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.
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:
Calixto Martinez
Canadian prop Calixto Martinez played in Major League Rugby between 2023-2025. He represented Old Glory DC for his entire MLR career.
A BC native and product of the University of British Columbia, Calixto ‘Cali’ Martinez was the highest-drafted Canadian in the 2022 MLR Draft when he was selected in the 1st Round, 3rd overall by Old Glory DC. He was the highest drafted Canadian ever until Neil Trainor went 2nd overall in 2024. He was drafted by Old Glory DC whom he represented for his debut MLR season where he earned 11 MLR caps including his first start in the league as the Flags earned their first post-season appearance in club history. On 28th November 2023, Old Glory DC announced the return of Cali Martinez for the 2024 MLR season. In his sophomore season in MLR, Martinez earned 4 starts in 16 games for the Flags, improving from 54m gained in 2023 to over 200m gained in 2024, while completing over 70 tackles. He was named to the MLR Team of the Week for the first time in his career for his performance in Round 18, and came off the bench during Old Glory DC’s Eastern Conference Semifinal clash with their rivals the New England Free Jacks and although the Flags ran the Free Jacks close, they fell 29-33 to the eventual champions.
Just prior to the 2024 Playoffs, Cali Martinez earned his test debut for Canada in a victory over Romania in Ottawa the July tests, before returning to Old Glory DC for their 2024 playoff run. Following the season, Martinez was included in Canada’s squad for the Pacific Nations Cup, and represented the Maple Leaf in the November tests. On December 4th, 2024, Old Glory DC announced the return of Cali Martinez for his 3rd MLR season in 2025. In that season, Martinez proved to be a genuine talent in the front row. He appeared in all 17 of Old Glory’s games that season as they returned to the playoffs, falling to the Chicago Hounds in the Eastern Conference semifinal. Martinez doubled his career high in starts from 4 to 8, and although his metres gained in possession fell from 203 in 2024 back to around his rookie season level with 45m, he more than doubled his tackles completed from 72 to an impressive 150.
Following the 2025 campaign, Cali Martinez was again a regular in the national team selection. He started every game for Canada both in their July tests and in the Pacific Nations Cup, including a victory over the USA in Calgary that ultimately earned Canada a place at the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. Martinez became the first Canadian confirmed for the 2026 MLR season when Old Glory DC announced his return on November 3rd, 2025.
Achievements:
- MLR Team of the Week: 2026 – Rd 11
- MLR Team of the Week: 2026 – Rd 10
- MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 6
- MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 18
- 2022 MLR Draftee: 1st Round (3rd Overall) – Old Glory DC
Kurt Baker
New Zealand Fullback and All Blacks Sevens legend Kurt Baker played in Major League Rugby during the 2023 MLR season. He represented Old Glory DC for his entire MLR career.
Baker, a former New Zealand U20 player, made his New Zealand Sevens debut in Dubai in 2008 and played the following series in South Africa that year. He would go on to play in 233 games at 53 HSBC World Sevens Series Tournaments, winning 5 Series titles and 12 tournaments, with his final tournament being the 2022 Dubai Sevens. He played in three Rugby Sevens World Cups, winning Gold in 2013 in Russia and in 2018 in San Francisco, and a silver medal Cape Town in 2022. He also won a silver medal at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. On the XV side of the game, he has played for the Manawatu Turbos in NZs NPC between 2007-2008 and again in 2017, and played for both Taranaki (also in the NPC) and the Highlanders (in Super Rugby) between 2012-2015. He played in the PRO 12 for Zebre for the 2016/17 season before returning to New Zealand with the Hawke’s Bay Magpies in 2020.
Baker’s initial move stateside was announced by Old Glory DC in December 2022, joining as Player/Coach for the 2023 MLR season. He earned 10 MLR caps (all starts) for the Flags, scoring 2 tries as they earned their first ever Championship Series berth. On 23rd November 2023, Old Glory DC announced that Baker was leaning into coaching full time, and would return for the Flags in the 2024 MLR season as Attack Coach.
Achievements:
- MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Round 9
