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.

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2024 – RD 4: Seattle Seawolves v Houston SaberCats

The Houston SaberCats travel up to the PNW to take on the Seattle Seawolves at Starfire Stadium. Both teams came into this game undefeated in 2024, with 3-0 records. The SaberCats have never won in Seattle, and the Seawolves did not make it easy.

A first half blitz put the visitors up 8-23 at the half, before exchanging tries early in the second half. The Seawolves fought back to 27-28 at the 60 minute mark, before the game really started to open up in the Washington rain. The Cats’ bit back and grew their lead once more, to 30-42 within the last 10 minutes thanks in part to an interception try by Tautalatasi Tasi, his 2nd interception try in 4 games. The hosts would not give in, and scored 2 tries in the last 6 minutes including a final minute score by Jade Stighling to bring the score back to 40-42 with the conversion to come.

The final kick of the game, for a potential draw, sailed agonisingly wide. The final score 40-42 to the visitors. The Houston SaberCats advance to 4-0 and become the last undefeated team in MLR, claiming their first ever win at Starfire in an 82pt slobberknocker.

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Aiden Kerr

Washington State native Aiden Kerr played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2025 season. He represented the Houston SaberCats for his entire MLR career

Kerr’s signing was announced on March 20th, 2024 by the Houston SaberCats, having played for the SaberCats 2 from 2023-24. He joined the ‘Cats on a developmental contract and did not feature for the team in a MLR match, instead training with them and playing with the academy side. On December 17th, 2024, the Houston SaberCats announced the return of Aiden Kerr for the 2025 MLR season.

Tonga Kofe

Oregon native Semise Tonga Kofe played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2026. He represented the Utah Warriors (2024-2025) and the California Legion (2026).

A crossover athlete, Kofe played football as a Defensive Linesman, winning a PIL Championship 2013 when he was named Defensive Player of the Year. That same year he won the Oregon State Wrestling Championship and did so again in 2014. Kofe played with the Oregon U20 Rugby side for 4 years, earning MVP honours. He attended Portland State University and continued to play football.

Kofe began playing with the Utah Selects in the fall of 2023, and was called up to the Warriors MLR squad in February 2024 just ahead of the start of the season. Kofe is listed at 315lbs which makes him one of the heaviest players in Major League Rugby history. He earned 6 MLR appearances for the Warriors from the bench in 2024, and was named the Warriors’ Newcomer of the Year at the team’s end of season awards. On January 2nd, 2025, the Utah Warriors announced the return of Tonga Kofe for his 2nd MLR season in 2025. His return for the Warriors was the first player announcement of 2025. He had a breakout year in his sophomore season, starting 14 of his 16 appearances for the MLR-leading Utah Warriors and scoring 2 tries en-route to the Western Conference Final, where they fell to the Houston SaberCats. Kofe proved a formidable scrummager and recorded over 100 tackles completed, earning 3 MLR Team of the Week Selections. He was also named to the All-MLR Second XV for his performances.

Tonga Kofe was rewarded for his excellent 2025 season with an inclusion in the USA Eagles squad for their July 2025 tests, and he earned his debut as Eagle #587 when he started for the USA in a 36-17 victory over Belgium on July 5th. Kofe was again included in the USA squad for the 2025 Pacific Nations Cup campaign, and on 16th August 2025, the Leicester Tigers of England’s Prem rugby announced the signing of Tonga Kofe for the 2025/26 season. After this stint in the UK with Leicester, Kofe returned to the US for the 2026 MLR season but with the Utah Warriors having withdrawn from the competition, he signed with the California Legion who boasted a decent number of ex-Warriors in their squad.

achievements

Sione Latu

Utah native Sione Latu Jr. played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2025. He represented Anthem RC (2024) and the Utah Warriors (2025).

Latu played both football and rugby through high school, playing as both an offensive and defencive linesman on the gridiron, and a back rower on the rugby pitch. A Herriman local, Latu progressed through the Utah Warriors pathway system, playing at the Crossroads Cup and representing the USA Hawks U23 side. When Anthem was cobbled together for the 2024 MLR season, Sione Latu was one of the players to benefit. He earned 8 appearances (3 starts) during Anthem’s 0-16 inaugural season where the team got more competitive as the season went.

On October 28th, 2024, the Utah Warriors announced the signing of Latu ahead of the 2025 MLR season. It’s unclear if he signed as a free agent, or was acquired via trade with Anthem RC.

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