Maks van Dyk

South African prop Nicolaas ‘Maks’ van Dyk played in Major League Rugby during the 2024 season. He represented the Houston SaberCats for his entire MLR career.

A Johannesburg native, van Dyk attended the famous Paarl Boys’ High School until 2010, when he played with the Western Province U18s during Craven Week, and the following year played with the Sharks U19 side, and the U21s between 2012-2013. Van Dyk’s career continued in South Africa, playing for Griquas in the Currie Cup in 2014, before being loaned to Leinster short term, where he earned his Pro12 (now URC) debut. He also played in the Cheetahs system, for both the Currie Cup and Super Rugby sides between 2015-2016 before moving to France to play with Toulouse in the Top 14, whom he represented between 2016-2020. Following his time in France van Dyk moved to England to play in the Premiership, briefly with the Worcester Warriors, then the Exeter Chiefs during the 2020/21 season. He then returned to France to represent Section Paloise in the Top 14 once again, where he stayed until his move stateside.

On 28th December 2023, the Houston SaberCats announced the signing of Maks van Dyk for the 2024 MLR season. He scored 2 tries in 7 appearances (all starts) for the SaberCats that year as they finished the regular season as the best team in MLR with a 14-2 record. Van Dyk earned a Team of the Week selection for his performance in Round 7.

achievements

  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 8

Caolan Dooley

Irish fly-half Caolan Dooley played in Major League Rugby during the 2024 MLR season. He represented the Chicago Hounds for his entire MLR career.

Limerick native Dooley attended University College Dublin (UCD) between 2019-2023, and played with Terenure College RFC in D1A of the All-Ireland League between 2021-2023. He scored 30pts in the AIL final as Terenure College defeated Clontarf 50-24 to win the 2023 AIL D1A Championship. Dooley was named as the 2023 All-Ireland League Player of the Year for his efforts.

On 29th December 2023, the Chicago Hounds announced the signing of Caolan Dooley for the 2024 MLR season.

 

Conall Boomer

Irish back rower Conall Boomer played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2025. He represented the Chicago Hounds for his entire MLR career.

Boomer played in Australia for the Western Force U20 side in 2015, before attending Ulster University between 2016-2020. While there, he represented the Ireland U19s and Ireland U20s at the World Rugby U20s Championships in Manchester. He played his club rugby with Ballynahinch RFC for 3 years until 2019. Boomer spent 3 seasons with Terenure RFC in D1A of the All-Ireland League prior to his move stateside, finishing as AIL Champions in 2023 alongside fellow 2024 Hound, Caolan Dooley.

The Chicago Hounds announced the signing of Conall Boomer on 28th December 2023, ahead of the 2024 MLR season. In his debut MLR season, Boomer scored 2 tries in 11 games (8 starts) and racked up just shy of 400m gained as the Hounds qualified for the MLR playoffs for the first time in team history. The Chicago Hounds defeated the NOLA Gold on the road before falling to the eventual Champions, the New England Free Jacks in the Eastern Conference Final. Boomer started at number 8 for the Hounds in both playoff games in 2024. On January 9th, 2025, the Chicago Hounds confirmed the return of Conall Boomer for his 2nd season with the team in 2025.

achievements

  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 3

James Rivers

English born lock James Rivers played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2025. He represented Anthem RC (2024) and the San Diego Legion (2025).

Born in the south of England, Rivers played rugby and rowed through high school before moving to Hong Kong. He represented the Discovery Bay Pirates U18 & U19 sides, as well as the Hong Kong U20s in 2018 & 2019. Rivers moved to the US to attend the University of Arizona between 2019-2023, earning 2 MVP nods and captaining the side in his senior year. The San Diego Legion selected Rivers with their 1st Rd Pick (12th overall) in the 2023 MLR Collegiate Draft, and confirmed his signing on 26th December, 2023 ahead of the 2024 season.

The San Diego Legion loaned Rivers to the newly formed Anthem RC to help fill out their inaugural season roster. Rivers earned 13 appearances for Anthem (11 starts), completing over 130 tackles in his rookie season as Anthem put in admirable performances, but ended with a 0-16 record. On 4th November, 2024, the San Diego Legion announced the return of Rivers for the 2025 MLR season. In his first season representing the San Diego Legion, Rivers earned 3 further MLR appearances, starting once. In the 2025 season, the San Diego Legion missed out on the MLR postseason by a single point.

During the offseason, Major League Rugby, the San Diego Legion and Rugby FC LA announced the merger of both of the League’s California teams to create the California Legion. Following this merger, James Rivers became a free agent and on 5th December it was confirmed that he had returned to Hong Kong, signing with Hong Kong Scottish RFC for their 2025/26 season. With Hong Kong qualifying for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, it’s possible that Rivers is aiming to put himself into national team contention ahead of the tournament.

achievements

Ezekiel Lindenmuth

Samoan prop Ezekiel Lindenmuth played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2026. He represented the Houston SaberCats (2024-2025) and the Seattle Seawolves (2026).

Born in Samoa, Lindenmuth has represented both Samoa and New Zealand at U20 levels, and earned a full test debut for Samoa in the 2022 Pacific Nations Cup. At club level, He represented Auckland in NZ’s National Provincial Championship (NPC) between 2018-2019, as well as the Counties Manukau since 2020. He has represented the Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby since 2021.

On 24th December 2023, the Houston SaberCats announced the signing of Ezekiel Lindenmuth ahead of the 2024 season. He appeared in 14 games for the SaberCats (all starts) in his debut MLR season, completing over 100 tackles and gaining over 300m in possession as a front row. The ‘Cats finished the regular season as MLR’s top team with a record of 14-2, but were stunned by the Dallas Jackals in the Western Conference Semifinals. For his solid performances, Lindenmuth was named to the All-MLR Honorable Mention XV.

On February 19th, 2025, following Rd 1 of the 2025 season, the Houston SaberCats announced the return of Ezekiel Lindenmuth for the 2025 season. In his sophomore season, Lindenmuth started 13 of his 15 appearances for the Houston SaberCats including all 3 of their postseason games as the SaberCats earned their first postseason victories to claim the Western Conference title after defeating Rugby FC LA and the Utah Warriors. Lindenmuth also started the 2025 Championship as the SaberCats fell to the New England Free Jacks. He set a new career high with 128 tackles made, and was a 2025 All-MLR Honorable Mention.

Following the 2025 season, Ezekiel Lindenmuth was included in the USA Rugby squad for their July tests. He became eligible to represent the USA on 16th July 2025 (having represented Samoa in 2022), and was named in the starting lineup for the Eagles’ 19th July test against England as Eagle #594. Following the surprise withdrawal of the Houston SaberCats from Major League Rugby in September 2025, Lindenmuth headed to the PNW and on 12th December 2025, the Seattle Seawolves announced the addition of Ezekiel Lindenmuth for the 2026 MLR season.

achievements
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2026 – Rd 2
  • 2025 All-MLR Honorable Mention
  • 2025 Western Conference Champion – Houston SaberCats
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 17
  • 2024 All-MLR Honorable Mention
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 13
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 2

Charlie Overton

Connecticut native Charlie Overton played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2025. He represented Old Glory DC for his entire MLR career.

Charlie Overton started playing rugby at Staples High School where he was named a High School All-American, touring Ontario with the Eagles Impact Rugby Academy (EIRA) while there. After High School, Overton attended Penn State University between 2018-2022, where he played with the Rugby New York Ironworkers Academy side in 2021 and was named a D1A Collegiate All-American in 2022. Following his graduation, he declared for the 2023 MLR Collegiate Draft and was selected in the 2nd round (14th overall) by the Miami Sharks.

On 20th December 2023, the Miami Sharks traded Charlie Overton to Old Glory DC in exchange for 2024 Salary Cap Considerations. DC confirmed the signing of Overton that same day, ahead of the 2024 MLR season. He earned his MLR debut for Old Glory DC off the bench that season, and on 12th December 2024, Old Glory DC confirmed the return of Charlie Overton for the 2025 season, which he spent with the Flags’ Academy side.

achievements

  • 2023 MLR Draftee: 2nd Round (14th Overall) – Miami Sharks

Micheal Etete

English Lock/Flanker Micheal Etete played in Major League Rugby during the 2024 season. He represented the Miami Sharks for his entire MLR career.

Etete represented Berkshire in England at county level in his youth, and attended the University of Reading between 2017-2020, before moving to Leeds Beckett University and playing in BUCS, as well as representing the Leeds Tykes and Reading Rams in the English National One. Etete signed with Bath for the 2022/23 Premiership season, before moving to Australia to play with Randwick in NSW’s Shute Shield competition.

On 21st December 2023, the Miami Sharks announced the signing of Micheal Etete for their inaugural MLR season in 2024.

Bart Vermeulen

Dutch-born Belgian prop Bart Vermeulen played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2026 season. He represented the NOLA Gold (2024-2025) and Old Glory DC (2026).

Bart Vermeulen represented the Belgium U18s against Japan, Canada, and Spain in 2017, the same year he moved to Ireland to study at Trinity College, where he studied between 2017-2021. During his time in Ireland, Vermeulen represented Trinity in Division 1A of the All-Ireland League and also played with the Connacht Academy while at the University of Galway between 2021-2022. Following his Masters’ Degree in Galway, He moved to the USA and trained with Old Glory DC during the 2023 season before playing with the NOLA Gold Academy in the ARP in the fall. He clearly impressed at the Gold Academy, as on 20th December 2023, the Gold announced that they had signed Vermeulen to an MLR contract for the 2024 season.

Having earned his MLR debut during the 2024 season, he began be the 2nd Belgian born player to play in Major League Rugby, following Jeremy Lenaerts. Vermeulen earned 5 MLR appeared in total for the Gold in 2024, and was confirmed as returning for 2025 by the NOLA Gold on December 17th, 2024. Vermeulen enjoyed a productive season in 2025, even though the Gold took a step backwards. He earned his first pro start, starting 4 of his 12 appearances and completing 63 tackles, all of which are career highs. Following the news in August 2025 that the NOLA Gold were withdrawing from Major League Rugby, Bart Vermeulen explored the market as a free agent and on 21st November 2025, Old Glory DC announced that they had signed him for the 2026 season.

achievements
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 12

Sam Hill

English centre Sam Hill played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2025. He represented the Houston SaberCats for his entire MLR career.

Hill has represented England at U16, U18, and U20 levels, including the U20 World Cup and U20 Six Nations. An Exeter native, Hill represented the Chiefs (his hometown team) in the English Premiership 150 times, winning both a Premiership title and a Champions Cup. He then moved to the Sale Sharks ahead of the 2020/21 season and earned another 40 Premiership appearances. He also represented Blackheath RFC in the English lower divisions during the fall of 2023, before the Houston SaberCats announced the signing of Sam Hill on 19th December, 2023 ahead of the 2024 MLR season.

In his debut MLR season, Hill scored 1 try in 8 games (all starts) for the SaberCats, recording 324m gained in possession and 69 tackles as Houston finished the regular season with a 14-2 record, the best in the league that season. Hill did not feature in the playoffs for the SaberCats, as they suffered a shock defeat to Texas rivals the Dallas Jackals. On November 14th, 2024, the Houston SaberCats announced the return of Sam Hill for a second MLR season in 2025. That year, he bettered his 2024 total with 9 starts in as many games, and recorded over 50 tackles for the second successive season, also running for 76m gained in possession for an even 400m in his MLR career. Sam Hill started all 3 of the SaberCats’ playoff games in 2025, helping them earn their first ever playoff victory in the Western Conference Semifinal, and advance all the way to the 2025 Championship game where they fell to the New England Free Jacks.

Following the unexpected news in September 2025 that the Houston SaberCats were withdrawing from Major League Rugby, Sam Hill announced an end to his professional playing career on Instagram on 19th November, 2025.

Achievements

Michael Hand

US-born Irish winger Michael Hand played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2026. He represented the Miami Sharks on loan from the Chicago Hounds in 2024, the Hounds themselves (2025), and the Seattle Seawolves (2026).

Born in Connecticut, Hand grew up in Ireland and was an All-Ireland Champion Medalist for three consecutive years in the 4×100 relay, while also playing rugby. He attended UC Cork between 2019-2023 and spent some time at Baylor University in Utah as an exchange student. Upon graduation, Hand played for Cork Constitution in Division 1A of the All-Ireland League.

On 19th December 2023, the Chicago Hounds announced the signing of Michael Hand ahead of the 2024 MLR season. On 18th April 2024, the Chicago Hounds announced that they had loaned Hand to the Miami Sharks on a 4-week deal, that became the length of the season. Hand earned 8 MLR appearances for the Sharks, starting 6 times and scoring 3 tries before returning to the Hounds. On October 21st, 2024, the Chicago Hounds announced the return of Michael Hand for the 2025 MLR season where he added a 4th MLR try and started all 5 of his appearances with the Hounds that year and earned his first MLR Team of the Week selection following his performance in Round 3. Hand gained a career high 310m in possession that season to pass 500m gained in his 13 game MLR career over 2 seasons.

On 12th February 2026, the Seattle Seawolves announced that they had added Michael Hand to their squad for the 2026 campaign, marking Hand’s 3rd in the competition.

achievements
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 3