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.

André Warner

South African scrum-half André Warner played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2026. He represented the Houston SaberCats (2024-25) and the Seattle Seawolves (2026).

Cape Town native Warner played rugby through his time at Tyderberg high School, before playing for the Western Province U18 in the 2011 Craven Week and the U21s in the Provincial Championship in 2012 after which he played for the Blue Bulls U21 until 2014. Warner attended the University of Pretoria between 2013-2016, playing with the Tuks in the Varsity Cup. While playing with the UP Tuks he was also a member of the Blue Bulls system, playing in that system between 2015-2019 for the Currie Cup and Super Rugby sides, with a gap for the 2018/19 season where he played in France for Stade Français. Warner moved to the Lions between 2020-2023, playing in both the Currie Cup and URC before moving back to France to play with Agen in the Pro D2 for the 2023/24 season.

On 14th January 2024, the Houston SaberCats announced the signing of the then-30yo Warner for their 2024 MLR campaign, where he led the ‘Cats with 8 tries scored (T-9th in MLR) in 15 games (all starts) as Houston finished as the best team in the regular season with a record of 14-2, before being stunned by the Dallas Jackals in the Western Conference Semifinal. For his performances in 2024, Warner was named to the All-MLR First XV, the only SaberCats player to be featured in the First XV that season. On November 12th, 2024, the Houston Sabercats announced the return of Andre Warner for the 2025 season, where he followed up a very good 2024 season with a solid 2nd year in MLR. Warner scored 4 tries in 12 games (11 starts) to help the SaberCats to their first playoff victory and advancing to the 2025 Championship Game, a 28-22 defeat which Warner started. With the Houston SaberCats’ surprise withdrawal from MLR in the 2025/26 offseason, Warner became a Free Agent and on 2nd January 2026, the Seattle Seawolves announced that they had added him to their roster for 2026.

achievements

  • 2025 MLR Runner-Up: Houston SaberCats
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 7
  • 2024 All-MLR First XV: Houston SaberCats
  • T-9th in MLR Try Scoring: 2024 (8)
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 3

Anthem RC

background & History

Anthem Rugby Carolina were founded in early 2024 and announced on January 19th, 2024, six weeks before the start of the 2024 MLR season, their first. The team came to be thanks to a partnership between Major League Rugby, USA Rugby, and World Rugby, the goal of which was to expand upon the USA Hawks Development Pathway and have a professional team made up of US talent to compete year in, year out at the highest level of rugby in North America. The long term goal of this team is to provide a clear pathway to the USA Eagles national team ahead of the Rugby World Cups in 2027 and, more importantly, 2031 on home soil.

The introduction of Anthem RC brought the number of teams competing in the 2024 season back to 12 (following the withdrawal of the Toronto Arrows and Rugby New York Ironworkers) and allowed the league to move back to a 2 conference system. MLR had released the 2024 schedule in mid December 2023, and had to re-launch a schedule on January 19th to accommodate Anthem’s introduction. Their inaugural season in MLR was tough. Due to having only a few weeks prep time before the 2024 season kicked-off, Anthem’s roster was made up of depth players from other teams. They recorded the 3rd winless season in MLR history that year, picking up 7pts total with a points difference of -353. Their sophomore year looked promising in the build up to the season. Acquisitions like Mitch Wilson and Toby Fricker from the Free Jacks, as well as Sam Golla and Makeen Alikhan from the folding Dallas Jackals excited fans and Anthem RC looked like they would pick up a win or two in the 2025 season. They started strong and picked up 5pts relatively quickly, culminating in a 45-46 defeat to the Houston SaberCats in Round 6. Unfortunately, this loss seemed to shatter their confidence, and they would not record any more points in the standings for the rest of the season. Anthem recorded their 2nd winless season in a row and set a new record for the longest losing streak in MLR history. Not an encouraging sign for a team that is meant to be developing the next generation of USA Eagles. Head Coach Alama Ieremia stepped back for the final few weeks of the season to focus on his work with the national team and was replaced by ex-Jackals boss Agustin Cavalieri. It is not clear if this change is permanent.

There was some questions raised regarding the International Player Spots for Anthem RC during the 2025 season. The other 10 teams in the league were permitted to trade down to a minimum of 8 international slots per matchday 23 on the season, while Anthem was initially permitted to trade down to 7. With fans having received no clarification from MLR, Anthem ended up trading away seven of their 10 international slots, leaving them with 3 per matchday 23 for the 2025 season. No clarification from the League has been released.

records & Record Holders

All Time:

Top Scorer: Cliven Loubser (57pts)
Top Try Scorer: Te Rangatira Waitokia (7)
Most Appearances: Dan Hanson (31)
Most Starts: Junior Gafa (25)
Top Tackler: Jake Turnbull (260)
Top Meter Eater: Junior Gafa (1,501m)

Single Season:

Top Scorer: Cliven Loubser (51pts) – 2024
Top Try Scorer: Te Rangatira Waitokia (7) – 2024
Top Tackler: Sam Golla (187) – 2025
Top Meter Eater: Te Rangatira Waitokia (1,246m) – 2024

Historical Performance

2024: 0-16 (-353) – 7pts: 6th in Eastern Conference
2025: 0-16 (-288) – 5pts: 6th in Eastern Conference

Overall Regular Season Record: 0-0-32
Overall Championship Series Record: N/A
Championship Series Appearances: 0

The Old Mate

Total Possessions: 0
Longest Streak: N/A
First Possession: N/A
Last Possession: N/A
Successful Challenges: 0
Failed Challenges: 4
Challenge Success Rate: 0.00%
Successful Defences: 0
Failed Defences: 0
Defence Success Rate: 0.00%

Head coach & captain

Head Coach:
Captain:

logo

2024-

The style of Anthem RC’s ‘A’ logo is intended as a nod to the military history of the city, and the star is an homage to that. The cross of the A is also intended to symbolise a ‘rising star’, as the team is made up of many of the USA’s ‘rising stars’ in the game of Rugby.

Venue

Anthem RC play out of the American Legion Memorial Stadium, in Charlotte, NC. A 10,500 seater turf field owned by the City of Charlotte.

American Legion Memorial Stadium

 

Joaquin Horcada

Argentinian front row Joaquin Horcada played in Major League Rugby between 2023-2024. He represented the Dallas Jackals for his entire MLR career.

Horcada is an Age-Grade international, having played with the Argentina U18, U19, and U20 sides between 2017-2018. He played with Rugby de Gimnasia y Esgrima de Rosario (Club GER) in the Argentinian Torneo del Litoral prior to his move north to the US. Horcada was under contract with the Dallas Jackals during the 2023 season, but did not see MLR action. On 11th January 2024, the Dallas Jackals announced the return of Joaquin Horcada for their 2024 MLR campaign.

Horcada had a fantastic 2024 season, earning his MLR debut in one of 15 appearances (7 starts) for the Jackals as they qualified for the MLR Playoffs for the first time in their history. Horcada started their first ever playoff game, a stunning 22-34 victory over the Houston SaberCats, the best team of the regular season, before being brought in as a late addition in the Western Conference Final following an injury in warm up to Sam Tuifua. The Jackals would lose that game to the Seattle Seawolves in the final few minutes.

achievements

  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 9
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 6

Josh McAdam

South African centre Josh McAdam played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2025 season. He represented the Miami Sharks for his entire MLR career.

McAdam attended the University of Johannesburg between 2015-2016, playing rugby throughout before moving stateside to attend Davenport University between 2018-2021, also playing rugby for the Davenport Panthers. Following his graduation, McAdam played with the Chicago Griffins before training with the Chicago Hounds in 2023. Later that year he also played with the USA Hawks Development Academy.

On 7th January 2024, the Miami Sharks expansion side announced the signing of Josh McAdam for their inaugural MLR season in 2024, where he earned 4 appearances for the Sharks off the bench during their respectable inaugural season. On December 5th, 2024, the Sharks confirmed the return of Josh McAdam for their sophomore season in 2025.

Damian Morley

New York native Damian Morley played in Major League Rugby during the 2024 season. He represented the Miami Sharks for his entire MLR career.

Morley played with the Eagle Impact Rugby Academy, touring Ontario and Ireland with the U16 side in 2016 & 2017 respectively. Morley’s talent earned him a spot at the famous Stellenbosch Academy of Sport in South Africa, through the Graham Downes Development and Pathways to Excellence Funds High Performance Grant. Following this, Morley moved to France with his brother to play with Stade Toulousain Espoirs between 2021-2023, using the French he learned at bilingual school. In his latter year in France, he also played with Blagnac Rugby Club in the French Nationale.

On 5th January 2024, the Miami Sharks announced the signing of Damian Morley ahead of their inaugural season in 2024. In his debut season, Morley earned 7 MLR appearances off the bench as the Sharks recorded a competitive inaugural season. On December 9th, 2024, the Miami Sharks confirmed the return of Damian Morley for their, and his, sophomore season in 2025.

 

Nicolas Elewaut

Argentinian winger Nicolas Elewaut played in Major League Rugby during the 2024 season. He represented the Miami Sharks for his entire MLR career.

Elewaut joined the Sharks from the Club Universitario de Buenos Aires (also known as CUBA) in the Argentinian URBA Top 13 competition, ahead of their inaugural season in 2024. His signing was announced by the Miami Sharks on 5th January 2024.

Callum Botchar

Ontario born BC native Callum Botchar played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2026. He represented the NOLA Gold (2024-2025) and the Seattle Seawolves (2026).

Botchar attended the University of British Columbia, playing for the Thunderbirds while majoring in Psychology. He joined the Pacific Pride, Rugby Canada’s development academy, and represented the national U20 side. Botchar is already a test capped Canadian, earning his international debut against the Netherlands in November 2022. He was selected for a test against Tonga in the summer of 2023 but was a late scratch. That year, Botchar also travelled to New Zealand to play with the Taranaki Men’s Development system, as well as the New Plymouth Old Boys in the Taranaki Premier Division. Botchar has also dipped his toe into Rugby League, representing the restarted Toronto Wolfpack in their 2021 Canada Cup victory against DC Cavalry.

Although it was never made public, Botchar was signed with the Toronto Arrows for the 2024 MLR season, but with the Arrows announcing that they would not compete in the 2024 MLR season in late November 2023, he opted in to the subsequent Dispersal Draft for Toronto and NY players (the Ironworkers also announced that they would not compete in the 2024 season a week after the Arrows) and was selected 16th overall by the NOLA Gold.

On 4th January 2024, the NOLA Gold confirmed the signing of Callum Botchar for the 2024 MLR season when he scored 2 tries in 16 appearances (9 starts), and completed over 100 tackles. He was named as the recipient of the 2024 NOLA Gold Shawn Riley ‘Heart of Gold’ Award. On December 26th, 2024, the NOLA Gold announced the return of Callum Botchar for his 2nd MLR season in 2025. Botchar added 7 appearances (3 starts) for the NOLA Gold in 2025, passing 200m gained in his career and adding another 39 tackles to his total. With the withdrawal of the NOLA Gold from Major League Rugby during the 2025/26 offseason Botchar became a free agent, and on 22nd January 2026, the Seattle Seawolves announced that they had added the Canadian international to their squad for 2026.

achievements

Sam Mace

English-born Canadian front row Sam Mace played in Major League Rugby between 2022-2023. He represented the Toronto Arrows for his entire MLR career.

Mace grew up playing Rugby and soccer, as well as practicing judo, before his family emigrated to Canada in 2010 when Mace was 11. He played rugby with the Bytown Blues in Ottawa and attended the University of Ottawa, playing with the Gee-Gees between 2017-2022, declaring for the MLR Collegiate Draft in 2021. Mace was drafted in the 3rd Round (35th Overall) by the Toronto Arrows, who confirmed his signing in December 2021 prior to him returning to the Gee-Gees.

Mace played with the Arrows Senior Academy in 2022 before signing with the Leeds Tykes in the English National 1 competition for the 2022/23 season. While playing in Leeds, Mace was also the coach for Leeds Backett University Women’s Team. He returned to Canada in time to Captain the Toronto Arrows Senior Academy at the Coast-To-Coast Cup in the summer of 2023, facing the likes of the Atlantic Selects and BC Bears to win the competition.

Following the announcement that the Toronto Arrows would not be competing in the 2024 MLR season in late November 2023, Mace was picked up by Curry Hitchborn for a new Canadian professional side, the Vancouver Highlanders, and was signed as VH#2, ahead of their season in the Rugby Players’ Challenge. While playing for the Highlanders, Mace suffered 3 concussions in a 5 month span, and was forced to retire. He has since turned to coaching, and started his own brand: SMPerformance

achievements

Juan Dee Oliver

South African scrum-half Juan Dee Oliver played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2025. He represented the Dallas Jackals (2024) and the Houston SaberCats (2025).

Oliver attended Grey College in Bloemfontein, playing cricket and rugby. He represented the college at the famous Craven Week before joining the Cheetahs system where he represented the U20 and U21 side. On 4th January 2024, the Dallas Jackals announced the signing of then-21yo Juan Dee Oliver ahead of the 2024 MLR season. Oliver would score 5 tries in 13 games (all starts) for the Jackals in his debut MLR season, gaining over 250m in possession as a scrum-half, and scoring 55pts total after taking over kicking duties late in the season. The Jackals qualified for the post-season for the first time that season, and Oliver was a standout as they shocked the Houston SaberCats before falling to the Seattle Seawolves in the Western Conference Final. For his performances throughout the 2024 season, Oliver was named to the All-MLR Second XV.

Following the news in August 2024 that the Dallas Jackals were withdrawing from MLR, Oliver declared for the dispersal draft and was selected 30th by the Houston SaberCats. He was the final played selected in the dispersal draft. On November 18th, 2024, the SaberCats confirmed the signing of Juan-Dee Oliver for the 2025 MLR season. Primarily playing on the wing for the SaberCats, Oliver started 6 of his 10 appearances in 2025, scoring 4 tries to help Houston finish 2nd in the Western Conference. Oliver played no part in the postseason as the SaberCats advanced to the Championship Game, where they fell to the New England Free Jacks.

On 2nd July, 2025, the agency representing Juan Dee Oliver, Khaos Sport, announced that the half-Italian back had signed with Rovigo, the Reigning Champions of the Italian domestic league, the Serie A Élite.

achievements

  • 2025 MLR Runner-Up – Houston SaberCats
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 14
  • 2024 All-MLR Second XV
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 15

Seth Smith

Texas native Seth Smith played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2026. He represented the Houston SaberCats (2024-2025) and Anthem RC (2026).

Smith played football, wrestled, and played rugby through high school, the latter of which he was introduced to by his father. He was a USA Rugby All-American and was selected for the USA U20s. He signed a professional contract with the Houston SaberCats on 6th June 2023 when he was 17, becoming the youngest player in history to sign a Major League Rugby contract. He played with the SaberCats U18 side as well as the SaberCats 2 (Rugby HTX at the time) that year, and was announced as a member of the SaberCats MLR roster on 3rd January 2024 as the first graduate of their academy system.

Smith attended a USA Rugby U20 High Performance Camp over the Christmas period in 2023 before jumping in to the 2024 season with the SaberCats, where he scored 2 tries in 6 appearances (1 start) before returning to the USA U20s for the annual World Rugby U20s Trophy North American qualifier series against Canada. Smith earned a MLR Team of the Week selection for his performance in Round 9. On December 13th, 2024, the Houston SaberCats confirmed the return of Seth Smith for his sophomore season in MLR in 2025 where he set career highs across the board, starting 7 of his 13 appearances for the SaberCats and scoring 5 tries, earning another two MLR Team of the Week selections. He recorded 137m gained and 89 tackles, more than doubling his career totals in both.

Following the surprise news in September 2025 that the Houston SaberCats were withdrawing from Major League Rugby, Seth Smith became a free agent and on 22nd November, Anthem RC announced the addition of Smith for the 2026 season, a few days after his agency broke the news.

achievements

  • 2025 Western Conference Champion: Houston SaberCats
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 14
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 6
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 10
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 9