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.

Orrin Bizer

Texas native Orrin Bizer was drafted in the 1st Round of the 2023 Major League Rugby Collegiate Draft, 9th overall by the Houston SaberCats.

A native of The Woodlands, TX, Orrin Bizer grew up playing rugby at The Woodlands High School, before attending Life University and playing with the 2x National Champion Life University 7s squad, also representing the USA National Team age grade side at RugbyTown 7s in 2021 and 2023, also playing at the PamAm games in 2023, and with the Locals in the PR7s the same year that he was named the 2023 Rudy Scholz award winner, recognising the best college rugby player in the country each year.

Bizer declared for the 2023 MLR Collegiate Draft and was selected in the 1st Round by the Houston SaberCats, who promptly signed him to an MLR contract in September 2023 ahead of the 2024 season. However, earned his senior Men’s Team debut in Dubai in December 2023 and decided to continue his 7s journey rather than participating in the 2024 MLR season. Bizer earned a place in the USA Olympic 7s squad for the 2024 games in Paris.

Achievements:

Max Schumacher

UC – Berkeley alum Max Schumacher played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2026. He represented the Houston SaberCats (2024-2025), and Old Glory DC (2026)

A native of Carmichael, CA, Max Schumacher was a stand out for the Golden Bears while enrolled at UC-Berkeley. He was named a D1A Collegiate All-American in 2022, before beind selected as a Rudy Scholz Award Finalist in his senior year in 2023. Following his graduation, Schumacher declared for the 2023 Major League Rugby Collegiate Draft where he was selected in the 1st Round, 2nd Overall by the Houston SaberCats using a pick acquired via trade with the Toronto Arrows. The SaberCats did not wait long to sign Schumacher, doing so in September 2023, joining fellow UCal alumni Christian Dyer in Houston. In his debut MLR season Schumacher earned 14 appearances from the bench, running for over 100m gained in limited game time for the Houston SaberCats as they finished as the top team in MLR during the regular season, with a record of 14-2. On December 11th, 2024, the Houston SaberCats announced the return of Max Schumacher for the 2025 season.

Although Schumacher earned 14 appearances in his rookie season in 2024, the 2025 season was a real break out for him. He made his first MLR start, scored his first MLR try, and surpassed his career highs in both tackles and meters made before the half-way point of the regular season. Schumacher appeared in every game during the regular season and earned his first 13 pro starts, helping the ‘Cats to finally earn their first playoff victory over Rugby FC LA. The SaberCats would go on to defeat the Utah Warriors to claim the Western Conference Title, before falling to the New England Free Jacks in the 2025 MLR Championship Game. Schumacher featured in all 3 playoff games for Houston in 2025, even scoring a pair of tries in the Championship Game.

In total, Max Schumacher started 13 of his 19 appearances for the Houston SaberCats in 2025, scoring 5 tries and gaining over 500m in possession during a stand-out season. In September 2025 following the end of the MLR season, the Houston SaberCats announced their withdrawal from the competition, forcing Schumacher to look for professional opportunities elsewhere. On october 25th, Old Glory DC announced the addition of Max Schumacher for their 2026 season, his 3rd in the competition.

Achievements:

  • 2025 Western Conference Champion: Houston SaberCats
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 11
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 7
  • 2023 Draftee: 2nd Overall – Houston SaberCats

Toni Pulu

LA born, New Zealand raised winger Toni Pulu played in Major League Rugby in the 2024 season. He represented the Seattle Seawolves.

Pulu played with Counties Manukau between 2012-2019 and again in their 2023 NPC season alongside former Seawolves fly-half AJ Alatimu (now with the Houston SaberCats). Additionally, he has represented the Chiefs, Brumbies, and Western Force at Super Rugby level. Pulu’s signing was announced by the Seawolves in September 2023 ahead of the 2024 MLR season.

In his debut season in North America, Pulu scored 5 tries in 11 games, starting 10 times and racking up 918m gained in possession, helping the Seawolves into the playoffs where they advanced to the Championship Game for the 4th time in team history, falling to the New England Free Jacks in San Diego by a score of 11-20. Pulu started two of Seattle’s three playoff games in 2024, including the Championship game where he recorded 137m gained. On January 14th, 2025, the Seattle Seawolves confirmed their full roster for the 2025 campaign, including Toni Pulu.

Achievements:

Ben Fry

Welsh flanker Ben Fry played in Major League Rugby during the 2024 season. He represented the Dallas Jackals for his entire MLR career.

Fry has represented Wales at U16, U18, and U20 levels, and is a certified rugby coach with the WRU. Fry’s signing was announced by the Jackals on September 5, 2023 with the then-24yo joining from the Welsh club Dragons in the URC. Fry’s debut MLR season was heavily impacted by injury, but he still managed to make an impact with 2 tries in 6 games, and over 375m gained in possession from the back row, helping the Jackals to their best ever MLR season, qualifying for the post-season and stunning the #1 ranked Houston SaberCats in the Western Conference Semifinal, before falling to the Seattle Seawolves by the skin of their teeth in the Western Conference Final.

Following the announcement by MLR that the Dallas Jackals would not compete in the 2025 season, Fry announced on instagram that he was retiring from professional rugby.

 

Connor Olvera

Illinois born, Utah raised utility back Connor Olvera played in Major League Rugby during the 2024 season. He represented the Dallas Jackals for his entire MLR career.

An Illinois native, Olvera discovered rugby after moving to Highland, Utah and won 2 state championships with United Rugby Club. He graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications, Public Relations. Following his graduation from BYU, Olvera declared for the 2023 MLR Collegiate Draft where he was selected in the 3rd Round (29th Overall) by the Dallas Jackals, who signed him in early September that year ahead of the 2024 MLR season.

Olvera did not feature for the Dallas Jackals at MLR level, but spent the season with the Utah Selects academy side. Olvera earned his test debut for Mexico in a 45-14 victory over Trinidad & Tobago in June 2025.

Achievements:

TomĂ¡s Inciarte

Uruguayan back TomĂ¡s Inciarte played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2025. He represented the Miami Sharks for his entire MLR career.

Inciarte can play scrum-half or centre, and his signing was announced by Miami in late August 2023, shortly after the conclusion of the 2023 MLR season. A capped international, Inciarte has represented Uruguay at 2 Rugby World Cups: Japan in 2019 and most recently in 2023 in France.

Inciarte joined the Sharks from Peñarol, Uruguay’s club side competing in Super Rugby Americas (formerly SLAR). Peñarol won their 2nd title in a row during the 2023 SRA season. He scored 3 tries in 15 games (all starts) for the Miami Sharks during their inaugural season, completing just shy of 150 tackles and gaining 476m with ball in hand. The Sharks missed out on the playoffs that season but were competitive and picked up a few surprise victories. On November 8th, 2024, the Miami Sharks announced the return of TomĂ¡s Inciarte for the 2025 MLR season.

Achievements:

  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 9
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 4
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 13

Felipe Etcheverry

Uruguayan fly-half Felipe Etcheverry played in Major League Rugby in 2024. He represented the Miami Sharks for his entire MLR career.

Etcheverry’s signing was announced by the Sharks in late August 2023, shortly after the conclusion of the 2023 MLR season. He joined from Peñarol, the Uruguayan club in Super Rugby Americas (formerly SLAR) where he had played since 2020. Etcheverry joins MLR after back-to-back championships with Peñarol, and also represented Uruguay at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.

Etcheverry scored 3 tries and 73pts across 14 games (13 starts) for the Sharks in their admirable inaugural MLR season, racking up just under 800m gained in possession, and split kicking duties with Santiago Videla. Etcheverry finished 1pt behind Videla, and 11th in MLR in terms of points scored. On January 9th, 2025, Etcheverry’s former team Peñarol included him on their roster for the 2025 Super Rugby Americas season, ruling him out of a second season in MLR.

Achievements:

  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 9
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 4

Siaosi Nauer

Missouri native Siaosi Nauer played in Major League Rugby between 2022-2023, representing the Utah Warriors.

Nauer’s signing was announced by the Warriors in February of 2022, and made his MLR debut in a convincing 5-33 Round 18 road win over the Dallas Jackals in 2022. Later that year he represented the Utah Selects academy side in their fall season.

He is a crossover athlete, having played Football and rugby at high school. On the gridiron, Nauer played Quarterback, Running Back, and Safety at high school. Following high school, he attended Lindenwood University, a rugby powerhouse.

Elijah Hayes

Georgia native Elijah Hayes played in Major League Rugby between 2021-2022. He represented the Utah Warriors for his entire MLR career.

A crossover athlete from the gridiron where he played as a Guard, Hayes attended Iowa Central Community College and declared for MLR’s inaugural Collegiate Draft in 2020. In that draft, Hayes was selected in the 2nd Round, 19th overall by the Utah Warriors, and played with the Utah Selects academy side in Fall 2020 through the 2021 MLR campaign, earning a spot on the USA Selects tour to Uruguay that fall. He returned for the Warriors in 2022 and although injury kept him off the field in the early season, Hayes earned his MLR debut in Round 18 of the 2022 season, a convincing 5-33 road win over the Dallas Jackals.

Following the 2022 MLR season, Hayes attended a USA Rugby High Performance Camp and played with the USA u23s in the Fall of 2022.

Achievements:
  • MLR Draftee: 2020 – 2nd Round (19th Overall) – Utah Warriors

Victor Evans II

Texas native Victor Evans II played in Major League Rugby’s 2022 season. He represented Rugby New York (Now the Rugby New York Ironworkers)

Evans was a defensive end at Ole Miss from 2015-2019, and was invited to a training camp with the Washington Commanders in 2019. He was picked up by the American Raptors crossover program (now competing in Super Rugby Americas as of 2023).

He was signed by New York in February of 2022 and made the matchday 23 in their Round 18 victory over the New England Free Jacks, but did not feature in the game.