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.

Dylan Nel

South African back row Dylan Nel played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2025. He represented the Utah Warriors for his entire MLR career.

Nel moved from South Africa to New Zealand in 2015. He represented Canterbury in NZ’s NPC competition between 2016-2017, also serving as injury cover for the Crusaders in the 2017 Super Rugby season. He represented Otago between 2018-2021, as well as the Chiefs in the 2019 Super Rugby season. Between 2021-2023, Nel played with the Mitsubishi Dynaboars in Japan’s League One, before returning to the NPC for the 2023 season with Southland.

The son-in-law of Utah Head Coach Greg Cooper, The Utah Warriors announced the signing of Dylan Nel on 15th November 2023 for the 2024 MLR season, and with 128 tackles in 11 games (all starts), was a standout for the Warriors during a tough season. He also racked up over 750m with ball in hand, 4th in MLR amongst forwards. Nel was named as the 2024 Utah Warriors Forward of the Year.

On 30th June 2024, the Southland Stags announced that Nel would be returning for their 2024 NPC campaign during the MLR off-season, and on December 20th 2024 the Utah Warriors confirmed the return of Dylan Nel, Warrior #120 for the 2025 MLR season. In his sophomore season in North America, Dylan Nel set career highs almost across the board. He scored 4 tries and started 15 of his 16 appearances for the Warriors (all career highs), helping the Warriors finish as MLR’s top regular season team and earn their first postseason victory ever before falling to the Houston SaberCats in the Western Conference Final. Nel also recorded his first 200+ tackle season, finishing 3rd in MLR with 234. With Greg Cooper stepping down as Utah Warriors head coach following the 2025 season and joining the NEC Green Rockets Tokatsu in Japan’s Rugby League One, Nel followed his father-in-law, signing with the Green Rockets on 31st July, 2025.

achievements

  • 3rd in MLR Tackling: 2025 (234)
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 6
  • 2024 Utah Warriors Forward of the Year
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 6
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 3

Noah Wright

Washington State native Noah Wright played in Major League Rugby during the 2024 season. He represented the Dallas Jackals for his entire MLR career.

A native of Renton, WA attended Central Washington University (CWU),Wright played with the USA U23s following his graduation in 2022, and played for Seattle RFC alongside his brother Ian in 2023. Upon his graduation from CWU, Wright declared for the 2023 MLR Collegiate Draft, where he was selected by the Dallas Jackals in the 3rd Round, 36th overall with a pick acquired from Old Glory DC.

On 15th November 2023, the Jackals announced the official signing of Noah Wright for the 2024 MLR season, but did not feature for Dallas at the MLR level and spent the year with the Academy side. Wright returned to Seattle RFC following the 2024 MLR season and represented the USA South Panthers in early 2025, before being named in their squad for Aspen Ruggerfest in September 2025.

Achievements:

Jade Stighling

South African wing/centre Jade Stighling played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2025. He represented the Seattle Seawolves for his entire MLR career.

Prior to MLR, Stighling played in the Blue Bulls system between 2012-2021, joining their academy program and represented the Bulls in the Currie Cup, Supersport Challenge, Super Rugby, and Super Rugby Unlocked. Between 2021-2023, he played with the MRU Airlink Pumas in South Africa’s Currie Cup competition. The Seattle Seawolves announced the signing of Jade Stighling on 14th November 2023, ahead of the 2024 MLR season.

Stighling enjoyed a productive first season stateside, scoring 10 tries in 14 games (13 starts) for the Seawolves, finishing T-5th in MLR Try Scoring as the Seawolves advanced all the way to their 4th Championship Final, falling 11-20 to the New England Free Jacks in San Diego. That year he gained over 1,085m with ball in hand and was one of MLR’s most effective ball carriers, finishing 7th in MLR in terms of meters gained. Stighling was named to the All-MLR Second XV for the 2024 season. Jade Stighling was included when the Seattle Seawolves announced their full 2025 roster on January 14th, 2025.

achievements

  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 17
  • 2024 MLR Runner-Up: Seattle Seawolves
  • 2024 All-MLR Second XV
  • 7th in MLR Meters Gained: 2024 (1,085m)
  • T-5th in MLR Try Scoring: 2024 (10)
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 15
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 4
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 3

Harris Rutherford

Scottish fly-half Harris Rutherford played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2025. He represented the San Diego Legion for his entire MLR career.

US-eligible through his American-born grandfather, Rutherford played age-grade rugby for the Edinburgh U18s and U20s, as well as for the Scotland U16s, 17s, and 20s. The San Diego Legion announced the signing of then-20yo Rutherford on 14th November 2023 ahead of the 2024 MLR season, he joined from the Southern Knights in the Scottish Super 6 competition.

Rutherford struggled to find game time in his debut MLR season, as the 10 jersey was already busy between Matt Giteau, Lincoln McClutchie, and Josh Henderson. He still earned 3 MLR caps off the bench and kicked 14pts in total, earning a MLR Team of the Week during Round 17, where all his points came. He helped the Legion to a solid 11-5 record in the 2024 regular season, but did not feature in the playoffs as San Diego fell to their rivals, the Seattle Seawolves. On November 10th, 2024, the San Diego Legion announced the return of Harris Rutherford for 2025, where he’ll be hoping for more game time. He earned his first MLR start for the Legion in 2025.

On 6th June, 2025, Rams RFC in the English Nat 1 league (3rd tier) announced the signing of Harris Rutherford for their 2025/26 season.

achievements

  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 17

Frank Lochore

New Zealand Lock/Flanker Frank Lochore played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2025. He represented the Utah Warriors for his entire MLR career.

Lochore represented the Hawke’s Bay Magpies in New Zealand’s NPC competition between 2021-2023, where he played alongside fellow Warrior Caleb Makene as well as a number of other MLR names. On 14th November 2023, the Utah Warriors announced the signing of then-23yo Frank Lochore for the 2024 MLR season, his first pro season in North America. In that season, he started all 16 of the Warriors’ games, scoring 5 tries and finishing 2nd League-Wide in Tackles Completed during the regular season with 221, behind only Cory Daniel of Old Glory DC on a huge 276. Daniel and Lochore were the only players over 200 tackles completed in 2024, and he finished 2nd League-Wide despite not appearing in the post-season. He was named as the 2024 Utah Warriors Player of the Year for his stand-out season, also earning an All-MLR First XV selection.

On 16th July 2024, the Hawke’s Bay Magpies announced the return of Lochore for their NPC season in 2024. On January 7th, 2025 after spending the off-season back in his native New Zealand, the Utah Warriors announced the return of Frank Lochore for the 2025 season. Lochore was a standout for the Warriors in 2025. He scored 2 tries and appeared in all 18 of the Warriors’ games that season as they claimed their first postseason victory and advanced to the Western Conference Final, starting 17. He set a new MLR record for tackles in a single season, averaging 16.7 tackles per game for a total of 301 tackles completed, becoming the first player in MLR history to complete over 300 tackles in a season. For his outstanding season, Lochore was selected for his second All-MLR 1st XV selection in as many seasons.

An interview between Joe Harvey and Frank Lochore released on 10th September, 2025 revealed that Lochore would not be returning to MLR for the 2026 season. Instead, he would be heading to Japan after the 2025 Bunnings NPC campaign with the Hawke’s Bay Magpies. On September 16th, the NEC Green Rockets confirmed the signing of Lochore for the 2025/26 season, where he would be reuniting with fellow Utah Warriors alum Dylan Nel, and former Warriors HC Greg Cooper.

achievements

  • 2025 All-MLR First XV Selection
  • 1st in MLR Tackling: 2025 (301)
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 17
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 15
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 12
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 9
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 6
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 3
  • 2024 All-MLR First XV Selection
  • 2nd in MLR Tackling: 2024 (221)
  • 2024 Utah Warriors Player of the Year
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 17
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 12
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 9
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 6
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 3
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 1

Lance Fenumiai

Alaska native Lance Fenumiai played in Major League Rugby during the 2024 season. He represented the Dallas Jackals for his entire MLR career.

An alum of Saint Vincent College in Pennsylvania from 2018 through his graduation in 2022, Fenumiai declared for the 2023 MLR Collegiate Draft but was unsuccessful, however the Dallas Jackals announced his signing on 14th November 2023 as a free agent ahead of the 2024 MLR season.

Malakai Hala-Ngatai

New Zealand prop Malakai Hala-Ngatai played in Major League Rugby during the 2024 season. He represented the New England Free Jacks for his entire MLR career.

A member of the Hurricanes U20 and All Blacks U20 teams in 2022, Hala-Ngatai made his debut in New Zealand’s NPC competition in 2023, representing Manawatu. The Free Jacks announced the signing of Malakai Hala-Ngatai on November 13th 2023 ahead of the 2024 MLR season. That season, Hala-Ngatai scored 3 tries in 15 games (7 starts) for the Free Jacks as they successfully defended their 2023 Shield. Hala-Ngatai started all 3 of New England’s playoff games in 2024, including the MLR Championship Game against the Seattle Seawolves.

On 8th June 2024, the Manawatu Turbos announced that they had signed Hala-Ngatai for their 2024 & 2025 NPC campaigns and on November 6th 2024, the Free Jacks announced the return of Malakai Hala-Ngatai for the 2025 MLR season.

achievements

Sean Ralph

South Africa born New Zealander Sean Ralph played in Major League Rugby during the 2024 Season. He represented the New England Free Jacks for his entire MLR career.

The 20yo hooker played with Waikato in NZ’s NPC competition in 2023, before signing with the Free Jacks ahead of the 2024 MLR season. New England announced Ralph’s signing on 13th November 2023, along with Malakai Hala-Ngatai.

Jay Tuivaiti

New Zealand lock/flanker Jay Tuivaiti played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2025. He represented the San Diego Legion (2024) and the NOLA Gold (2025).

Tuivaiti’s career has been hampered by serious injuries, including a broken leg in 2018 that necessitated rehabilitation and in 2019 another Fibula injury happened in rugby 7s. He played in the Hawke’s Bay system between 2020-2021, and was part of the Manu Samoa’s 7s Traveling Team to Dubai. He was the Auckland B captain and his performance led him to being named Auckland B Player of the Year in 2022. He moved stateside prior to entering MLR, and helped the Austin Blacks win the USA Rugby Division 1 National Championship in 2023, before his signing was announced by the San Diego Legion on 10th November 2023, ahead of the 2024 MLR season.

Tuivaiti scored 2 tries in 8 games (all starts) for the San Diego Legion in his debut MLR season, helping them secure a solid 11-5 regular season standing. He was named to the MLR Team of the Week for his performance in Round 18, but did not feature for the Legion in the post-season. On November 6th, 2024, the San Diego Legion announced the return of Jay Tuivaiti for the 2025 MLR campaign. To the confusion of many, however, Tuivaiti’s first involvement of the 2025 season was on the NOLA Gold bench for their Round 8 clash with Anthem RC. The details of Tuivaiti’s move to New Orleans is not known.

Following his move from the Legion to the NOLA Gold, Tuivaiti earned a career high 9 appearances in New Orleans, starting 5 times and scoring 1 try as the Gold would finish the season outside of the playoffs, 5th in the Eastern Conference. On 2nd July 2025, French ProD2 side Stade Montois announced the signing of Jay Tuivaiti through 2027. He scored 3 tries and started 13 of his 17 games across 2 seasons in MLR, running for 249m gained and completing 86 tackles.

achievements

  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 18

Ronnie McElligott

California native Ronnie McElligott played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2025. He represented the Dallas Jackals (2024) and the Utah Warriors (2025).

The Dallas Jackals drafted McElligott out of St. Mary’s College with the 32nd overall pick in the 2023 MLR Collegiate draft. This pick was traded to the Jackals from the NOLA Gold on 5th December 2022 along with James Vaifale in exchange for 2023 Salary Cap Considerations (unknown). The Dallas Jackals announced the official signing of Ronnie McElligott on 9th November 2023, ahead of the 2024 MLR season.

Ronnie McElligott earned 7 MLR appearances during his debut MLR season, all from the bench. Unfortunately for him and the rest of the Dallas Jackals players, the team announced shortly after the conclusion of the season that it was up for sale, and would not compete in the 2025 MLR season. A dispersal draft took place in which McElligott was not selected, but on January 20th, 2025, the Utah Warriors announced the signing of Ronnie McElligott alongside new addition Lone Ika. McElligott earned his Warriors debut in 2025, starting his lone appearance and completing 9 tackles in their mid-season defeat against Old Glory DC in Round 12.

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