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.

Tahukiha’amea Koloamatangi

New Zealand born Tongan international Tahukiha’amea ‘Tau’ Koloamatangi played in Major League Rugby during the 2024 season. He represented the Miami Sharks for his entire MLR career.

Koloamatangi represented the New Zealand U20 side at the World Rugby U20 Championship between 2014-2015, and in the latter year represented Waikato in NZ’s Mitre 10 Cup (now the NPC). In 2019, he represented the South China Tigers in the short lived Global Rapid Rugby Competition that lasted until the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021 he joined Otago in the NPC once again, playing there through 2023. Alongside playing with Otago, Koloamatangi was included in the first ever squad of the Moana Pasifika Super Rugby side, and played with them between 2022-2024. Koloamatangi qualifies to represent Tonga on ancestry, and has earned 7 caps to date, including 3 at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.

On 31st May 2024, the Miami Sharks announced the signing of Koloamatangi (presumably before the 2024 MLR signing deadline on May 16th…) an hour before he was named in the starting XV for the Sharks’ RD 14 clash withRugby FC LA. He started all 4 of his appearances for the Sharks in 2024, and returned to Miami for the 2025 season.

#NARDB Player #1282

Steffan Crimp

Welsh born, USA Eligible fullback/fly-half Steffan Crimp played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2026. He represented Anthem RC (2024) the San Diego Legion (2025), and the California Legion (2026).

US-Eligible through is mother who was born in Indiana and raised in San Diego, Crimp attended Cardiff Met University in the United Kingdom, a university that has produced a surprising amount of MLR-ers for a Non-North American school, including Toronto’s Adrian Wadden. Crimp represented the USA U20 side against Canada in June 2023, and was named to the extended USA Eagles squad for their July 2024 tests after training with the San Diego Legion U23 squad.

Anthem RC, a partnership between MLR, USA Rugby, and World Rugby to develop the next generation of Eagles ahead of their hosting the Men’s Rugby World Cup in 2031, announced the signing of then-20yo Steffan Crimp on 31st May 2024. It is assumed that Crimp was signed prior to the MLR signing deadline of May 16th. With US-Eligible flyhalves few and far between, Crimp is one to watch. He earned 4 MLR appearances (3 starts) for Anthem RC at the tail end of the 2024 regular season. On November 15th, 2024, the San Diego Legion announced the signing of Steffan Crimp for their 2025 MLR season. Crimp took a step forward in his 2nd season of MLR competition, with 6 starts in 7 games for the Legion, scoring 2 tries and 26pts (53.85% from the tee) and gaining just over 275m as the Legion missed out on the postseason by a single point.

With San Diego merging with Rugby FC LA to form the California Legion, Steffan Crimp returned to The Golden State and was announced by the team on 22nd February, 2026. He had been playing with Cardiff RFC in the Super Rugby Cymru competition in his native Wales during the MLR off-season.

achievements
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 12

NARDB Player #1281

Jed Melvin

New Zealand flanker Jed Melvin played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2025. He represented the New England Free Jacks for his entire MLR career.

Head boy at Orewa College in Auckland, NZ, Melvin played with the East Coast Bays RFC Premier Side before being selected for the Blues A team. Melvin has played with North Harbour in New Zealand’s National Provincial Championship (NPC) since 2022, alongside Free Jacks teammate Danyon Morgan-Puterangi.

On 29th May 2024, the New England Free Jacks announced that Melvin would be joining the club, along with a pair of US-eligible Welshmen Toby Fricker and Oscar Lennon, as MLR signing deadline (May 16th) reinforcements. Before Melvin’s joining was even announced, North Harbour had announced that he would return for their 2024 NPC season following the conclusion of the MLR season. He scored a hat trick for the Free Jacks in just his 3rd MLR game (2nd start), a 36-27 victory over the Utah Warriors. Melvin proved an excellent impact player for the Free Jacks, scoring 4 tries in 8 games (7 starts) for New England and completing almost 100 tackles while running for over 300m gained. The Free Jacks finished the regular season as the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference. He scored a try as the Free Jacks overcame Old Glory DC in the Eastern Conference Semifinal, and started their Eastern Conference Final clash with the Chicago Hounds. Melvin started the 2024 MLR Championship Game where he racked up 97m gained and 11 tackles as the Free Jacks successfully defended their title with a 11-20 victory over the Seattle Seawolves in San Diego, lifting the 2nd of back-to-back MLR shields. Melvin was named Man of the Match of the 2024 Championship game.

On October 22nd, 2024, the New England Free Jacks announced the return of Jed Melvin for the 2025 MLR season, his first full season in the US. In that year he continued his excellent performance, scoring 9 tries in 16 games (14 starts), completing 160 tackles and gaining 416m in possession (both career highs). He was a huge part of the Free Jacks team that lifted the 2025 MLR Shield after defeating the Houston SaberCats in the Championship Game. This was Melvin’s 2nd Shield, and New England’s 3rd in a row. He was an All-MLR Honorable Mention for his 2025 season.

achievements

NARDB Player #1280

Oscar Lennon

US-eligible Welsh scrumhalf Oscar Lennon played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2026. He represented the New England Free Jacks for his entire MLR career.

Lennon played with Hartpury University RFC in the English system, winning promotion to the 2nd tier, the Greene King IPA Championship before signing with English Premiership side the Bristol Bears in July of 2022. Lennon represented the Bears in the Premiership Rugby Cup, Premiership, and the Champions Cup. Although Welsh, Lennon is US-eligible through his father, who was born in Ohio.

On 29th May 2024, the New England Free Jacks announced that Lennon would be joining the club, along with former Bears teammate Toby Fricker and New Zealand flanker Jed Melvin, as MLR signing deadline (May 16th) reinforcements. Lennon scored 1 try in 5 games (4 starts) for the Free Jacks, including starting all 3 of their Playoff games (meaning Lennon appeared in more playoff games than regular season games in 2024!) where his only try came against Old Glory DC in their 29-33 Eastern Conference Semifinal victory, en route to the 2024 Championship Game, where he helped the Free Jacks defeat the Seattle Seawolves to become back-to-back MLR Champions.

On October 29th, 2024, the New England Free Jacks announced the return of Oscar Lennon for the 2025 MLR season where he more than tripled his appearance total from the 2024 season. Lennon earned 17 appearances during the Free Jacks’ successful title defence, including a career high 5 starts. He added 2 tries and 9 conversions to take his points total to 33pts for New England, also gaining over 200m gained as a scrumhalf, and completing 60 tackles, tripling his total from 2024. Following the 2025 season, Bryan Ray of Americas Rugby News announced that Oscar Lennon had re-joined the Bristol Bears in England’s PREM Rugby competition as injury cover for capped England international Harry Randall. On 3rd December 2025, the New England Free Jacks announced the return of Oscar Lennon for his 3rd MLR season in 2026.

achievements

  • MLR Team of the Week: 2026 – Rd 5
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2026 – Rd 3
  • 2025 MLR Champion: New England Free Jacks
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 17
  • 2024 MLR Champion: New England Free Jacks
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 18

NARDB Player #1279

Toby Fricker

US-eligible Welsh winger Toby Fricker played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2025. He represented the New England Free Jacks (2024), and Anthem RC on loan (2025).

Born in London, England, Fricker has represented the Welsh Sevens team and played with Ebbw Vale RFC in the Welsh Principality Premiership (now Super Rygbi Cymru)until 2019, when he signed with English Premiership side Bristol Bears. Fricker played 4 seasons with the Bears, representing them in both the Premiership and Challenge Cup and scoring 12 tries across his 4 seasons with the Bears. In September 2023 he returned to Wales with Swansea-based URC side Ospreys.

In May 2024, Fricker was named in USA Rugby’s Extended Men’s Eagles Player Squad ahead of their ‘American Series’ in July 2024. He is US-eligible through is New Orleans-born mother. On 29th May, the New England Free Jacks announced that Fricker, along with former Bears teammate Oscar Lennon and Kiwi flanker Jed Melvin, had joined the side as signing deadline additions (May 16th). Fricker scored 1 try in 6 appearances (all starts) for the Free Jacks in 2024, including all 3 of New England’s playoff games as they advanced to the 2024 Championship final, defeating the Seattle Seawolves 11-20 in San Diego to lift the 2024 MLR Shield.

Following the 2024 season, Fricker was included in the USA Eagles squad for the 2024 Pacific Nations Cup, and made his test debut as Eagle #578 in a 22-3 loss against Fiji in the Semi-Finals. In October 2024 Fricker signed a short-term contract to return to the Bristol Bears in the English Premiership as Injury Cover for 3 months. He would return to MLR and the New England Free Jacks for the 2025 season. Before he could earn his season debut, however, the Free Jacks loaned Fricker to the USA Eagle development side Anthem RC on 14th March 2025 along with a 2026 International Player Slot (during the 5th week of the season) and in exchange, the Free Jacks received a 2025 International Player Slot and 2025 Salary Cap Space. Fricker earned a Team of the Week selection on his Anthem debut, a 25-17 road loss to the Seattle Seawolves.

Following the 2025 season on 15th October, the Bristol Bears announced that Fricker was returning to the club on a short-term deal as injury cover, marking his 3rd stint with the PREM Rugby club.

achievements

NARDB Player #1278

2024 – RD 13: Rugby FC LA v San Diego Legion

The second clash of the 2024 Cali Cup sees the San Diego Legion travel down the I-5 to Los Angeles to face Rugby FC LA at Dignity Health Sports Park.

The hosts were faster out of the gates and spent the early game on the front foot. An errant pass from the Legion fell at the feet of LA’s Will Leonard who fly-hacked it through for Canadian speedster Jack Shaw to jump on the end of to open the scoring. Scrumhalf and Captain Niall Saunders made no mistakes with the conversion and LA were up 7-0 around 12 minutes in. Shortly after, LA were forced to make some early substitutions as Andrew Coe went off for an HIA and Theo Vukasinovic left early with an injury. Just as Coe returned having passed his HIA, the Legion were given a yellow card to put them down to 14 men and almost immediately after, a cynical foul from SD hooker Hugh Roach put him in the bin too. With the Legion now down to 13 men for almost an entire 10 minutes, Semi Kunatani burst through to extend RFCLA’s lead to 12. The Legion, rattled early in the game, seemed to find their footing as their yellow cards expired, and Tiaan Loots got them on the board. The gap now 5pts after Matt Giteau nailed the conversion, but this wouldn’t last long as Kunitani would rumble over for a 7pt try, his 2nd of the game and 7th of the season right before half-time to give the hosts a comfortable 19-7 lead.

Whatever Legion coach Danny Lee said to his squad in the break seemed to work, as they came out flying. Christian Poidevin just about made it over for the first score of the 2nd half, before big lock Jay Tuivaiti added a 3rd try about 10 minutes later. Both conversions missed which meant that RFCLA still lead 19-17, but the momentum had very clearly shifted to the visitors. The next 20 minutes was a back and forth of thunderous collisions and ill-discipline began creeping into LA’s game as their defence struggled to contain the Legion. At the 75th minute mark, Giteau split the uprights from the tee to give the Legion their first lead of the game, 19-20 with 5 minutes to play. Minutes later, Connor Tupai secured the try BP for San Diego off a beautiful play from Danny Christensen, and Alex Horan’s successful conversion meant that LA would miss out on the losing BP, falling 19-27 to their California rivals.

The San Diego Legion secure the 2024 Cali Cup with a season sweep of Rugby FC LA, and move to 3rd in the Western Conference.

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2024 – RD 13: Chicago Hounds v NOLA Gold

The Chicago Hounds host the NOLA Gold at Seatgeek Stadium in an Eastern Conference clash.

Avenging their defeat at the Gold Mine earlier in the season, the Gold deliver a 13-25 defeat to the Hounds to solidify their position as #2 in the East, now trailing the New England Free Jacks by a single point.

The Hounds and the Gold split the season series, both defeating the other by comfortable margins on the road.

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2024 – RD 13: Miami Sharks v New England Free Jacks

The Miami Sharks host Eastern Conference leaders the New England Free Jacks at Autonation Sports Field in Fort Lauderdale during Round 13 of the 2024 season.

A typical late May day in Miami provided hot and humid conditions with which both teams struggled. The ball was slippy and proven very tricky to hold on to, bogging both teams down into a more attritional, low scoring affair. The game did not start that way, however. New England’s Seta Baker barrelled over with the Free Jacks’ maul after only 4 minutes, and Jayson Potroz added the extras to give the visitors an early 0-7 lead. The teams would then settle in to a back and forth, before Miami fly-half Santiago Videla slotted a penalty kick to get the guests on the board and almost immediately after that, the Sharks won a turnover in the Free Jacks 22 to let Roelof Smit through with some great passing to give the Sharks an 8-7 lead, which would remain until the half-time whistle.

There was a threat of lightning in the area at half-time but fortunately that passed and the second half got underway, still in extremely humid conditions. Once again the guests got on the board early, through the boot of Potroz this time to give the Free Jacks a narrow 8-10 lead before the game settled back into the back and forth that was familiar from the first half. Handling errors and penalties swung the momentum almost endlessly. Avery Oitomen received a yellow card to put the Sharks down a man but only a minute later, Kyle Baillie received a yellow of his own and the teams played 14v14 for almost 10 minutes. Just as the teams returned to full strength with no change to the scoreboard, Manu Ardao received a yellow card (his 4th of the season) to put the Sharks back down to 14. Entering the final 2 minutes, the Sharks gave up a costly penalty with which Potroz made no mistake, extending the guests’ lead to 5pts and meaning the Sharks had to score a try just to tie the game. Enter Tomas Casares.

With the clock in the red, some great Sharks passing opened a gap in the Free Jacks line through which Casares thundered to score under the posts for an 7pt try to secure the win for Miami against the team that had drafted him! The Sharks snatch possibly their best win in the young history of the team, 13-15. This is the first time that an Expansion Team has defeated the reigning MLR Champions since the LA Giltinis defeated the 2019 Champion Seattle Seawolves in 2021 (2020 Shield not awarded)!

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Paddy Ryan

USA-eligible Irish flanker Paddy Ryan played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2026. He represented the San Diego Legion (2024-2025) and the Seattle Seawolves (2026).

Born and raised in Ireland, Ryan developed in the Leinster youth system before joining the Northampton Saints in the English Premiership, helping the Saints to a Premiership Cup in 2019. He spent a loan spell playing with Coventry and the Saints-affiliated Bedford Blues in the Championship, before moving to Cornwall to play with the Cornish Pirates for 2 seasons. He stayed in the Championship for the 2021/22 season, signing with Ampthill for two seasons before returning to Coventry for the 2023/24 Championship season. That year, 2023, he earned his international debut for the USA as Eagle #560 in a 14pt victory over Romania. He participated in the USA’s 2024 PNC campaign, and was included in the Eagles squad for their November internationals that year.

Ryan was a late addition to the San Diego Legion in 2024, and is the 3rd Paddy Ryan to appear in MLR, all 3 of whom have represented the San Diego Legion at some point in their careers. Ryan earned 7 MLR caps and 2 starts as the Legion qualified for the 2024 post-season, and on November 7th 2024, the Legion announced the return of Ryan for the 2025 season. During that season, Ryan doubled his starts from 2 to 4 and increased his appearances from 7 last season to 8 in 2025. He also completed 108 tackles that year, more than doubling his MLR career total of 50 in 2024.

Following news in July 2025 that the San Diego Legion would be merging with Rugby FC LA to create the California Legion, Paddy Ryan became a free agent and on 1st December 2025, the Seattle Seawolves announced that they had signed the US capped Irishman for the 2026 season.

achievements
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2026 – Rd 3

NARDB Player #1,277

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