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.

Zak Barker

Utah native Zak Barker played in Major League Rugby during the 2024 MLR season. He represented the Utah Warriors for his entire MLR career.

A Herriman local, Barker played rugby and wrestled through high school, and was in the Utah Warriors system since 2021, playing with the Utah Selects. He played at 2 Crossroads Cups, representing the Trappers in 2022 and the Gray Wolves in 2023. On 1st December 2023, the Utah Warriors announced the signing of Zak Barker to a MLR contract for the 2024 season.

Tevita Kuridrani

Fijian-born Australian internationally capped centre Tevita Kuridrani played in Major League Rugby during the 2024 season. He represented the Seattle Seawolves for his entire MLR career.

Born in Suva, Fiji, Kuridrani grew up in the small village of Namatakula before moving to Australia at the age of 11. In 2010 he represented the Fiji U20 team at the IRB Junior World Championship in Argentina before switching to represent Australia at the IRB World Sevens Series. He also represented Australia U20s at his second JWC the following year, the same year he joined the Queensland Reds academy. In 2012, Kuridrani joined the Brumbies in Super Rugby and made his debut against the Reds. By 2013 he had become a regular starter, and earned his test debut for the Wallabies that same year, against the All Blacks. Kuridrani would go on to earn 61 caps for Australia to date, representing the Wallabies at two Rugby World Cups in 2015 & 2019.

After over 100 caps for the Brumbies, Kuridrani moved to the Western Force in 2020, before heading to France to represent Biarritz in the Top 14 for the 2021/22 season. The Seattle Seawolves announced the signing of the then-32yo Tevita Kuridrani on 30th November 2023 ahead of the 2024 season, about 18 months since he last played in a professional game due to injury. Kuridrani appeared in 6 MLR games for the Seawolves in 2024 (all starts), racking up over 300m gained and earning a Team of the Week selectin in Round 10 as Seattle qualified for the playoffs as the 2nd seed in the West, but Kuridrani did not appear in the Championship Series, as Seattle advanced to their 4th MLR final.

achievements

Ethan Grayson

English utility back Ethan Grayson played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2025. He represented the San Diego Legion for his entire MLR career.

The son of 2003 Rugby World Cup Champion Paul Grayson, Ethan represented the England U18s, as well as the U20s in 2022. He represented the Northampton Saints 7s side, before heading to the Bedford Blues in the English Championship whom he represented between 2020-2023, as well as earning 5 caps with the Northampton Saints (his father’s team) in the Premiership  between 2021-2023.

The San Diego Legion announced the signing of Ethan Grayson on 30th November 2023, ahead of the 2024 season. He scored 2 tries in 9 games (6 starts) and racked up just under 400m gained as the Legion finished the 2024 season with a solid 11-5 record. Grayson was named to the MLR Team of the Week during Round 5, but did not feature for the Legion in the post-season. Following the conclusion of the 2024 MLR season, Grayson signed a half-season contract with the English Premiership’s Newcastle Falcons, playing there until the MLR training camps opened in early 2025. On November 13th, 2024, the Legion confirmed this when they announced Grayson’s return for their 2025 season. Although Grayson signed a 1yr contract with the Newcastle Falcons for 2025/26, he was still a significant part of the 2025 San Diego Legion team. He scored 1 try and 29pts in 14 games (all starts) for the Legion, covering fly-half, center, and fullback. He finished 10th League-wide in Meters Gained with 840m gained, over double his total from 2024.

Achievements

  • 10th in MLR Meters Gained: 2025 (840m)
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 5

Joe Wrafter

US-eligible English prop Joe Wrafter played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2025 season. He represented Old Glory DC for his entire MLR career.

The Worcestershire born Wrafter is US-eligible through his American grandfather and will be deemed a domestic player in MLR. The former England U16 player played rugby for Birmingham Mosley from 2017 through 2019, making 52 appearances before heading to the Bedford Blues in the English Championship. He played for Premiership side Harlequins on loan during the 2020/21 season before returning to the Championship, this time with the Doncaster Knights. He made the move stateside from another Championship team, Hartpury University RFC who he represented in the 2022/23 season.

Old Glory DC announced the signing of Joe Wrafter on 30th November 2023, ahead of the 2024 MLR season. Wrafter earned two MLR appearances from the bench for DC in 2024, and spent parts of the season out with injury. On December 19th, 2024, Old Glory DC announced the return of Joe Wrafter for his 2nd season in 2025.

Jonah Mau’u

Australian-born NZ raised back row Jonah Mau’u played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2025. He represented the NOLA Gold for his entire MLR career.

Son of a Samoan father and Croatian mother, Mau’u began his professional career with Northland in New Zealand’s NPC in 2021, and has represented them since. He also represented the Moana Pasifika in the 2023 Super Rugby Season. His move stateside was announced by the NOLA Gold on 29th November 2023 on a 2yr contract that will keep him with the Gold through 2025. He scored 6 tries in 12 games (all starts) and gained over 800m with ball in hand, also completing over 130 tackles in defence. For his efforts in 2024 he was named as the NOLA Gold Forward of the Year for 2024.

On January 8th, 2025, the NOLA Gold confirmed the return of Jonah Mau’u along with six other returning back row players for 2025. In his sophomore season, Mau’u set career highs with 8 tries and 181 tackles completed in a leadership role for the NOLA Gold in a disappointing season for the club where they missed out on the postseason despite Mau’u’s efforts. He was the only NOLA Gold player to be named in the 2025 All-MLR teams, when he was an Honorable Mention. Following the season he was included in the Samoa squad for their July tests.

In August 2025, the NOLA Gold announced that they would be withdrawing from Major League Rugby and would not participate in the 2026 season. With the League down to 6 teams and as an international player, Jonah Mau’u sought opportunities overseas. On 2nd December 2025, Nissa Rugby (formerly Stade Niçois) announced the signing of Mau’u for their 2025/26 season in the French Nationale.

achievements

 

Janus Venter

South African hooker Janus Venter played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2025. He represented the Chicago Hounds for his entire MLR career.

Venter entered the Cheetahs system in 2018, and represented the Central University of Technology (CUT) Ixias, breaking the single-season try record during their 2021 Varsity Cup campaign, scoring 12 times. He represented the Free State Cheetahs through to 2023, when he made the move stateside. The Chicago Hounds announced the signing of Janus Venter on 29th November 2023, and he earned 10 appearances (1 start) for the Hounds during his debut season in North America, and on January 9th, 2025 the team confirmed his return for a second season in MLR with the Chicago Hounds.

Tyren Al-Jiboori

Oklahoma native Tyren Al-Jiboori played in Major League Rugby during the 2024 season. He represented Anthem RC for his entire MLR career.

A Tulsa, OK native and Lindenwood University alum, Tyren is the brother of USA Eagle and fellow MLRer, Malon Al-Jiboori. Tyren has represented the USA U23s and the USA Falcons, both in 2021, played with NYAC Rugby in 2022 when he was also named a D1A Collegiate All-American, and played with the USA U23s. Upon his graduation from Lindenwood, Al-Jiboori declared for the 2023 MLR Collegiate Draft where he was selected by the San Diego Legion in the 1st Round, 12th overall. After being drafted, Al-Jiboori was traded to the Seattle Seawolves on 17th November 2023 in exchange for 2024 Salary Cap Considerations (Unknown). Al-Jiboori scored 3 tries in 10 appearances for Anthem during 2024 (7 starts), recording over 200m gained in his rookie season.

On 14th August 2024, Al-Jiboori’s move to Anthem was made permanent when the Seattle Seawolves formally traded him, along with MLR’s first ever draft pick Conner Mooneyham, to Anthem RC in exchange for an International Player Slot in 2025.

achievements

Logan Crowley

New Zealand scrum-half Logan Crowley played in Major League Rugby during the 2024 season. He represented the Utah Warriors for his entire MLR career.

The nephew of former Canada head Coach and capped All Black Kieran Crowley, Logan has had 2 stints with Taranaki in New Zealand’s NPC competition, from 2017-2018 and again from 2021-2024, Co-captaining the Bulls to a NPC Championship in 2023. Between these stints, he represented the Southland Stags (2019-2020). The Utah Warriors announced the signing of Logan Crowley on 20th November 2023, ahead of the 2024 MLR season.

For unknown reasons, Crowley did not participate in the 2024 MLR season. However, on October 21st 2024, the Utah Warriors again announced the signing of Crowley, this time for the 2025 season.

Nick Brown

Australian back row Nick Brown was supposed to play in Major League Rugby during the 2024 season. He was initially signed to represent the Toronto Arrows alongside his brother, Jordan Brown (formerly of Rugby ATL).

Part of the Gordon rugby system in his youth, Brown made his debut for Gordon 1st grade Shute Shield when he was 18 years old before representing the Southern Districts in between 2019-2020. He then headed to England to attend Leeds Beckett University, where he played rugby with his brother and another would-be Arrows teammate, Adrian Wadden. Nick Brown returned to Australia as an injury cover in the finals for Manly Rugby Club in the Shute Shield 2023.

Outside of rugby, Nick was the winner in the Australian Realty Series FBoy Island Australia, a 10-episode series on Binge in May 2023, and was set to join the Arrows along with his new partner from the Series, Molly O’Halloran, who is an Occupational Therapist. This made him the 2nd reality TV star to sign with an MLR team, following Houston’s Gerrie Labuschagne. The Toronto Arrows announced the signing of Nick Brown on 20th November 2023. He was the last signing the Arrows made public before they announced that they could not compete in the 2024 season on 28th November, 2023. Brown’s future in MLR is unknown.

 

Logan Weidner

Canadian-born, US eligible back-row/lock Logan Weidner played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2025 . He represented Old Glory DC (2024-2025), and Anthem RC on loan in 2024..

Born and raised in North Vancouver, BC, Weidner represented Canada at U18 & U20 levels, but is eligible for the USA through his Iowa-born father, and represented the Eagles at U20 level. His entry into MLR was announced by Old Glory DC on 16th November 2023, leading many to speculate that he has committed to representing the USA over Canada at test level.

Due to the sudden establishment of Anthem RC six weeks prior to the start of the 2024 season, Weidner was loaned to the MLR, USA Rugby, and World Rugby partnership team. He earned 12 appearances for Anthem, starting twice and completing over 80 tackles. On December 21st, 2024, Old Glory DC confirmed the end of his loan to Anthem, and his return to the Flags for the 2025 season. Weidner scored his first MLR try for the Flags in 2025, starting 1 of his 7 appearances that season.

On 6th March, 2026, Weidner was included in Romania’s starting lineup against Georgia in the Regby Europe Championship, for whom he is eligible through family heritage.