Danyon Morgan-Puterangi

New Zealand born Danyon Morgan-Puterangi played in Major League Rugby during the 2024 season. He represented the New England Free Jacks for his entire MLR career.

One of 11 siblings and of Samoan, Māori, and New Zealand descent, Morgan-Puterangi was a ‘late bloomer’ to professional rugby, playing his first professional season with North Harbour in New Zealand’s NPC in 2023. The New England Free Jacks announced the signing of Danyon Morgan-Puterangi on 8th November 2023, alongside Seta Baker and ahead of the 2024 MLR season.

In his debut MLR season, Morgan-Puterangi scored 2 tries and 21pts in 12 games (8 starts), helping the reigning Champion Free Jacks qualify for the postseason as the top seed in the Eastern Conference, although he did not appear in the playoffs as the Free Jacks returned to the MLR Championship Game, defeating the Seattle Seawolves 11-20 to capture back-to-back MLR Shields.

achievements

 

Seta Baker

New Zealand born flanker Setaleki ‘Seta’ Baker played in Major League Rugby during the 2024 season. He represented the New England Free Jacks for his entire MLR career.

Of Tongan descent, Baker played with Counties Manukau U19s before moving to the Crusaders U20 squad in 2021. He joined the Tasman Mako senior side in 2022, competing in New Zealand’s NPC. The New England Free Jacks announced the signing of then-22yo Baker on 8th November 2023, ahead of the 2024 MLR season. He ran for over 500m gained in possession, scoring 4 tries in his 14 appearances (10 starts) as the Free Jacks finished at the top of the Eastern Conference for the 3rd season in a row, and defeated Old Glory DC and the Chicago Hounds to advance to their 2nd final in a row, defeating the Seattle Seawolves 11-20 in San Diego to claim their second Shield in as many seasons. Baker started the 2024 Championship game for the Free Jacks at number 8, gaining over 50m and completing 15 tackles.

For his performance in 2024, Baker was named to the All-MLR Honorable Mention XV.

achievements

  • 2024 MLR Champion: New England Free Jacks
  • 2024 All-MLR Honorable Mention XV
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 18

Alesana Pohla

Australian centre/wing Alesana Pohla played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2025. He represented the Utah Warriors (2024) and the San Diego Legion (2025).

A former Samoa U20 player, Pohla’s signing was announced by the Utah Warriors on 7th November 2023 when he joined them from the Hunter Wildfires of the Shute Shield competition in Australia. Prior to the Wildfires, Pohla represented Gordon between 2020-2022. He earned 6 MLR appearances for the Warriors in 2024, starting twice and earning just shy of 200m gained in possession. On January 16th, 2025, ten days into pre-season camps for the 2025 MLR season, the MLR Trade Wire revealed that Alesana Pohla had been traded from the Utah Warriors to the San Diego Legion in exchange for 2025 Salary Cap Considerations (unknown).

Connor Winchester

Australian fly-half/fullback Connor Winchester played in Major League Rugby during the 2024 MLR season. He represented the Dallas Jackals for his entire MLR career.

An accurate goal kicker, Winchester’s signing was announced by the Jackals on 7th November 2023, when the then-25yo joined the Texas club from the Hunter Wildfires in Australia’s Shute Shield competition, where he has spend the last 2 seasons having previously represented the Norths with the previous 3 seasons. Winchester signed with the Dallas Jackals on a 2yr contract through the 2025 MLR season.

Winchester scored 2 tries and 23pts for the Jackals in 11 games (all starts) during their 2024 season, racking up over 500m gained in possession and starting both their Western Conference Semifinal where they stunned the #1 seeded Houston SaberCats, and the Western Conference Final, where the Dallas Jackals fell in the final few minutes to the Seattle Seawolves.

achievements

  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 15

OJ Noa

New Zealand born Samoan back row Olajuwon ‘OJ’ Noa played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2025. He represented the NOLA Gold (2024) and the Seattle Seawolves (2025).

Noa began his pro career with the Melbourne Rising in Australia’s National Rugby Championship (NRC) between 2014-15, before moving to the Canberra Vikings between 2016-17. He played in Spain for Silverstorm El Salvador between 2018-19 before returning to Australia with the Hunter Wildfires in the Shute Shield between 2020-21. OJ Noa joined the Gold from Aviron Bayonnais in the French Top 14, having previously played with the Sharks in both the URC and Currie Cup between 2021-22. He earned his first test caps for Manu Samoa between 2021-22, making 5 appearances.

The NOLA Gold announced the signing of OJ Noa on 3rd November 2023, ahead of the 2024 MLR season. He earned 9 MLR appearances for the Gold (all starts) and gained over 500m with ball in hand as the Gold finally ended their playoff drought, falling to the Chicago Hounds in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. On 10th October 2024, the NOLA Gold announced the departure of Noa from the team, and on November 21st, the Seattle Seawolves announced the signing of OJ Noa for the 2025 season, joining his NOLA teammate Rodney Iona. His agency, BSMI Rugby, later confirmed that Noa had signed a 2yr contract through the 2026 season.

achievements
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 1

Kevin Brou

US-eligible Ivorian Kevin Brou played in Major League Rugby during the 2024 season. He represented Old Glory DC for his entire MLR career. He is the first Ivorian player to play in MLR.

Born in New York and raised in Atlanta, Brou left the US and reunited with his mother in the Ivory Coast at the age of 21. This is where he discovered rugby, and he has earned 7 caps for the Ivorian national team (the Elephants) since 2015. He most recently represented the Ivory Coast during the World Cup qualifiers in 2021, so therefore won’t be eligible to use the Union Transfer regulation until July 2024 if he wishes to represent the US. He will be classed as a domestic player in MLR, however.

Kevin Brou joined Old Glory DC from SC Albigeois in the French Nationale division, having played with Stade Dijonnais in the 2021/22 season. He played in France at various levels from 2016 until he returned stateside for the 2024 MLR season. Old Glory DC announced the signing of Kevin Brou on 3rd November 2023.

Sione Mahe

Utah native Sione Mahe played in Major League Rugby between 2023-2025. He represented the Utah Warriors for his entire MLR career.

Born in Provo and sharing the hometown of Herriman with the Utah Warriors, Mahe played with the Canyons during the 2022 Collegiate Rugby Shield, a Utah-based event to identify MLR prospects. The Warriors announced the signing of Sione Mahe shortly into the 2023 season, in March of that year but did appear in a regular MLR game for the Warriors. Following the 2023 season, the Utah Warriors announced the re-signing of SIone Mahe in early November, ahead of the 2024 MLR season where he earned his MLR debut for his hometown team, starting 2 of his 3 appearances and earning 90m gained in posession before suffering an ACL injury that ruled him out for much of the year.

On December 31st, 2024, the Utah Warriors announced the return of Sione Mahe for his 3rd season with the team in 2025.

Ani Mteto

South African fullback Anelisa ‘Ani’ Mteto played in Major League Rugby between 2023-2024. He represented the NOLA Gold (2023) and the Dallas Jackals (2024).

Born and raised in South Africa, Mteto played with the U21 Western Province side before heading stateside, where he attended Iowa Central Community College from 2017-2018 before transferring to rugby powerhouse Lindenwood University from 2018 to his graduation in 2022. Post graduation, he played with the NOLA Gold academy in the fall of 2022, before being signed to a MLR contract in December 2022, ahead of the 2023 season.

He did not appear for the Gold during 2023, and on 1st November 2023, the Dallas Jackals announced that they had signed Mteto for the 2024 MLR season, where he will be hoping to make his debut.

Phil Bradford

Australian hooker Phil Bradford played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2025, representing the Utah Warriors for his entire MLR career.

Bradford represented West Harbour before moving to the Hunter Wildfires since 2020, both in Australia’s Shute Shield competition. He also spent 2019/20 with Ciencias Rugby Sevilla in Spain. Bradford’s signing was announced by the Warriors on 1st November 2023, ahead of the 2024 MLR season.

In his debut season in North America, Bradford scored 3 tries in 12 games (3 starts) for the Utah Warriors and gained just under 250m with ball in hand from the front row. For his efforts in 2024, Bradford was named as the 2024 Utah Warriors Guerilla Squad Player. On December 24th, 2024, the Utah Warriors announced the return of Phil Bradford for a second MLR season in 2025.

achievements

Martín Sigren

Chilean back row Martín Sigren played in Major League Rugby during the 2024 season. He represented the New England Free Jacks for his entire MLR career.

Sigren earned his international debut for Chile in 2016 and has earned 31 caps for his country through the end of 2023. He has captained Los Cóndores since 2020, including their World Cup qualification Campaign, and started all 4 games of RWC 2023 in France, against Argentina, England, Japan, and Samoa. Prior to MLR, Martín Sigren represented Selknam – Chile’s club in SLAR, now Super Rugby Americas – between 2020-2022, before moving to the Doncaster Knights and becoming the first Chilean to play professionally in England, representing the Championship side during the 2022/23 season.

Sigren’s signing was announced by the Free Jacks on 1st November 2023, ahead of the 2024 MLR season where he earned 10 appearances for the Free Jacks (9 starts) and completed over 120 tackles as they qualified for the post season as the 1st seed in the Eastern Conference. Sigren did not feature in the 2024 Championship Series as the Free Jacks successfully defended their title and earned back-to-back MLR Shields, the first of Sigren’s career. Following his lone season in MLR, Sigren returned to Chile to re-join their Super Rugby Americas franchise Selknam, where he has been playing since.

achievements