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.

Jordan Chait

South African Fly-half Jordan Chait played in Major League Rugby between 2023-2024. He represented the Seattle Seawolves (2023) and Rugby FC LA (2024).

A Cape Town native, Chait played Rugby and water polo through high school, and earned a junior provincial contract with the Western Province in 2015. He attended Stellenbosch University between 2017-2019, playing rugby while earning a Bachelor of Commerce Degree in Entrepreneurship. He was a part of the team that win the 2019 Varsity Cup. He represented the Tel Aviv Heat during the 2021/22 Rugby Europe Super Cup, and also played for the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks in the Currie Cup Premier Division between 2021-2022.

Chait’s signing was announced by Seattle in January 2023, joining from Israel’s first professional rugby union team, the Tel Aviv Heat. Chait’s deadly accuracy from the tee impressed during his debut MLR season, splitting kicking duties with AJ Alatimu providing a laser-accurate kicking duo for the 2x MLR Champs. Chait earned 8 caps in his debut MLR season, racking up an impressive 77pts in those games (8th in MLR scoring), helping the Seawolves to a 12-4 record in the regular season and making it to the Western Conference Final, falling to the San Diego Legion 32-10.

On July 28th 2023, Chait was featured in a video for the Tel Aviv Heat, strongly implying that he will be spending at least the MLR offseason with the Israeli side. On 5th September 2023, the Seattle Seawolves traded Chait to Rugby ATL in exchange for Ryan Rees. Rugby ATL was under new ownership and would be relocating to Los Angeles and rebranding as Rugby FC LA ahead of the 2024 season. Their new ownership group has some overlap with that of the Tel Aviv Heat, possibly explaining their trade for Chait. In RFCLA‘s debut season, Chait scored 18pts in 2 games (1 start), racking up over 100m gained in possession.

Achievements

8th in MLR Scoring: 2023 (77pts)
MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Week 11
MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Week 8
MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Week 2

Charles Elton

New Zealand back rower Charles Elton played in Major league Rugby between 2023-2025. He represented the Seattle Seawolves for his entire MLR career.

A rugby player from an early age, Elton represented the New Zealand Schools Sevens team while in high school, before attending the University of Otago between 2012-2016. He entered the Otago system following his graduation, spending 5 years playing with Otago B before being named as Northern Otago RFC’s Player of the Year in 2019. The graduated to the Otago Mitre 10 side (now the NPC), playing from 2020-2021 before heading to Australia to play with the Eastern Suburbs in the 2022 Shute Shield competition.

Elton joined the Seattle Seawolves ahead of their 2023 MLR season, proving himself as a defensive stalwart. He score 2 tries and started all 17 of the Seawolves games in his debut MLR season, leading the entire league in completed tackles with an incredible 272. Elton returned for the 2024 season with the Seawolves and again led the league in tackles completed through the first half of the season, with 132 in 9 games (all starts) before injury ended his season early. Elton had to watch from the sidelined as the Seattle Seawolves advanced to their 4th ever MLR Championship Game, falling 11-20 to the New England Free Jacks in San Diego. Through his first two seasons in Major League Rugby, Elton has averaged over 200 tackles a season. His return for 2025 was confirmed when the Seawolves confirmed their full roster for the season on January 14th, 2025.

Charles Elton recorded his 2nd 200+ tackle season in 2025, finished T-10th with Houston’s Emmanuel Albert with 206 tackles completed. Elton did this in just 12 games played (all starts) however, averaging just over 17 tackles per game. For his huge defensive efforts, Elton was named as the Seattle Seawolves’ 2025 Forward of the Year.

achievements

T-10th in MLR Tackles Made: 2025 (206)
Seattle Seawolves 2025 Forward of the Year
MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 12
MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 10
2024 MLR Runner-Up: Seattle Seawolves
MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 8
1st in MLR Tackles Made: 2023 (272)

Sam Matenga

New Zealand front row Sam Matenga played in Major League Rugby between 2022-2024. He represented the Seattle Seawolves for his entire MLR career.

Matenga has represented the Tasman Mako in New Zealand’s NPC competition since 2019 and toured the US with the side in early 2020, facing the Houston SaberCats and, coincidentally, his future side the Seattle Seawolves. His signing was announced in December 2021 ahead of the 2022 MLR season, and his contract with the Seawolves runs through the 2024 season. To date, Matenga has scored 5 tries in his 42 MLR caps, including 36 starts, and he recorded over 100 tackles in the 2023 season alone.

On July 19th, 2023, Matenga was announced as part of the Tasman Mako squad for their 2023 NPC season. With his MLR contract running through 2024, he returned to the Seawolves for the following season, earning 13 appearances (12 starts) and scoring 1 try during the regular season. Matenga once again returned to the NPC’s Tasman Mako for their 2024 season, as announced on 13th July, 2024.

Achievements:

MLR Runner-Up: 2024 (Seattle Seawolves)
MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 2
MLR Runner-Up: 2022 (Seattle Seawolves)

Pono Davis

Hawaii native Pono Davis played in Major League Rugby between 2022-2025. He represented the Houston SaberCats for his entire MLR career.

Davis is a capped USA Eagle, earning his debut as Eagle #576 off the bench against Canada in August 2024. He was a regular starter during the USA’s July tests in 2025.

A crossover athlete from gridiron football, Davis played in the XFL for the Seattle Sea Lions in 2021 before joining the American Raptors crossover program in the fall. He signed with the Houston SaberCats ahead of the 2022 MLR season, and he earned 8 appearances from the bench for the ‘Cats in his rookie season, before returning to the American Raptors in the fall. His performance with the SaberCats earned Davis another contract with Houston for the 2023 season, in which he earned an additional 15 appearances including his first MLR starts. He racked up 175m gained with ball in hand and completed 75 tackles.

On 2nd January 2024, the Houston SaberCats announced the return of Pono Davis for his 3rd season in MLR in 2024, where he appeared in all 17 Houston SaberCats games, starting 4 times and completing over 125 tackles as the SaberCats finished as the #1 team in MLR with a 14-2 record, before being stunned by the Dallas Jackals in the Western Conference Semifinals. On November 21, 2024, the Houston SaberCats announced the return of Pono Davis for the 2025 MLR season. Davis had a standout 2025 campaign, setting career highs almost across the board. He appeared in 17 games for the Houston SaberCats, starting 16 times (four times more than his previous career high in starts!) to help the SaberCats advance to the postseason for the 4th seaosn in a row, and finally earn their first playoff victory, defeating Rugby FC LA and the Utah Warriors to claim the Western Conference Title, before falling to the New England Free Jacks in the Championship in Rhode Island. Davis passes 150 tackles for the first time in his career with 152, and was named to the All-MLR 1st XV for his performance in 2025.

achievements

2025 All-MLR First XV Selection
2025 Western Conference Champion – Houston SaberCats
MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 3
MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 18

Drew Wild

New Zealand fullback/wing Drew Wild played in Major League Rugby between 2023-2025. He represented the Houston SaberCats for his entire MLR career.

Wild’s signing was announced by the ‘Cats in early January 2023. He joined from the Manawatu Turbos of the NPC in New Zealand, with whom he has played since 2019 and came through their academy system. In his debut season in MLR, Wild scored 2 tries in 13 games (all starts) and racked up just over 700m gained. On 20th June 2023, Manawatu announced that Drew Wild was returning for the 2023 & 2024 NPC seasons but returned for the SaberCats’ 2024 campaign, scoring another 3 tries in 9 games as the ‘Cats topped the league during the regular season, but were stunned by the Dallas Jackals in the Western Conference Semifinal.

On 23rd June 2024, Manawatu confirmed Wild’s return for the 2024 NPC season, before the Houston SaberCats confirmed that Drew Wild would return to MLR for the 2025 campaign.

Achievements

MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 13
MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 4
MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 14
MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 10
MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 5

Rob Cobb

New Zealand prop Rob Cobb played in Major League Rugby between 2023-2024. He represented the Houston SaberCats for his entire MLR career.

A native of Auckland, Cobb represented the New Zealand U20s between 2018-2019, and played with Waikato in the National Rugby Championship (previously the Mitre 10 Cup) between 2019-2022. He made his Super Rugby debut for the Chiefs during the 2018/19 season and was a member of the wider Chiefs squad throughout his time with Waikato.

Cobb moved to the USA ahead of the 2023 MLR season, having signed with the Houston SaberCats. Cobb earned 14 appearances during the regular season (all starts) as the ‘Cats earned a post-season berth, and Cobb started in their Western Eliminator match against the Seattle Seawolves.

Following the 2023 season, Cobb returned to New Zealand to play in the NPC with Northland, and on 17^th January 2024, the Houston SaberCats announced the return of Rob Cobb for their 2024 MLR Campaign.

On 19th February, before the 2024 MLR season had even began, Northland announced that Cobb would be returning for their 2024 NPC season following the end of the MLR season.

achievements

MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Week 4

Will Hooley

English born American Fly-half Will Hooley played in Major League Rugby between 2022-2023. He represented the San Diego Legion for his entire MLR career.

Born in Cambridge, England, Hooley played youth rugby with Cambridge RFC before entering the Northampton Saints system out of school. He played with the Saints in the English Premiership, the Challenge Cup, and the Anglo-Welsh Cup between 2012-2015, winning the Premiership with Saints in 2014 before moving to the Exeter Chiefs from 2015-2017, with the Chiefs winning the Premiership in 2017. Hooley moved to the Championship between 2017-2020, playing with the Bedford Blues before returning to the Premiership with Saracens for the 2020/21 season.

At international level, Hooley represented the England U20s at the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship which they won, before earning his USA debut (whom he is qualified to represent through his American grandmother) against an Argentina XV side on February 3rd 2018 during the Americas Rugby Championship. He earned his full test debut for the Eagles the following week against Canada and earned 20 caps for the USA including representing the Eagles at the 2019 Rugby World Cup. His final test match was against New Zealand on 23rd October 2023.

Hooley entered MLR by joining the San Diego Legion ahead of their 2022 MLR campaign. An injury hampered Hooley’s 2022 season but he returned for 2023 as part of a formidable Legion side that set an MLR record of 74pts in a season, with a 15-1 record and Hooley scoring 89pts, finishing 6th in MLR scoring but falling at the final hurdle, 24-25 to the New England Free Jacks at the MLR Championship Final in Chicago. In total, Hooley scored 123pts in 29 games (21 starts) across two seasons in MLR, both with San Diego.

On 13th June 2023, Hooley announced that he would be retiring from playing professionally at the end of the 2023 MLR season, and has since entered the world of commentary with MLR, also hosting The Rugby Rundown on The Rugby Network with fellow British-American and former Northampton Saints teammate Alex Corbisiero, who is also a part of the San Diego Legion coaching staff.

achievements

2023 MLR Runner-Up: San Diego Legion
6th in MLR Scoring: 2023 (89pts)

Malakai Latu

Shilo Klein

New Zealand hooker Shilo Klein played in Major League Rugby during the 2023 & 2025 seasons. He represented the San Diego Legion for his entire MLR career.

Klein already had 4 seasons of professional rugby for Canterbury under his belt when he signed for the Legion in December 2022, as well as a handful of caps with the Crusaders in Super Rugby. Klein was born in Sacrameto, CA and so is a US-eligible player in MLR, making him all the more appealing. He served in a back-up role behind Sama Malolo during his debut MLR season, earning 15 caps and 4 starts, scoring 2 tries. He was a part of the San Diego Legion squad that recorded a 15-1 record during the 2023 season, the best regular season record in League history.

On July 18th, 2023 Klein was named in the North Harbour squad for the 2023 NPC season, playing alongside fellow Legion player Ben Grant. It will be the first time that Klein has played in the NPC for a non-Canterbury side. On 8th November 2023, Klein was included as part of the wider training squad for the Blues in Super Rugby, ruling him out of a return to MLR for 2024. He spent 2024 between the Blues and North Harbour. On 2nd November 2024, the San Diego Legion announced the return of Klein for their 2025 MLR season and the following week, Klein made his test debut for the USA as Eagle #581 in a 17-24 win against Portugal.

On October 20th, 2025, Italian side Zebre Parma announced the signing of Shilo Klein for the remainder of the 2025/26 URC season. With the URC regular season running to mid-may, it’s possible that Klein could return to MLR for a playoff push, but he will still be in the URC when the 2026 campaign kicks off.

Achievements:

2023 MLR Runner-up: San Diego Legion

Tomas Aoake

New Zealand winger Tomas Aoake played in Major League Rugby between 2022-2026, representing the San Diego Legion for his entire MLR career.

Aoake’s signing was announced by the San Diego Legion in January 2022, ahead of the MLR season for that year. He joined from North Harbour in New Zealand’s National Provincial Championship competition, with whom he had played since 2019. Aoake’s debut season in North America saw him scoring 4 tries in 10 games (all starts) for the Legion, earning a surprise playoff berth following the disqualification of the LA & Austin franchises. Aoake followed up a solid debut MLR season with a spectacular 2023 season. He scored 9 tries in 13 regular season games (all starts) for the Legion, tied for 5th in MLR in 2023, racking up 1,160m gained in possession (10th in MLR) as the Legion finished the regular season with a MLR-record 15-1 standing. Aoake added 2 more tries in as many games in the playoffs as the San Diego Legion advanced all the way to the Championship Final, falling 24-25 to the New England Free Jacks. Aoake and wing-partner Nate Augspurger provided the Legion with an incredible offensive ‘double punch’ on the edge that delivered 18 tries for the Legion in the regular season, and another 4 during the playoffs for 11 each, placing them both T-4th in MLR Try Scoring that season.

On 12th October 2023, the San Diego Legion announced that they had signed Tomas Aoake to a 3 year contract extension that would keep the then-28yo in California through the 2026 MLR season. In the first year of that new contract, Aoake scored another 2 tries in 11 games (all starts) as the Legion again qualified for the post-season, falling to their rivals the Seattle Seawolves in the Western Conference Semifinals. On November 14th, 2024, the San Diego Legion announced the return of Tomas Aoake for the 2025 season during which he became the San Diego Legion’s highest try scorer after scoring his 23rd try for the team against Rugby FC LA during round 11, his 5th of the 2025 season.