Wian Conradie

Namibian loose forward Wian Conradie has played in Major League Rugby since 2021. Initially signed by the Dallas Jackals, he signed with the New England Free Jacks following the Jackals’ deferral to 2022, and has represented the Free Jacks for his entire MLR career.

He signed with Gloucester in the English Premiership for their 2021/22 season, but returned to the Free Jacks part way through the 2022 MLR season. He started 16 games for the Free Jacks during their 2023 campaign, scoring 7 tries and gaining 1,262m with ball in hand (7th in MLR) as well as completing 234 tackles (3rd in MLR)in a season where he was named MLR Forward of the Year, as well as lifting the shield with the Free Jacks following a dramatic 24-25 victory over the San Diego Legion in Chicago.

Conradie returned for the Free Jacks‘ title defence, but only managed 7 further appearances before injury cut his season short. To date, Conradie has made 44 starts in 47 games for New England, scoring 15 tries and carrying for over 3000m gained, not to mention his nearly 700 completed tackles. On October 22nd, 2024, the New England Free Jacks announced the return of Wian Conradie for their 2025 MLR campaign. Conradie matches his career high in both starts and appearances in 2025, starting all 16 of his appearances and scoring 5 tries to take his career total to 20. Conradie recorded his 3rd 200+ tackle campaign, finishing 8th League-wide with 210 tackles completed and recording over 550m in possession, contributing significantly to the Free Jacks finishing atop the Eastern Conference, and completing the Threepeat for their (and Conradie’s) 3rd straight MLR Shield with Conradie starting all 3 playoff games in 2025. Conradie was named to the 2025 All-MLR 1st XV for his performance.

Achievements

Vili Toluta’u

Hawaiian born hooker/flanker Vili Toluta’u played in Major League Rugby between 2018-2021. He represented the Seattle Seawolves (2018-2020) and the New England Free Jacks (2021).

Born and raised in Hawaii, Vili Toluta’u began playing rugby as a teenager for the Maui Warriors. Following his high school graduation, Toluta’u enrolled at Central Washington University where he continued playing rugby, captaining the CWU side and graduating in 2018, just as the fledgling MLR was getting off the ground. Toluta’u signed with the Seattle Seawolves in April 2018 for the inaugural season, earning his debut off the bench in a Round 1 victory over the San Diego Legion. He started 7 of his 8 games during the 2018 season, helping the Seattle Seawolves advance to the Championship Game where he was named as MVP in a 19-23 victory for the first ever MLR Shield. That season, he was also named in the All-MLR First XV.

In total, Toluta’u started 11 of his 17 games for the Seawolves between 2018-2020, lifting the Shield twice before signing with the New England Free Jacks for the 2021 season following a shortened 2020 season that was cancelled after 5 rounds due to COVID-19. He earned 15 appearances for the Free Jacks in 2021, scoring 3 tries and starting 4 times. In December 2021, Vili Toluta’u made the decision to opt out of the 2022 MLR season to focus on his family, and has not returned to the league since.

Internationally, after progressing through the USA age grade sides Vili Toluta’u earned his international debut in June 2018 against Canada. He has also played with the USA Falcons and the USA Selects.

achievements

Pieter Jansen

South African hooker Pieter Jansen represented the New England Free Jacks in Major League Rugby from 2021-2022. Jansen appeared in all 16 of New England’s games in 2021 (14 starts) as well as 11 games in 2022 (9 starts) for a total of 27 MLR caps to date, 23 of them starts.

In his 27 appearances for the Free Jacks, Jansen has scored 9 tries putting him 4th in team history at the conclusion of the 2022 season. During that season, he made 101 tackles for a success rate of 85.59% and gained 105m in 24 ball carries before his season was cut short due to injury

On 6th July, 2022 it was announced that Jansen would return to South Africa to rehab an injury and would not take part in MLR’s 2023 season. It remains unclear if he will return in 2024.

Erich de Jager

South African prop Erich de Jager represented the New England Free Jacks in Major League Rugby from 2021-2022. He appeared in all 33 Free Jacks MLR games during that time, racking up 30 starts. As of the conclusion of the 2022 season, Erich de Jager had appeared in 86% of all Free Jacks games (38 from 2020-2022).

He scored 2 MLR tries, with both of them coming in the 2021 season. During 2022, Erich de Jager made 116 tackles with a success rate of 85.93%.

On 4th July 2022, it was announced that de Jager had signed with French side Bourg-en-Bresse, who compete in the 3rd tier of French rugby.

MLR Honours:

  • 2021 Team of the Week – Round 8
  • 2021 Team of the Week – Round 12

Dougie Fife

Scottish utility back Dougie Fife played in Major League Rugby between 2021-2024. He represented the New England Free Jacks (2020-2021) and the NOLA Gold (2023-2024).

An Edinburgh native, Fife played rugby growing up and throughout his education, he represented Edinburgh U17s & U18s, as well as Scotland U17s, U19s, and the U20s between 2009-2010 before joining the Edinburgh senior side in the PRO12 (later the PRO14 and now the URC), where he played from 2011-2020, scoring 26 tries in 123 PRO12/PRO14 appearances for his hometown club. Fife earned his international debut for Scotland in the final game of the 2014 Six Nations against Wales, and also appeared in the 2015 Six Nations. He earned 8 Scotland caps between 2014-2018, but was far more prolific on the Sevens stage, scoring 27 tries in 81 games between 2016-2020 and was named Player of the Final at the 2016 London Sevens, which Scotland won.

The New England Free Jacks announced the signing of Dougie Fife for their 2021 MLR campaign. Fife started all 16 games of their 2021 season, scoring 9 tries (T-5th in MLR) and 51pts and racking up over 900m gained (8th in MLR). He spent 2 seasons in New England, scoring 11 tries in 29 appearances (all starts) and gaining 1,775m with ball in hand. On 21st September 2022, the New England Free Jacks traded Fife to the NOLA Gold in exchange for 2023 Salary Cap Considerations (unknown). Fife would spend the next two seasons with the Gold, playing primarily at fullback and earning an additional 26 appearances (25 starts), scoring 2 tries, 1 in each season. He was a member of the Gold team that finally qualified for the MLR Playoffs in 2024, in their 7th season.

achievements:
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 2
  • T-5th in MLR Try Scoring: 2021 (9)
  • 8th in MLR Meters Gained: 2021 (949m)