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.

Justice Nkombua

Chicago-born, South African raised flanker/lock Justice Nkombua played in Major League Rugby between 2023-2024. He represented the Chicago Hounds for his entire MLR career.

Classified a domestic player due to his birth within the US, he was raised in South Africa and played for the University of Pretoria Tuks in their Young Gun competition, and then the first team in both the Varsity Cup and Carlton Cup. In 2022, he was a member of the 2022 Varsity Cup championship team. His initial move to MLR was announced by the Chicago Hounds in April 2023, part-way through their inaugural season. Nkombua earned 6 caps (1 start) for the Hounds during his debut season stateside. Following the 2023 season, he also played for the USA Hawks, a development program for young American prospects.

On 17th November 2023, the Chicago Hounds announced the return of Justice Nkombua for the 2024 MLR season.

Phillip Thiel

Former USA Eagle Phillip Thiel retired from playing professional rugby in 2015, but suited up as replacement hooker for RugbyATL during the 2023 MLR Season at age 38!

Connor Grindal

Canada-eligible Australian prop Connor Grindal played in Major League Rugby between 2023-2024. He represented the Toronto Arrows (2023) and Rugby FC LA (2024).

Born in London, England and raised in Sydney, Australia, Grindal is eligible for Canada through both his Montreal-born mother and Toronto-born father. His father Iain played rugby at provincial-level in Ontario prior to emigrating.

Grindal’s signing was announced by the Arrows in September 2022, joining from the Highlanders system in Australia having previously represented both Gordon and Sydney University. The 25yo earned 7 MLR caps (4 starts) and completed 71 tackles in his first professional season in North America. Following his season with the Arrows, Grindal returned to Australia to play with Gordon before heading to Scotland to play with Melrose (with whom the Arrows have a partnership) for the initial stages of the Scottish National League 1 season.

On 4th October 2023, the Arrows announced the re-signing of Connor Grindal for the 2024 MLR season, re-joining from Melrose in Scotland. When the Arrows announced that they would not be competing in the 2024 MLR season, Grindal opted in to the Dispersal draft for Toronto & New York players (the Ironworkers announced that they would also not compete in 2024, a week after Toronto) and was selected 24th overall by the Dallas Jackals. The day after the dispersal draft on 14th December 2023, the Jackals traded Connor Grindal to Rugby FC LA ahead of their inaugural season in 2024, and he was named on their roster about a week later.

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Tomiwa Agbongbon

New Jersey born Englishman Tomiwa Agbongbon played in Major League Rugby between 2023-2024. He represented the Houston SaberCats for his entire MLR career.

Agbongbon played rugby through high school in England, and attended sport-specialty University Loughborough between 2021-2024 while playing in the BUCS league. In 2022 he represented Premiership side Leicester Tigers in the Cup competition, before moving over to the USA and earning his MLR debut off the bench for the SaberCats in 2023. Early in the 2024 season, the SaberCats announced the return of Agbongbon for that year’s campaign, where he earned 6 further appearances including his first MLR start as the Houston SaberCats would finish 1st in MLR during the regular season with a 14-2 record.

On May 31st 2024, the Ealing Trailfinders of the English Championship announced the addition of Agbongbon for their 2024/25 Championship campaign.

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2023 – RD 8: Houston SaberCats v Utah Warriors

The Houston SaberCats host the Utah Warriors in a Western Conference clash at SaberCats Stadium during Round 8 of the 2023 season.

Thomas Tu’avao completed a season-high 29 tackles in a heroic performance to help the Utah Warriors secure a win, more than any other player in the 2023 season and the most tackles ever from a Utah Warriors player at the time. This was also the 2nd highest single-game tackle count in MLR history at the time, behind Matt Heaton’s 32 tackles for Rugby ATL in 2021.

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Luke Green

English prop Luke Green played in Major League Rugby between 2023-2024. He represented the San Diego Legion for his entire MLR career.

Green’s signing was announced by the Legion in April 2023, part way into the season. The 22yo joined from London Irish in the English Premiership, where he had been in their system since he was 15. In his debut season in North America, he earned 10 MLR caps (all starts) made up of 8 regular season games, and both Legion games in their Championship Series run to the Final, where they fell 24-25 to the New England Free Jacks.

On 10th October 2023, the San Diego Legion announced the return of Luke Green along with 3 other Legion players from 2023. As London Irish ceased operations for 2023/24, this may have influenced Green’s decision to stay in California for a second season, where he earned another 10 starts and 14 appearances. On 1st May 2024, the Northampton Saints of the English Premiership announced the signing of Luke Green for their 2024/25 season, putting an end to his stint in Major League Rugby.

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