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.

Ruben de Haas

South African born, Arkansas raised scrumhalf Ruben de Haas played in Major League Rugby in 2021, and again between 2025-2026. He represented the Austin Gilgronis (2021), the NOLA Gold (2025), and the Chicago Hounds (2026).

De Haas was born in George in South Africa’s Western Cape, before emigrating to the US at the age of 10, settling in Arkansas in 2009. He played football through high school at Jessieville HS, while also playing club rugby with one of only two teams in Arkansas at the time, the Little Rock Junior Stormers. De Haas represented the USA U19s in their 2016 tour of Ontario, Canada, captaining the team before playing with the U20s that same year in the World Rugby Trophy. The following year he represented the USA Selects in the Pacific Rugby Challenge while also signing an academy contract with the Free State Cheetahs organisation, playing with the U19s. He played with CUT IXIAS in the 2018 Varsity Cup, also earning his test debut for the USA at the age of 19 as Eagle #522 against Chile in February 2018. He played with the Cheetahs through 2020, representing the team in the Currie Cup as well as the Pro 14 and Super Rugby, before making his first move to MLR, with the Austin Gilgronis.

De Haas started 4 of his 6 appearances for the AGs in 2021, before heading to Europe and signing with Saracens in the English Premiership, where he played from 2021-2023. Following 2 years in the Premiership, de Haas returned to the Cheetahs in the Challenge Cup, where he is the third generation of his family to play for the club. He has become the USA national teams’ go-to number 9 in recent years, representing the Eagles at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan and is still a regular starting 9 in 2024. On January 3rd, 2025, the NOLA Gold announced the signing of Ruben de Haas on a 5-month loan deal for the 2025 season, returning to MLR for the first time in 4 seasons. Unsurprisingly, de Haas set career highs across the board in 2025, starting 6 of his 13 appearances for the NOLA Gold and running for just shy of 150m gained. His loan period with the Gold ended at the same time as his 2yr deal with the Cheetahs, making De Haas a free agent.

What was a disappointing season for the NOLA Gold in 2025 would turn out to be their last in MLR, with the team announcing their withdrawal in August of that year. On 14th November 2025, the Chicago Hounds announced the addition of De Haas for the 2026 MLR season.

achievements
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2026 – Rd 9

Mason Koch

Iowa native Mason Koch played in Major League Rugby between 2021-2024. He represented the Austin Gilgronis (2021-2022), the Chicago Hounds (2023) and the New England Free Jacks (2024).

Koch discovered rugby while at high school where he also played football, baseball, and wrestled. He was a founding member of his school’s rugby team and carried this into university at Dartmouth College, helping the team earn four consecutive Ivy League Championship during his tenure. He was drafted 16th overall in MLR’s inaugural Collegiate Draft in 2020 by the Austin Gilgronis, and earned 9 caps (2 starts) during his rookie season, scoring 2 tries. He earned a total of 21 caps for the AGs over 2 seasons, starting 3 times and scoring 3 tries.

Following Austin’s disqualification from the 2022 season prior to the 2022 Championship Series (along with the LA Giltinis) and their subsequent cessation of operations, Koch was selected by the NOLA Gold in the dispersal draft, before being traded to the Chicago Hounds on 2nd December 2022 in exchange for 2023 Salary Cap Considerations. Koch played for the Hounds during their inaugural season in 2023, earning 8 caps including a personal best 4 starts and scored 3 tries, another PB. On 21st November 2023, the New England Free Jacks announce the signing of Mason Koch as a free agent ahead of the 2024 MLR season.

Although his season was hampered by injury, Koch earned 5 appearances for the Free Jacks off the bench during their Shield-Winning 2024 Campaign, passing 100 career tackles completed. He did not return to MLR for the 2025 season, instead playing with the Austin Huns in Texas where he was vice-captain.

Achievements:

Isaac Ross

New Zealand lock Isaac Ross played in Major League Rugby between 2021-2024. The 8-time capped All Black represented the Austin Gilgronis (2021-2022) and the San Diego Legion (2023-2024).

The 6’7 man from Ashburton, NZ was originally signed by the Austin Gilgronis in April of 2021 as a player-coach responsible for lineouts and general forward work. He earned 9 MLR caps after joining part-way through his debut season, scoring 3 tries for the Gilgronis. Ross upped his appearances the following season, appearing in 15 of Austin‘s 16 games (12 starts) in the 2022 season. Following the Austin Gilgronis‘ disqualification prior to the 2022 MLR playoffs and subsequent cessation of operations, Ross signed with the San Diego Legion ahead of the 2023 season.

In his first season with the California franchise, Ross earned 12 additional MLR caps (all starts) during the Legion‘s record-breaking 15-1 regular season in 2023, adding another try. He appeared in both Championship Series games for the Legion including the 24-25 Championship Final loss to the New England Free Jacks.

On 2nd October 2023, the San Diego Legion announced the return of then-39yo Isaac Ross for the 2024 MLR season as part of an announcement of 7 returnees. He started all 8 of his appearances in 2024 as the Legion would again qualify for the post season, but would fall to the Seattle Seawolves in the Western Conference Semifinals. Following the 2024 season, Ross announced an end to his professional playing career in Instagram on August 15th, 2024. His career MLR totals include over 1000m gained and just shy of 400 tackles completed in 46 games across 4 seasons.

Achievements:

  • MLR Runner-Up: 2023 (San Diego Legion)
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Round 18
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2022 – Round 13
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2021 – Round 4

Hugh Roach

Australian hooker Hugh Roach played in Major League Rugby between 2021-2025. He represented the Austin Gilgronis (2021-2022), the Chicago Hounds (2023), and the San Diego Legion (2024-2025).

Roach is a highly accomplished hooker, playing with the Australia U20s and in Super Rugby with the Waratahs from 2013-2018, winning a Championship in 2014. He also won a Mitre 10 cup in New Zealand (now the NPC) with the Tasman Mako in 2019. He signed with the Austin Gilgronis ahead of the 2021 season, and earned 23 MLR caps (19 starts) for the AGs, scoring 7 tries in each of his seasons in Texas. Following the disqualification of Austin prior to the 2022 Championship Series (along with the LA Giltinis), and their subsequent cessation of operations, Roach was selected in the dispersal draft by the expansion Chicago Hounds for the 2023 season, following AGs head coach Sam Harris to Illinois.

Roach added 6 MLR caps (5 starts) and 3 tries in an injury-hampered 2023 season, still racking up over 100m gained and 50 successful tackles. On 13th November 2023, the Chicago Hounds traded Hugh Roach to the San Diego Legion in exchange for Irish born internationally capped Canadian scrum-half, Jason Higgins. Roach scored 3 tries in 12 games (all starts) in his debut season with the Legion, completing 134 tackles and tacking his career Meters Gained total over 1,100. On 2nd November 2024, the Legion announced the return of Hugh Roach for the 2025 MLR season. He scored 6 tries in 12 games (starting 11) to take his MLR total to 26 tries scored, and recorded his 4th season with over 110 tackles completed. Hugh Roach was named as the San Diego Legion’s Forward of the Year for 2025.

Achievements:
  • 2025 San Diego Legion Forward of the Year
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 16
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 12
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2022 – Rd 12
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2022 – Rd 10
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2021 – Rd 14

Jake Turnbull

US-Eligible Australian prop Jake Turnbull played in Major League Rugby between 2018-2026. He represented the Houston SaberCats (2018-2019), Old Glory DC (2020), the Austin Gilgronis (2021-2022), the Seattle Seawolves (2023), Anthem RC (2024-2025), and the Chicago Hounds (2026).

Sydney native Turnbull attended Waverly College between 2006-2011 where he played rugby throughout, before representing the Eastern Suburbs in the Australian Shute Shield competition between 2012-2017. Turnbull had moved to Denver, Colorado in 2015, playing for the Pre-MLR Glendale Raptors in the Pacific Rugby Championship before returning to the Easts in NSW. He represented the Denver Stampede during the short-lived PRO Rugby competition, the first Professional rugby league in the USA and the spiritual predecessor to MLR.

Turnbull returned to Australia in 2017 and attended the Australian College of Physical Education earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Business, Sport and Exercise. In the fall of 2017 Turnbull signed with the Houston SaberCats as both a player and an Academy and Youth Development Coach. He represented the SaberCats for the first 2 seasons on Major League Rugby, earning 5 starts in 20 appearances and scoring his first MLR try. Even after suffering a broken foot prior to the 2018 season, Turnbull earned his first MLR Team of the Week Selection in Round 3 of the inaugural season.

Turnbull left the SaberCats and represented Old Glory DC for their inaugural MLR season in 2020, earning 3 starts in 5 appearances before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the season after only 5 rounds. Following the cancellation, Turnbull returned to Australia and the Shute Shield once more, this time representing Randwick. He returned to the USA with MLR for the 2021 season, now representing the Austin Gilgronis whom he played with for 2 seasons, earning 26 appearances and 13 starts for the AGs, scoring 5 tries. On 28th May 2022, Turnbull became the 18th player in MLR history to reach 50 caps in the competition. Prior to the 2022 Championship Series, the #1 seeded Austin Gilgronis, along with their sister team the LA Giltinis, were disqualified from the 2022 season for alleged breaches of the salary cap. Both clubs folded following the season and in the subsequent Expansion/Dispersal draft, Turnbull was selected 29th overall by the Seattle Seawolves, with whom he signed for the 2023 season.

Turnbull, now on his 4th MLR team, appeared in all 18 of the Seawolves’ games during 2023. He earned 6 starts in his 16 appearances during the regular season, scoring 3 tries and appeared in both Championship Series games off the bench as the Seawolves advanced to the Western Conference Final where they fell to the San Diego Legion. Following the 2023 season, Turnbull earned his test debut with the USA as Eagle #562 in the September internationals (serving as RWC warm-ups for qualified teams) and the La Vila Cup in Spain, which the USA won.

Through his first 6 seasons in MLR, Jake Turnbull has started 27 of his 69 MLR caps and has scored 9 tries in total. On 15th January 2024, the Seattle Seawolves traded Turnbull to Anthem RC, an expansion side for the 2024 season, in exchange for 2024 Salary Cap Considerations (Unknown). Jake Turnbull was the first player named in Anthem RC history and captained them through their inaugural season, scoring 2 tries in 14 appearances (13 starts) and completing over 150 tackles, quite high for a prop. Anthem RC put together improving performances in their first season despite their 0-16 record, and Turnbull was named as their 2024 Forward of the Year. Anthem RC confirmed the return of Jake Turnbull for his 2nd season with the team when they revealed their full 2025 roster on January 21st, 2025. He scored a further 3 tries in 14 games in 2025, starting 10 times and recording over 100 tackles for his 2nd successive season to take his career total to just shy of 700 tackles in 97 career MLR appearances (50 starts).

On 18th December 2025, the Chicago Hounds announced the addition of Jake Turnbull for his 9th Major League Rugby season in 2026, marking the 6th team of his MLR career.

achievements

  • Anthem RC Forward of the Year: 2024
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 16
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 5
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Rd 16
  • 50 MLR Caps – 18th Player in League History
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2022 – Rd 17
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2022 – Rd 1
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2020 – Rd 4
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2018 – Rd 3

Cam Dodson

Englishman Cam Dodson Represented the Austin Gilgronis in Major League Rugby from 2021-2022.

A Grand Canyon alum, Dodson earned 24 caps (16 starts) in his 2 years of MLR, with his 1 try in the competition coming during the 2021 season. During the 2022 season, Dodson gained 449m from 74 ball carries, and made 153 tackles for a success rate of 83.15%.

Following the conclusion of the 2022 season, Dodson signed with English Premiership side, Wasps. After just 4 games of the 2022/23 season, Wasps entered administration and were suspended from the Premiership. On 15th April 2023, part way into their inaugural season, the Chicago Hounds announced the signing of Dodson for the remainder of the 2023 MLR season. He earned 7 MLR Caps for the Hounds (6 starts) in his 3rd MLR season.

On July 4th 2023, Dodson was announced as part of the Aurillac squad for their Pro D2 season in France. It is unknown if he will return to MLR.

MLR Honours:

  • MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Round 15
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Round 10
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2022 – Round 5
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2021 – Round 12