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.

Setu Vole

American Samoan prop Setu Vole played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2025. He represented the Miami Sharks for his entire MLR career.

Born in AÅ«a, American Samoa and raised in Hawaii, Vole attended Kealakehe High School and played club rugby with the Kona Royals. He attended the rugby powerhouse Lindenwood University, graduating in 2023. That same year he played in the Collegiate Rugby Shield (the precursor to MLR Rising). Vole declared for the 2023 MLR Collegiate Draft and was selected in the 3rd Round, 27th Overall, by the Miami Sharks, who signed him for their inaugural MLR season in 2024.

Vole earned two appearances off the bench for the Miami Sharks in his rookie season. On December 6th, 2024, the Miami Sharks confirmed the return of Setu Vole for their sophomore season in 2025, but he did not appear for the Sharks at MLR level. With the Miami Sharks announcing their withdrawal from Major League Rugby in August 2025, Setu Vole’s future in the league is unclear.

achievements
  • 2023 MLR Draftee: 3rd Round (27th Overall) – Miami Sharks

NARDB Player #1,276

Jarek Szopinski

Buffalo native Jarek Szopinski played in Major League Rugby during the 2024 season. He represented the Dallas Jackals for his entire MLR career.

Szopinksi appeared in the Jackals’ matchday 23 for their Round 12 clash with the Seattle Seawolves, but did not appear in the 14-7 victory.

NARDB Player #1275

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2024 – RD 12: San Diego Legion v New England Free Jacks

The New England Free Jacks travel to Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego to face the Legion in a repeat of the 2023 Championship Final.

Just like in the 2023 final, the Free Jacks scrape the victory by a single point, winning 23-24.

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2024 – RD 12: NOLA Gold v Utah Warriors

The Utah Warriors racked up a 2024-record 1,145m gained in this game, forcing the NOLA Gold to complete 219 successful tackles to preserve their 21-14 victory.

This was the 6th meeting all-time between Utah and NOLA, with the Gold emerging victorious in every single meeting.

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Sebastien Zaridze

Italian center Sebastien Zaridze played in Major League Rugby during the 2024 season. He represented Anthem RC for his entire MLR career.

Zaridze played rugby with Capitolina Rugby Union growing up in Rome, and was invited to tour with the Italian U18 side in 2016. He played in the Italian domestic competition, the Top 10, for 5 seasons between 2019-2024. He represented Rugby Viadana 1970 for his first 3 seasons in the league, before moving to Rugby Lyons Piacenza for the 2022/23 & 2023/24 seasons. 

On 16th May 2024, Anthem RC announced the signing of Sebastien Zaridze for the remainder of the 2024 season. Given that the MLR signing and trade deadline for 2024 was 13th May, it is assumed that Zaridze signed before then.

NARDB Player #1274

Alu Taito

Hawaiian prop Alu Taito played in Major League Rugby during the 2024 season. He represented the Chicago Hounds for his entire MLR career.

A crossover athlete, Taito played gridiron football through high school in Washington state and at through college. He signed with the American Raptors as a crossover-athlete in 2022, playing in Super Rugby Americas. Taito entered the MLR on 13th May 2024, when the Chicago Hounds announced his signing for the remainder of the 2024 season to help cover some injuries in the front row.

NARDB Player #1273

Juan Pen

Ohio Native Juan Pen played in Major League Rugby during the 2024 season. He represented Anthem Rugby Carolina and was loaned to the Chicago Hounds for the second half of the 2024 season.

Pen was drafted in the 2nd Round of the 2023 MLR Collegiate Draft by the Chicago Hounds (16th Overall) out of St. Bonaventure, but due to a ‘logjam’ at the front row, was sent to Anthem RC (a joint USA Rugby, World Rugby, and MLR development side for the USA Eagles) for the 2024 season. On 13th May 2024, just before the 2024 MLR Trade & Signing deadline, Pen was loaned back to the Chicago Hounds for the remainder of the 2024 season due to a few injuries that the Hounds had suffered in the front row.

Achievements

NARDB Player #1272