Angus Cottrell

Australian back row Angus Cottrell played in Major League Rugby between 2021-2022. He represented the LA Giltinis for his entire MLR career,

Cottrell played rugby from an early age and his grandfather Nev Cottrell captained the Wallabies against the British & Irish Lions. Having played rugby growing up, Cottrell’s senior career began in 2008, representing the West Brisbane Bulldogs in the Queensland Premier Rugby competition until 2011. His performances for the Wests earned him a Super Rugby contract with the Western Force, who he represented from 2012-2017, earning over 50 appearances in Super Rugby before signing with the Melbourne Rebels, with whom he earned another 34 Super Rugby appearances between 2018-2020 and played with future Giltinis teammate Billy Meakes.

In December 2020, the LA Giltinis announced the signing of Cottrell for their inaugural MLR campaign in 2021, joining an Australian-heavy roster. He quickly became a stand-out back row, and led the entire league in tries scored for the 2021 season, totalling 12 scores as the Giltinis advanced to the Championship final, dispatching Rugby ATL 31-17 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Across his two seasons in LA, Cottrell scored 14 tries in 21 MLR appearances (19 starts), totaling just over 900m gained with ball in hand and 170 tackles. A week prior to the 2022 Championship Series, MLR announced that the LA Giltinis, along with sister team the Austin Gilgronis, were disqualified from the 2022 Playoffs for alleged salary cap violations and a ‘violation of league rules’. Following the 2022 season, both Austin and LA franchises folded, and in October 2022, Cottrell announced an end to his professional playing career.

achievements:
  • 2021 MLR Champion: LA Giltinis
  • 1st in MLR Try Scoring: 2021 (12)

Nathan Den Hoedt

Australian lock Nathan den Hoedt played in Major League Rugby between 2021-2026. He represented the LA Giltinis (2021-2022) the Houston SaberCats (2023-2025), and the Chicago Hounds (2026).

Brisbane native Nathan ‘Moose’ den Hoedt played with NRC side NSW Country Eagles as well as an Emerging NSW Waratahs side. He played with the famous Randwick Club in the 2019/20 Shute Shield before making the move stateside. Den Hoedt signed with the LA Giltinis ahead of their inaugural MLR season in 2021, earning 16 appearances (13 starts) and scoring 1 try as the Giltinis advanced all the way to the Championship Final in their first season, defeating Rugby ATL 31-17 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to lift the 2021 Shield. Den Hoedt returned for the Giltinis for the 2022 MLR season, starting all 16 games during the regular season and scoring another try before the LA Giltinis (along with their sister team, the Austin Gilgronis) were disqualified for alleged salary cap breaches. In the offseason, the Giltinis folded.

In the subsequent Expansion/Dispersal draft, den Hoedt was selected 19th overall by the Chicago Hounds expansion side and on 2nd December 2023, the Hounds traded him to the Houston SaberCats in exchange for 2023 Salary Cap Considerations (unknown). Den Hoedt signed with the ‘Cats for the 2023 season, earning 14 appearances for his new side and racking up 95 successful tackles. On 6th January 2024, the Houston SaberCats announced the return of Nathan den Hoedt for the 2024 MLR season where he served as part of the leadership group as he started 10 times in as many games for the SaberCats as they recorded an MLR-best record of 14-2 in the regular season before being stunned by the Dallas Jackals in the Western Conference Semifinals, a game which Den Hoedt started and was Houston Captain.

Nathan Den Hoedt would return for a 3rd year with the Houston SaberCats in 2025, continuing his role as Captain. He scored a career high 5 tries, starting 17 of his 18 appearances for Houston (both also career highs) as they would finish 2nd in the Western Conference, before earning their first ever playoff victories, defeating Rugby FC LA and the Utah Warriors to claim the Western Conference Title. The SaberCats would fall to the New England Free Jacks in the 2025 Championship in Rhode Island. Den Hoedt started all 3 playoff games for Houston. He recorded his 3rd 100+ tackle season, finishing with 147 and passing 1,000m gained in his career. For his efforts, he was named to the All-MLR 1st XV team, his first All-MLR selection.

Following the surprise announcement in September 2025 that the Houston SaberCats would not participate in the 2026 MLR season, Den Hoedt took his skills to the midwest. The Chicago Hounds announced the addition of Nathan Den Hoedt for their 2026 campaign on October 24th, 2025.

achievements:

  • 2025 All-MLR First XV Selection
  • 2025 Western Conference Champion – Houston SaberCats
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 4
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 11
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Rd 13
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Rd 6
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2022 – Rd 4
  • 2021 MLR Champion: LA Giltinis
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2021 – Rd 10
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2021 – Rd 6

Luke Burton

Australian fly-half/fullback Luke Burton played in Major League Rugby between 2020-2024. He represented the San Diego Legion (2020 and 2023-2024) and the LA Giltinis (2021-2022).

Burton began playing rugby through school, playing age-grade rugby for Western Australia and representing Australia U20 at Junior World Championships in 2013 & 2014. His Pro Rugby journey also started in his native Australia, playing with the Western Force in Super Rugby between 2014-2017, and Perth Spirit in the NRC between 2014-2016. He earned 11 NRC appearances and 25 Super Rugby caps in that time. Burton then moved to France, representing Biarritz in the Pro D2 between 2017-2019.

Burton signed with the San Diego Legion ahead of the 2020 MLR season, starting all 5 games of the shortened season before it was cancelled due to COVID-19, racking up 37pts and putting him 7th league-wide at the time the league paused. He signed with the newly formed Aussie-heavy LA Giltinis ahead of the 2021 season, starting 14 of his 16 caps and recording a PB 132 tackles as LA lifted the shield in their inaugural season, defeating Rugby ATL 21-17 at the LA Coliseum. In total, Burton earned 30 caps (21 starts) for the Giltinis between 2021-2022, scoring 90pts from the boot. Following the disqualification of the LA Giltinis (along with sister team, the Austin Gilgronis) from the 2022 MLR Post-Season, and the subsequent folding of the franchise, Burton returned to San Diego for the 2023 season.

Burton scored his only MLR try to date for the Legion in the 2023 season, and 24pts in 4 games (1 starts) as San Diego recorded an MLR-record 15-1 season and progressed to the Championship Final before falling to the New England Free Jacks 24-25 in Chicago. Burton re-signed for the Legion for the 2024 season.

achievements
  • 7th in MLR Scoring: 2020 (37pts)

Charlie Abel

Australian prop Charlie Abel played in Major League Rugby between 2021-2026. He represented the LA Giltinis (2021-2022) and the Chicago Hounds (2023-2026).

Abel played with CS Beaune in the French regional leagues for the 2016/17 season, before returning the Australia to play for the Manly Marlins in the 2017/18 Shute Shield, and Gordon in the 2019/20 Shute Shield, which they won. His 2 seasons in the Shute Shield sandwiched a season in the NRC with the NSW Country Eagles. Abel signed with the Melbourne Rebels for Super Rugby Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is the brother of Robbie Abel, who is a member of the Utah Warriors coaching staff

Abel signed with the LA Giltinis ahead of their inaugural season in MLR. He earned 16 appearances (14 starts) as the Giltinis advanced to the 2021 Championship Final, defeating Rugby ATL 31-17 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to lift the Shield in their first season in the competition. Abel earned 4 MLR Team of the Week selections during the 2023 season, bested only by Rugby New York Ironworkers’ Nate Brakeley with 5. Abel was recognised with All-MLR honours, being included in an Honourable Mention XV for the 2021 season. He earned a further 15 appearances (8 starts) during the regular season the following year, scoring 3 tries before the Giltinis, along with the Austin Gilgronis (LA’s sister team), were disqualified from the 2022 season prior to the Championship Series. Both LA & Austin folded following the season’s conclusion. In the subsequent expansion/dispersal draft, Charlie Abel was selected 15th overall by the Chicago Hounds expansion side, and signed there on a multi-year contract for their inaugural season in 2023 and beyond. He appeared in 15 of the Hounds’ 16 regular season games in 2023, starting 7 and scoring 2 tries. He racked up 300m gained with ball in hand and completed 127 tackles.

Through his first 3 seasons in MLR, Abel earned 46 MLR caps (29 starts) and scored 6 tries. His return was confirmed by the Chicago Hounds on 3rd January, 2024 where he earned another 10 starts in 16 appearances, scoring another try and completing over 100 tackles for a 4th straight season. He came off the bench in both of the Hounds’ MLR Playoff games in 2024, as they dispatched the NOLA Gold in the Eastern Conference Semifinal, before falling to the eventual Champions the New England Free Jacks in the Eastern Conference Final, where Abel made 15 tackles off the bench. On January 9th, 2025, the Chicago Hounds confirmed the return of Charlie Abel for the 2025 season, his 3rd with Chicago and 5th in MLR. Abel earned 3 MLR Team of the week selections in his 13 games during the 2025 season, starting 12 times including both of the Chicago Hounds playoff games that year, playing a full 80 minutes during their heartbreaking Eastern Conference Final defeat to the New England Free Jacks for the 2nd year in a row. He recorded 132 that year, marking the 5th successive season with over 100 tackles, and he now sits on 645 tackles in his 75 career MLR appearances (51 starts).

On November 18th, 2025, the Chicago Hounds announced the return of Charlie Abel for his 4th season with the team and 6th in Major League Rugby in 2026.

achievements:

  • MLR Team of the Week: 2026 – Rd 3
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2026 – Rd 2
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 15
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 12
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 8
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 15
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Rd 3
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2022 – Rd 17
  • MLR Champion: 2021 (LA Giltinis)
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2021 – Rd 11
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2021 – Rd 10
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2021 – Rd 4
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2021 – Rd 1

Harrison Goddard

Australian scrum-half Harrison Goddard played in Major League Rugby between 2021-2022. He represented the LA Giltinis for his entire MLR career.

The proud indigenous man from Sydney appeared in 31 of LA’s 34 MLR games during the 2021 & 2022 seasons and started both playoff games during the Giltinis’ 2021 Championship season. Goddard racked up 12 tries and 83pts during his 2yrs in LA and, at the conclusion of the 2022 season he was 2nd in club history for tries scored, and 3rd for points scored. In 2021, he finished T-5th for tries scored MLR-wide, with 9.

During 2022, Goddard gained 452m on 61 ball carries, and completed 707 passes for a success rate of 87.39%. On the defensive side, Goddard made 119 tackles for a success rate of 85.61%! He was also called upon to kick from the tee during this season due to numerous LA injuries, and went 8/11 for a success rate of 72.73%.

On July 27, 2022 it was announced that Harrison Goddard had signed with the Waratahs in Super Rugby for 2023. This was prior to the Giltinis folding following their (and the Austin Gilgronis’) disqualification from the 2022 Championship Series for ‘a violation of league rules’.

achievements:
  • 2021 MLR Team of the Week – Round 2
  • 2021 MLR Team of the Week – Round 9
  • 2021 MLR Team of the Week – Round 15
  • 2021 All-MLR 1st XV
  • 2021 MLR Champion – LA Giltinis
  • T-5th in MLR Try Scoring: 2021 (9)
  • 2022 MLR Team of the Week – Round 2
  • 2022 MLR Team of the Week – Round 7
  • 2022 MLR Team of the Week – Round 10
  • 2022 All-MLR 2nd XV

Dave Dennis

Australian loose forward Dave Dennis played in Major League Rugby between 2021-2022. He represented the LA Giltinis for his entire MLR career.

Born in Sydney, NSW, Dennis began playing rugby at an early age and represented the Australian Schoolboys side in 2004 while attending Richmond High School. By 2007 he was playing with the NSW Waratahs in Super Rugby, where he earned over 100 Super Rugby appearances between 2007-2016, during which time he also earned his test debut for the Wallabies against Scotland in June 2012, and won the Super League title in 2014. In total Dennis earned 18 caps for Australia between 2012-2013. After his time with the Waratahs, Dennis signed with the Exeter Chiefs in the English Premiership where he played until 2020, winning the Premiership title with the Chiefs in both his first season (2016/17) and his final season (2019/20), as well as lifting the European Champions Cup in 2019/20.

Following his time with the Chiefs, Dennis signed with Aussie-heavy MLR expansion side the LA Giltinis for their inaugural season in 2021, where he Captained the side through a dominant season culminating in the 2021 MLR Shield. Dennis returned as captain for another strong season in 2022, before the LA Giltinis were disqualified (along with sister team the Austin Gilgronis) from the 2022 playoffs and subsequently folded during the ‘Gilly-gate’ debacle. Dennis captained the Giltinis for each of his 30 MLR appearances across 2 seasons, totaling just under 300 tackles and over 1,150m gained in possession.

After a few years away from MLR, Dennis returned to the league and to LA on the sidelines, as Rugby FC LA announced the hiring of Dave Dennis as Senior Assistant Coach on October 8th, 2024. He would be working under his former Giltinis head coach, Steve Hoiles. For Dennis’ coaching profile, click here.

Marcell Muller

South African winger Marcell Muller played in Major League Rugby in the 2022 & 2024 seasons. He represented the Houston SaberCats (2022) and the Dallas Jackals (2024).

Muller’s first season in MLR was with the Houston SaberCats, who announced his signing in January 2022. During the 2022 season Muller made 2 appearances for the ‘Cats (both starts), scoring 1 try. Following his season in North America, he returned to the Cheetahs organisation, playing with the Free State Cheetahs in South Africa’s Currie Cup competition.

The Dallas Jackals annoucned the signing of Marcell Muller for the 2024 MLR season on 12th October 2023, once again joining from the Cheetahs.

Achievements:

Axel Zapata

Argentinian front row Axel Zapata played in Major League Rugby between 2022-2023. He represented the Houston SaberCats for his entire MLR career.

Zapata played with the Jaguares between 2016-2019 and represented the Argentina XV side in the ARC. He moved to the Olimpia Lions in Paraguay (the side that would later become Yacare XV) and represented them between 2019-2021.

Zapata moved north in 2022, signing with the Houston SaberCats for the 2022 MLR season and he earned 4 appearances including the ‘Cats first ever Championship Series game, and scored 1 try. He returned for the SaberCats for the 2023 season, earning a further 13 appearances including his first 5 starts in MLR, and scored his 2nd MLR try.  In total, Zapata earned 17 MLR caps for Houston including 5 starts, scoring 2 tries.

On January 18th 2024, Zapata was included on the Yacare XV roster for their 2024 Super Rugby Americas season.

Kian Meadon

South African playmaker Kian Meadon played in Major League Rugby between 2022-2025. He represented the Houston SaberCats (2022-2023), Rugby ATL (2022 on Loan), and the Chicago Hounds (2024-2025).

a native of Paarl in the Western Cape of South Africa, Meadon attended Paarl High School between 2017-2019, representing the South Africa Schools team in 2019. He has played with the Sharks U18 & U20 sides, as well as the South Africa U18 & U20 sides, the latter of which he represented at the Worlf Rugby U20s Championship. Meadon headed stateside for the 2022 season, splitting the season between the Houston SaberCats (6 games, 5 starts, 25pts) and Rugby ATL where he was loaned for 4 weeks, playing an additional 2 games (1 start). He spent the majority of the 2023 season with the SaberCats academy team, but still managed to add 9pts in 2 games (both starts) for the MLR side that year.

Following 2 seasons in Houston, the Chicago Hounds announced the signing of Meadon for the 2024 season, where he added another 3pts in one game, which he started. He spent much of 2024 with the Hounds academy side and on January 5th, 2025, the Chicago Hounds announced the return of Kian Meadon for his 4th MLR season in 2025.