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.

Josh Henderson

Scottish fly-half Josh Henderson played in Major League Rugby between 2022-2024. He represented the San Diego Legion for the entirety of his MLR career.

A former Scotland U16, U19, and U20 player, as well as a Scotland 7s player, Henderson joined the San Diego Legion mid-way through the 2022 season from the USRC Tigers in Hong Kong. He earned 2 Caps (both starts) in his debut MLR season and followed this up with a very strong 2023 season playing in tandem with capped USA Eagle Will Hooley in the Legion 10 shirt. The Legion’s record-breaking 2023 season saw Henderson earn 12 caps (8 starts), score 2 tries and a total of 54pts (19/31 from the tee, 61.29%), gaining 470m.

Henderson’s 2024 season saw him score another try and 24pts in 4 games (2 starts) playing a primarily reserve role behind Lincoln McClutchie and Matt Giteau, despite an outstanding performance in the Legion’s first game of the year in which he scored all of the Legion’s points. On 2nd October 2023, the San Diego Legion announced the return of Josh Henderson on a multi-year contract through (at least) the 2025 season, but on 27th August 2024, Henderson appeared to announce his retirement from rugby on instagram, at the age of 27.

Achievements:

Richard Judd

New Zealand scrum-half Richard Judd represented the San Diego Legion in Major League Rugby for their record-breaking 2023 season, and again in 2025.

Judd joined the Legion from NPC side Wellington in November 2022. His outstanding performances in the 9 jersey helped to move Nate Augspurger to the wing, where the American had a stand-out season. Judd and Augspurger were tied for the most Team of the Week selections of the 2023 season, at 6 each. He was the starting 9 during the Legion’s record-breaking 15-1 season in 2023, the best regular season in MLR history. The Legion’s season ultimately ended with a 24-25 loss to the Free Jacks in the Championship Final.

Judd scored 7 tries in his 14 games in 2023 and also delievered 120 tackles. His efforts earned him an All-MLR First XV selection in his debut MLR season.

On July 20th, 2023, Judd was named in Bay of Plenty’s squad for their 2023 NPC Season. This will be his 4th NPC season and his first with the Bay of Plenty Steamers. On 1st November 2023, the Hurricanes of Super Rugby announced the signing of Richard Judd for 2024. Judd linked up with fellow 2023 Legionnaire Ben Grant at the Wellington-based club. On November 9th, 2024, the San Diego Legion announced the return of Richard Judd for the 2025 MLR season after a year in Super Rugby. In his 2nd MLR season, he added another 2 tries and started 10 of his 12 appearances for the Legion while completing another 87 tackles as a scrumhalf for 213 in his 26 game MLR career!

During the frenetic 2025/26 MLR off-season, the San Diego Legion announced that they would be merging with their California rivals Rugby FC LA to form the California Legion. Judd would not return to MLR for the 2026 season. Instead, he headed to France and signed with Vannes in the Pro D2, which the club announced on 4th November, 2025.

Achievements:
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 2
  • 2023 All-MLR First XV Selection
  • 2023 MLR Runner-Up: San Diego Legion
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Rd 17
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Rd 15
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Rd 12
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Rd 11
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Rd 5
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Rd 3

Tupou Ma’afu Afungia

Tongan back row Tupou Ma’afu Afungia played in Major League Rugby between 2023-2025. He represented the San Diego Legion (2023-2024) and the NOLA Gold (2025).

The signing of former Tonga U16 and U20 player Afungia was announced in November 2022, joining the Legion from Hawke’s Bay in New Zealand’s NPC competition in November 2022. In his debut season in North America, the 23yo earned 11 MLR caps (10 starts) and scored 3 tries in the regular season, and started both playoff games for the Legion, gaining over 500m and delivering 117 successful tackles during the Legion’s 15-1 regular season and Championship Series push. The Legion fell at the final hurdle, with a 24-25 defeat to the New England Free Jacks in the Championship Final in Chicago.

On 2nd October 2023, the San Diego Legion announced the re-signing of Tupou Ma’afu Afungia along with 6 other returnees for the 2024 season. In 2024, Afungia added 2 tries in 12 appearances (10 starts), setting a career best with just under 700m gained and completing just under 100 tackles as the Legion advanced to the post-season with a solid 11-5 record, but fell to their rivals the Seattle Seawolves in the Western Conference Semifinals. Afungia appeared off the bench in that game, racking up 81m gained. On 23rd October 2024, the San Diego Legion traded Afungia to the NOLA Gold in exchange for 2025 Salary Cap Considerations (unknown)

Achievements:

  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 2
  • MLR Runner-Up: 2023 (San Diego Legion)
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Rd 9

Sam Davies

New Zealander Sam Davies played in Major League Rugby during the 2023 Major League Rugby season, and again during the 2025 season. He represented the Rugby New York Ironworkers (2023), and Old Glory DC (2025).

Davies’ signing was announced by Rugby New York in November 2022, joining from North Harbour in New Zealand’s NPC where the then-20yo had just finished his first season in professional rugby. He earned 15 appearances for the Ironworkers during his debut season in North America, starting twice and completing 65 tackles. He also gained just shy of 200m in possession, which is relatively high for a primarily replacement prop.

On 17th July, 2023, Davies was announced as part of the North Harbour squad for their 2023 NPC season and, following the withdrawal of Rugby New York from MLR in November 2023, did not return to Major League Rugby for the 2024 season. He did, however, return the following season. With under a week to go before the 2025 season kicked off, Old Glory DC announced the signing of Sam Davies for the 2025 season on February 11th, 2025.

Tei Walden

Former All Blacks u20 & Māori All Blacks centre Teihorangi ‘Tei’ Walden represented the Rugby New York Ironworkers during the 2023 Major League Rugby season.

Walden has considerable experience, having represented Otago from 2013-2017 and Taranaki since 2018, both at the NPC level. At the Super Rugby level, he represented the Highlanders from 2016-2020 and made a return to Super Rugby with the Hurricanes in 2022 following an achilles injust that sidelined him for many months.

He appeared in 16 of the Ironworkers’ 17 games in MLR 2023, starting 15 of them. He racked up over 1000m gained and 175 tackles in his debut MLR season, establishing himself as a fearsome midfield presence on both sides of the ball.

Walden was included on the Taranaki Bulls roster for their 2023 NPC season, and it is unknown if he will return to MLR for 2024.

Achievements: 

  • MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Week 8

Hamish Dalzell

New Zealand lock Hamish Dalzell played in Major League Rugby during the 2023 season. He represented the Rugby New York Ironworkers for his entire MLR career.

Dalzell’s signing was announced in November 2022, joining from the Crusaders in Super Rugby, where he had also played in 2018. Like many Kiwi MLR players he is a regular in the NPC competition, representing Canterbury from 2016-2018 and again in 2021, and Auckland in 2020 & 2022.

In his debut MLR season, the towering 6’7 lock earned 17 MLR appearances for New York including 1 in the Championship Series, scoring 1 try and completing an impressive 189 tackles. 181 of these tackles were during the regular season, placing him 9th league-wide in tackles completed, and highest on the Ironworkers’ roster in 2023. His efforts earned him the Rugby New York Players’ Player of the year award in 2023,

On July 26th 2023, Dalzell was included in the Auckland squad for their upcoming 2023 NPC season. When news of Rugby New York‘s demise emerged in late 2023, Dalzell did not return to MLR.

Achievements
  • 7th in MLR Tackling: 2023 (189)
  • 2023 NY Ironworkers Player’s player of the Year

Marcos Young

Texas-born Florida native Marcos Young played in Major League Rugby between 2023-2025. He represented Old Glory DC (2023) and the Miami Sharks (2024-2025).

Young played for Key Biscayne RFC in Florida, a club founded by South American immigrants. Young himself has strong Argentinian roots. He played with the USA U19 team in 2016 and the Eagle Impact Rugby Academy. He played with Pathway 404, the academy side of Rugby ATL, in 2020 before heading to Argentina to play with CUBA in the URBA Top 13 competition between 2020-2022.

Young earned a MLR contract with Old Glory DC for the 2023 season, where he earned 11 caps (7 starts) during the regular season and scored 4 tries. He also started both of DC’s Championship Series games that season, the first playoff games in the club’s history. He returned to the URBA Top 13 with CUBA in the MLR offseason, and on 5th January, 2024, the Miami Sharks expansion side announced the signing of Marcos Young for their inaugural season in 2024, allowing him to play professional rugby in his home state. Young scored 2 tries in 15 games (14 starts) for the Sharks in 2024, gaining over 650m in possession and completing a career high 82 tackles. On December 1st, 2024, the Miami Sharks confirmed the return of Marcos Young for the 2025 season.

achievements:

  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 14
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 11
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Rd 6

Gradyn Bowd

Alberta native Gradyn Bowd played in Major League Rugby between 2023-2024. He represented Old Glory DC for his entire MLR career.

Old Glory DC announced the signing of a then-30yo Bowd in November of 2022, ahead of the 2023 MLR season. This was the first professional contract of Bowd’s career, depite earning his debut international cap for Canada in 2017. Bowd had an impressive debut MLR season, earning 12 appearances (9 starts) and scoring 30pts from the tee (14/28 – 50.00%) as the Flags earned their first post-season appearance in club history, and made it to the Eastern Conference Final before falling 25-7 to the eventual Champions, the New England Free Jacks.

Bowd’s performance clearly impressed Rugby Canada, as he was selected for their tour of Tonga before the Rugby World Cup in 2023, and was again selected for the November test series in Spain. On 24th October 2023, Old Glory DC announced the return of Gradyn Bowd for the 2024 MLR season.

Achievements: