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.

2024 – RD 3: Old Glory DC v Chicago Hounds

Old Glory DC’s 2024 Home Opener, and the first ever MLR game played at Maryland Soccerplex in Germantown, MD saw the Chicago Hounds visit for a frustrating game for the home side.

Jason Robertson had a rare off day from the tee, only managing 2/6 as the Flags scrapped to a 22-22 draw with their now Eastern Conference opponents. To add to the frustrations, DC captain Jama Fa’anana-Schultz received a straight red card early in the game due to an unfortunate incident with Billy Meakes, and the Flags await the decision from the MLR disciplinary committee.

While celebrations were muted, both sides will be happy to avoid a loss and pick up some points, but it is Chicago who should feel marginally happier, given the strength of the DC squad this year.

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Julian Roberts

Hawaii native Julian Roberts played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2026 . He represented the NOLA Gold (2024-2025) and Anthem RC (2026).

Born in Hawaii, Roberts attended high school in Kentucky before joining Life University in 2018, playing with their impressive rugby program during his time with the Running Eagles. Upon his graduation, Roberts declared for the 2023 MLR Collegiate Draft and was drafted in the 1st Round, 6th overall by the NOLA Gold who signed him ahead of the 2024 campaign. In his rookie MLR season, Roberts scored 2 tries in 11 games (4 starts) and gained over 350m with ball in hand as the Gold qualified for the playoffs for the first time in club history, eventually falling 21-45 to the Chicago Hounds. For his efforts, Roberts was named as the NOLA Gold Rookie of the Year for 2024.

On January 4th, 2025, the NOLA Gold announced the return of Julian Roberts for his sophomore season in 2025 where he was a standout. He started all 10 of his games for the Gold, scoring 4 tries and more than doubling his metres gained total from 353m in 2024 to 740m in 2025. Roberts even double his tackle total from 18 to 36 as a winger. Following the withdrawal of the NOLA Gold from MLR in August 2025, Julian Roberts became a free agent and on 1st December 2025, Anthem RC announced that they had signed him for their 2026 campaign.

achievements
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2026 – Rd 3
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 9
  • 2024 NOLA Gold Rookie of the Year
  • 2023 MLR Draftee: 1st Round (6th Overall) – NOLA Gold

Noah Brown

Indiana native Noah Brown played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2026. He represented the Chicago Hounds for his entire MLR career.

Brown began playing rugby at Penn High School, graduating in 2019 and attending Indiana University through 2023 and thrived at the Sevens game, winning a Club 7s National Championship with the Chicago Lions in 2021 which landed him a trip to Chula Vista to attend the 2022 Men’s Sevens High-Performance Camp before being named as Captain of the USA U23s and Falcons, touring most recently with the Falcons to the Coral Coast Sevens in Fiji.

Brown declared for the 2023 MLR draft and was selected in the 1st Rd, 4th overall by the Chicago Hounds. He played with the Hounds academy team in their fall season before earning a spot with the MLR squad for the 2024 season. He made an impact in MLR almost immediately. After a couple of appearances off the bench, he earned his first MLR start in RD 5 against the Seattle Seawolves where, despite losing the game, Brown scored 2 tries and gained over 140m in possession, earning a MLR First XV selection in his first start. Brown would score 4 tries in 13 appearances (7 starts) during his rookie season, racking up over 500m gained on the wing. He was named as the Chicago Hounds Rookie of the Year for his performance and on October 16th, 2024, the Chicago Hounds announced the return of Brown for the 2025 season.

In 2025, Noah Brown more than doubled his career high in starts, starting 15 of his 16 appearances and scoring 3 tries as the Chicago Hounds finished 2nd in the Eastern Conference before defeating Old Glory DC to advance to the Eastern Conference Final where they fell to the New England Free Jacks by a single point in a nailbiter. Brown set a new career high with 565m gained in possession, and raised his career high in tackles from 48 in 2024 to 123 tackles in 2025. For his sophomore season performance, Noah Brown was named to the All-MLR Second XV. On 8th December 2025, the Chicago Hounds announced the return of Noah Brown for his 3rd MLR season in 2026.

achievements

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Makeen Alikhan

US-Eligible English back row Makeen Alikhan played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2026. He represented the Dallas Jackals (2024) and Anthem RC (2025-2026).

Makeen Alikhan was born in Canada but raised in England to a US-born mother (granting him eligibility for the USA) and English/Pakistani father who lived in Australia for a decade, for whom Alikhan is also eligible. He attended Epsom college in England between 2015-2020, captaining the school side before attending the University of Bristol since 2020, the same year he was named to the USA U20s side. In 2021 he was dual registered with Harlequins of the English Premiership, and Worthing RFC in the English lower divisions. Alikhan earned his Harlequins debut against Saracens in the Premiership Rugby Cup that same year.

Alikhan was loaned from Harlequins to the Dallas Jackals for the 2024 MLR season, where he proved to be an elusive and abrasive back row, scoring 3 tries in 13 games (10 starts) for the Jackals, running for over 300m gained and completing just under 150 tackles as the Jackals qualified for the playoffs for the first time in team history. Alikhan started both of the Jackals‘ playoff games that season, including their stunning victory over the 14-2 Houston SaberCats, before falling to the Seattle Seawolves in the final few minutes of the Western Conference Final.

Shortly after the conclusion of the 2024 season, MLR and the Dallas Jackals announced that the team would not compete in the 2025 season. Alikhan declared for the subsequent dispersal draft and was selected 2nd by Anthem RC after they acquired the pick from Rugby FC LA. His signing was confirmed when Anthem RC announced their complete 2025 roster on January 21st, 2025. Alikhan would start all 14 of his appearances for Anthem RC in 2025, equaling his career high of 3 tries scored. He also set a new career high in tackles made, completing 172. For his efforts, Alikhan was included in the USA Eagles squad for their July tests, and earned his test debut as Eagle #589 when he came off the bench for the USA in a 36-17 victory over Belgium on July 5th, 2025.

On October 29th, 2025, Anthem RC announced the return of Makeen Alikhan for his 2nd season with the team and 3rd in MLR in 2026.

achievements

  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 12
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 6
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