Chase Suznevich

North Carolina native Chase Suznevich played in Major League Rugby during the 2024 season. He represented Anthem Rugby Carolina for his entire MLR career.

The Indian Trail man played football through high school and rugby with local side Union County. He transferred from Central Piedmont Community College to Queen’s University of Charlotte in 2020, captaining the school’s rugby team before graduating in 2023, when he also played with Charlotte Rugby Club (now officially linked with Anthem RC) and represented the USA Hawks in their tour of South America.

Suznevich joined Anthem RC ahead of their inaugural season in 2024, starting their first ever MLR game. He received a MLR Team of the Week selection for his performance.

achievements

  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 1

Dylan Fortune

Californian back row Dylan Fortune played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2025. He represented Anthem RC for his entire MLR career.

A native of San Diego, CA, Fortune attended Cathedral Catholic High School, playing football as a defensive end/tackle while there, also playing rugby with the San Diego Youth Rugby Mustangs. Fortune attended Lindenwood University between 2022-2024, playing with the Lions while there. He was also selected for the USA U20s for the 2023 World Rugby Trophy. Fortune signed with the newly established Anthem RC for the 2024 MLR season, where he earned his pro debut and 7 appearances for the MLR, USA Rugby and World Rugby partnership (all starts), scoring 1 try and completing 54 tackles while running for over 200m gained.

Anthem RC confirmed the return of Dylan Fortune for a second season in Charlotte when they revealed their full 2025 roster on January 21st, 2025.

Albert O’Shannessey

New Zealand back rower Albert O’Shannessey played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2025. He represented Anthem Rugby Carolina for his entire MLR career.

A Christchurch native, O’Shannessey has rugby in his blood as his maternal grandfather Kevin Meates represented the All Blacks in the early 1950s. He began playing rugby at the age of 5 and played for the First XV while at Christ’s College as well as the Canterbury U18s & Canterbury Māori U21s. While at Christ’s College, O’Shannessey enjoyed a successful rowing career. He was in the top 8 for four years and is a New Zealand National Medalist in the Maadi Cup, in the U17 Eight, the U18 Quad Skulls and the Prestigious Maadi Cup U18 Eight. O’Shannessey moved to the US in 2018 to attend Central Washington University for his undergraduate degree, continuing to study at CWU for his Master’s degree, with which he graduated in 2023. That same year he played with, and captained,  the Canyons at the Collegiate Rugby Shield, the precursor to the MLR Rising Collegiate Draft Combine.

After declaring for the 2023 MLR Collegiate Draft, O’Shannessey was selected in the 2nd round, 21st Overall by the Rugby New York Ironworkers. When the Ironworkers withdrew from the 2024 season and Anthem RC came into the league, he was snapped up by the MLR, World Rugby, and USA Rugby partnership team. In his debut MLR season, O’Shannessey scored 2 tries in 12 games (all starts) and completed just shy of 150 tackles.

O’Shannessey became US-eligible in the fall of 2024 and MLR confirmed that he would count as a domestic player for 2025. He has expressed an interest in following the path to representing the Eagles. On January 21st, 2025, Anthem RC revealed the team’s full 2025 roster which included Albert O’Shannessey, who returned for a 2nd season with the Rising Stars, starting 6 of his 10 appearances and recording just shy of 100 tackles, for a career total of 240 tackles in 22 career MLR games (18 starts).

achievements

 

Braemar Murray

US-eligible English born back row Braemar Murray played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2026. He represented Anthem RC (2024), the Miami Sharks (2025), and the New England Free Jacks (2026).

Raised in the north of England to a Chicagoan mother, Braemar Murray played rugby while attending Sedburgh School, and was a member of both the Newcastle Falcons and Stade Toulousain Academy sides. In 2021 he was selected for an England U18s camp, and a USA U18s camp the following year. Since then Murray has represented the USA U20s during the summer of 2024.

Murray’s MLR journey began when he was signed to the Anthem RC roster for their inaugural season in 2024. He earned 7 appearances, starting 3 times for the US Developmental side. Although he didn’t return to Anthem for the 2025 season, on 5th April 2025, the Miami Sharks announced the signing of Braemar Murray just before their Round 8 clash with the New England Free Jacks. He earned a further 8 appearances for the Miami Sharks, starting twice and completing over 50 tackles for the first time in his career. Braemar Murray became a free agent upon the Miami Sharks’ withdrawal from Major League Rugby in August 2025, and on December 8th, the New England Free Jacks announced his signing for their 2026 title defence.

Jack Manzo

New York hooker Jack Manzo played in Major League Rugby during the 2024 season. He represented Anthem RC for his entire MLR career.

A native of Queens, NY, Jack Manzo was identified as a talent long before he attended UC-Berkeley for college. He was a part of the Eagles Impact Rugby Academy U16s back in 2015, and was named a High School All-American in 2017 before heading to California. While representing the Golden Bears, he was named a Collegiate All-American in 2019, the same year he was selected for the USA U20 side. He progressed from the U20s in 2019 to captaining the USA U23s in his senior year in 2022 when he was named a D1A Collegiate All-American. Manzo declared for the 2022 MLR Collegiate Draft upon his graduation and was selected in the 2nd Round, 19th Overall by Old Glory DC.

Manzo would not feature for the Flags in his rookie year, however. Instead, he headed to Ireland in the fall of 2022 to study at Trinity College in Dublin, representing their All-Ireland League rugby side, and assisting with coaching the Women’s side while there. Upon returning stateside, he suited up for the American Raptors in their 2023 Super Rugby Americas campaign but did not play in MLR. Having been on the radar of the US National Program for some time, Manzo stepped into Major League Rugby the following year, signing with Anthem RC for their inaugural campaign in 2024 where he made his MLR debut and started 3 of his 11 appearances for the Rising Stars, completing over 60 tackles and running for 110m in possession.

achievements
  • 2022 MLR Draftee – 2nd Round (19th Overall) – Old Glory DC

Pita Anae-Ah Sue

Australia-qualified New Zealander Pita Anae-Ah Sue played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2025. He represented the Houston SaberCats for his entire MLR career.

Anae-Ah Sue first played professional rugby in Spain during the 2016/17 season, representing the VRAC Quesos Entrepinares and UE Santboiana between 2018-2020 in the Spanish Division de Honor. There was a gap in 2017/18 when Anae-Ah Sue represented the Shimizu Corporation in the Japanese League One, D3. Following his time in Spain, he returned to New Zealand, playing with Waikato in the NPC competition, as well as with Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby.

The Houston SaberCats announced the signing of Anae-Ah Sue in February 2024 ahead of that years’ season. He scored 4 tries in 13 games (all starts), completing over 125 tackles and gaining over 500m with ball in hand as the SaberCats finished as the top team in MLR during the regular season with a 14-2 record, before a shock defeat to their Texas rivals the Dallas Jackals ended their season early.

On 30th July 2024, Anae-Ah Sue was included in the Waikato squad for their 2024 Bunnings NPC season and on November 8th, 2024, the Houston SaberCats announced the return of Pita Anae-Ah Sue for the 2025 MLR season.

achievements
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 10

Huw Taylor

English raised, Welsh qualified lock/back row Huw Taylor played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2025. He represented the Seattle Seawolves for his entire MLR career.

Taylor represented England at both U18 & U20 level, winning the Junior World Cup in 2016. He played with the Worcester Warriors in the English Premiership between 2014-2018, before moving to Wales to play with the Dragons in the URC (formerly the PRO14) between 2018-2023. Taylor joins the Seawolves from RGC1404 in North Wales, where he was a player/coach. During the 2024/25 MLR off-season, it is believe that Taylor helped to orchestrate the placement of Seawolves teammate Isaia Lotawa with RGC1404 to help Lotawa gain experience ahead of the 2025 season.

Taylor scored 2 tries in 14 appearances (13 starts) during his first season in MLR, gaining over 400m in possession and completing 192 tackles, finishing 4th in MLR Tackling as the Seawolves qualified for the playoffs and defeated the San Diego Legion and the Dallas Jackals en route to their 4th MLR final in 7 seasons, where they fell 11-20 to the New England Free Jacks. On January 14th, 2025, Huw Taylor was included on the full roster for the Seattle Seawolves’ 2025 campaign. Taylor recorded over 100 tackles once again in 2025, completing 111 tackles in his 11 appearances for the Seawolves, starting 7 times. This took his career total to 303 tackles completed in just 25 games (20 starts), averaging 12.1 tackles per game during his time in MLR, scoring 3 tries and gaining just shy of 500m in possession.

Following the 2025 season, Huw Taylor headed to Australia to play with the Hunter Wildfires in the Shute Shield competition and with Major League Rugby’s crackdown on foreign players ahead of the 2026 season, Taylor did not return for a 3rd season in North America, instead returning to the UK to join Plymouth Albion RFC in National League 1, the English 3rd tier.

achievements

Connor Tupai

New Zealand born, England raised scrum-half/fly-half Connor Tupai played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2025. He represented the San Diego Legion for his entire MLR career.

Tupai came up through the Northampton Saints system having moved to England from New Zealand at age 5, and joined the senior academy in 2018. He played in the Saints system (including for the senior side) until 2022, and was dual-contracted to English Championship Side, the Bedford Blues between 2019-2022. Tupai headed to Australia for the 2022/23 season, joining the famous Randwick Galloping Greens in Australia’s Shute Shield competition.

Tupai earned his MLR debut for the San Diego Legion in Round 1 of the 2024 season, when he was named as the starting scrum-half against the Seattle Seawolves. He scored 5 tries in 15 games (14 starts) for the Legion in 2024, running for over 400m in possession as a scrum-half as he helped the Legion record a solid 11-5 record during the regular season. He was named as the starting scrum-half in their Western Conference Semifinal, against the Seattle Seawolves once again, as the Legion fell 30-28. On November 9th, 2024, the San Diego Legion announced the return of Connor Tupai for the 2025 season.

achievements

  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 13
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 8

Aminae Amiatu-Tanoi

Alaska native Brendan ‘Aminae’ Amiatu-Tanoi played in Major League Rugby between 2023-2025. He represented the San Diego Legion for his entire MLR career.

Amiatu-Tanoi graduated from West Anchorage High School in 2022, having played varsity football as a defensive tackle and defensive end. He moved to California following his graduation and was selected for a USA U18 tour of Europe having played with the Legion junior academy. He attended a USA High performance camp late in 2022 and toured with the USA Hawks to South America.

Amiatu-Tanoi was signed to the San Diego senior side for the 2023 season but did not see game time. He represented the Utah Selects academy side in the fall of 2023 before returning to San Diego for the 2024 MLR season, where he was named in the matchday 23 for the Legion’s Round 1 clash with the Seattle Seawolves. Amiatu-Tanoi earned 4 MLR appearances for the Legion in 2024, all off the bench. He’ll be looking for his first career start in 2025, having been announced as returning by the San Diego Legion on November 25th, 2024.