unable to travel.

Carty signed with the LA Giltinis ahead of their inaugural season in 2021, earning 15 caps (6 starts) in his first season in North America, scoring 19pts from the tee (8/18 – 44.44%). Carty came off the bench for LA in the MLR Championship Game, where the Giltinis defeated Rugby ATL 31-17 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to lift the 2021 Shield. Following his first season in MLR, Carty was selected for the USA National team squad for their July tests, earning his debut as Eagle #536 against England. Carty was sidelined for much of the following season through injury, earning 3 further appearances (2 starts) late in the season and scoring 29pts from the tee (13/14 – 92.86%), before the LA Giltinis were disqualified from the 2022 season (along with the Austin Gilgronis, their sister team) for alleged breaches of the salary cap. The Giltinis folded in the offseason, and in the subsequent Expansion/Dispersal draft, Carty was selected 2nd overall by the Chicago Hounds expansion side, with whom he signed a multi-year contract prior to the Hounds’ inaugural season in 2023.

Carty appeared in every game for the Hounds during the 2023 season, starting 13 times and scoring a career high 64pts from the tee (25/35 – 71.43%) to take his MLR total to over 100pts. On 3rd January 2024, the Hounds confirmed the return of Luke Carty for the 2024 season where he scored his first MLR try and 58pts in 11 games (10 starts) as the Hounds advanced to the Eastern Conference Final before falling in a nailbiter to the eventual Champions, the New England Free Jacks. On November 22nd, 2024, the NOLA Gold confirmed the signing of Luke Carty for the 2025 season, leaving Chicago after 2 seasons with the Hounds.

In his first season with the NOLA Gold, Luke Carty started 7 of his 11 appearances and racked up 49pts, taking his career total over the 200pts mark in his 56 MLR appearances (38 starts). Unfortunately for Carty, following the 2025 season the NOLA Gold announced that they would not be competing in the 2026 MLR season, becoming one of the 4 teams that withdrew from the competition after 2025. While Carty on international duty with the USA Eagles for their November tests, Anthem RC announced the signing of Carty for their 2026 campaign on November 3rd, 2025. Carty’s contract with Anthem RC is 2yrs, through the 2027 season.

achievements:

Nathan Den Hoedt

Australian lock Nathan den Hoedt played in Major League Rugby between 2021-2026. He represented the LA Giltinis (2021-2022) the Houston SaberCats (2023-2025), and the Chicago Hounds (2026).

Brisbane native Nathan ‘Moose’ den Hoedt played with NRC side NSW Country Eagles as well as an Emerging NSW Waratahs side. He played with the famous Randwick Club in the 2019/20 Shute Shield before making the move stateside. Den Hoedt signed with the LA Giltinis ahead of their inaugural MLR season in 2021, earning 16 appearances (13 starts) and scoring 1 try as the Giltinis advanced all the way to the Championship Final in their first season, defeating Rugby ATL 31-17 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to lift the 2021 Shield. Den Hoedt returned for the Giltinis for the 2022 MLR season, starting all 16 games during the regular season and scoring another try before the LA Giltinis (along with their sister team, the Austin Gilgronis) were disqualified for alleged salary cap breaches. In the offseason, the Giltinis folded.

In the subsequent Expansion/Dispersal draft, den Hoedt was selected 19th overall by the Chicago Hounds expansion side and on 2nd December 2023, the Hounds traded him to the Houston SaberCats in exchange for 2023 Salary Cap Considerations (unknown). Den Hoedt signed with the ‘Cats for the 2023 season, earning 14 appearances for his new side and racking up 95 successful tackles. On 6th January 2024, the Houston SaberCats announced the return of Nathan den Hoedt for the 2024 MLR season where he served as part of the leadership group as he started 10 times in as many games for the SaberCats as they recorded an MLR-best record of 14-2 in the regular season before being stunned by the Dallas Jackals in the Western Conference Semifinals, a game which Den Hoedt started and was Houston Captain.

Nathan Den Hoedt would return for a 3rd year with the Houston SaberCats in 2025, continuing his role as Captain. He scored a career high 5 tries, starting 17 of his 18 appearances for Houston (both also career highs) as they would finish 2nd in the Western Conference, before earning their first ever playoff victories, defeating Rugby FC LA and the Utah Warriors to claim the Western Conference Title. The SaberCats would fall to the New England Free Jacks in the 2025 Championship in Rhode Island. Den Hoedt started all 3 playoff games for Houston. He recorded his 3rd 100+ tackle season, finishing with 147 and passing 1,000m gained in his career. For his efforts, he was named to the All-MLR 1st XV team, his first All-MLR selection.

Following the surprise announcement in September 2025 that the Houston SaberCats would not participate in the 2026 MLR season, Den Hoedt took his skills to the midwest. The Chicago Hounds announced the addition of Nathan Den Hoedt for their 2026 campaign on October 24th, 2025.

achievements:

  • MLR Team of the Week: 2026 – Rd 9
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2026 – Rd 4
  • 2025 All-MLR First XV Selection
  • 2025 Western Conference Champion – Houston SaberCats
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 4
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 11
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Rd 13
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Rd 6
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2022 – Rd 4
  • 2021 MLR Champion: LA Giltinis
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2021 – Rd 10
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2021 – Rd 6

Angus Cottrell

Australian back row Angus Cottrell played in Major League Rugby between 2021-2022. He represented the LA Giltinis for his entire MLR career,

Cottrell played rugby from an early age and his grandfather Nev Cottrell captained the Wallabies against the British & Irish Lions. Having played rugby growing up, Cottrell’s senior career began in 2008, representing the West Brisbane Bulldogs in the Queensland Premier Rugby competition until 2011. His performances for the Wests earned him a Super Rugby contract with the Western Force, who he represented from 2012-2017, earning over 50 appearances in Super Rugby before signing with the Melbourne Rebels, with whom he earned another 34 Super Rugby appearances between 2018-2020 and played with future Giltinis teammate Billy Meakes.

In December 2020, the LA Giltinis announced the signing of Cottrell for their inaugural MLR campaign in 2021, joining an Australian-heavy roster. He quickly became a stand-out back row, and led the entire league in tries scored for the 2021 season, totalling 12 scores as the Giltinis advanced to the Championship final, dispatching Rugby ATL 31-17 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Across his two seasons in LA, Cottrell scored 14 tries in 21 MLR appearances (19 starts), totaling just over 900m gained with ball in hand and 170 tackles. A week prior to the 2022 Championship Series, MLR announced that the LA Giltinis, along with sister team the Austin Gilgronis, were disqualified from the 2022 Playoffs for alleged salary cap violations and a ‘violation of league rules’. Following the 2022 season, both Austin and LA franchises folded, and in October 2022, Cottrell announced an end to his professional playing career.

achievements:
  • 2021 MLR Champion: LA Giltinis
  • 1st in MLR Try Scoring: 2021 (12)