Jean Droste

South African lock Jean Droste played in Major League Rugby during the 2024 season, representing the Seattle Seawolves.

Droste is an experienced player, with 2024 being his 10th professional season. He has played in the Currie Cup with the Sharks XV (2016-2018) as well as their Super Rugby side from 2017-2018, as well as the Blue Bulls Currie Cup side in 2019, and the Free State Cheetahs in 2021 and 2023. He has also played in Japan, representing the Kubota Spears in 2018-2019, the NEC Green Rockets in 2020, and the Munakata Sanix Blues.

The Seattle Seawolves announced the signing of Droste on 29th October 2023, ahead of the 2024 MLR season. He completed 125 tackles and ran for over 250m gained in his debut MLR season, earning 13 appearances (all starts) as the Seawolves qualified for the post-season with a strong 11-5 record. Seattle saw off the San Diego Legion and the Dallas Jackals before falling 11-20 to the New England Free Jacks in the 2024 Championship Final, which Droste started, completing 12 tackles.

achievements

Mahonri Ngakuru

New Zealand-born Tongan lock Mahonri ‘Moni’ Ngakuru played in Major League Rugby during the 2024 season, representing the Seattle Seawolves.

The Seattle Seawolves announced the signing of then-23yo Mahonri Ngakuru of 29th October 2023, joining from North Harbour in the NPC, where Ngakuru had played since 2021, representing the Tasman Mako (2021-2022) and North Harbour in 2023. He also represented the Moana Pasifika Super Rugby side between 2022-2023.

Piers von Dadelszen

Canadian forward Piers von Dadelszen played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2026. He represented the New England Free Jacks for his entire MLR career.

British Columbia Native von Dadelszen played with the Canadian U18 side, and is a fully capped Canadian international after earning his debut in 2022, and was selected as part of the Canada squad for their November 2023 tests in Spain. He joined the New England Free Jacks from the Oxford University Blues, where he was studying at St Edmunds Hall for his Master’s Degree in Engineering.

The Free Jacks announced the signing of Piers von Dadelszen on 28th October 2023, along with Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti for the 2024 MLR season. He scored 2 tries in 14 games (8 starts) in his debut MLR regular season, completing over 100 successful tackles as the Free Jacks finished atop the Eastern Conference. For his performance in 2024, von Dadelszen was names as Free Jacks Rookie of the Year. Dadelszen started all 3 of the Free Jacks post-season games in 2024 including the Championship game, helping New England triumph over the Seattle Seawolves to lift their 2nd MLR Shield in as many seasons.

On November 13th, 2024, the New England Free Jacks announced the return of Piers von Dadelszen for 2025, again alongside Cam Nordli-Kelemeti, and Tevita Sole. Von Dadelszen started 15 of his 16 appearances for the Free Jacks in 2025, completing just shy of 150 tackles to help New England secure their third (and his 2nd) MLR Shield in a row. His 15 starts and 145 tackles were both career highs. Von Dadelszen was a regular for Canada throughout 2025, starting every single one of their 9 tests that year and while he was touring with the team for their November tests, the New England Free Jacks announced the return of Piers van Dadelszen for his 3rd MLR season in 2026.

achievements:

Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti

Fijian-born scrum-half Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2025. He represented the New England Free Jacks for his entire MLR career.

Born in Suva, Nordli-Kelemeti earned a scholarship to a prep school in North Yorkshire, England. He played rugby with the Newcastle Falcons U18 squad before earning a full-time contract with the senior team in the English Premiership in 2018. He played with the Falcons until 2023, when he made the move stateside. He also played for the England U18 squad, and is eligible to represent England, Fiji, and Canada through adoption and so will be classed as a domestic player in MLR.

The New England Free Jacks announced the signing of Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti on 28th October 2023, alongside Canadian international Piers von Dadelszen. Nordli-Kelemeti earned 14 appearances and 8 starts for the Free Jacks during the 2024 regular season, helping them secure a playoff spot. He did not feature in the post-season as the Free Jacks would successfully defend their 2023 Shield, going back-to-back. On November 13th, 2024, New England announced the return of Cam Nordli-Kelemeti for the 2025 season alongside Tevita Sole and again, Piers von Dadelszen. He scored 5 tries in 14 games during the 2025 season, increasing his starts from 8 to 10 and earning two MLR Team of the Week selections to help the Free Jacks secure their third straight MLR Shield, the 2nd of Nordli-Kelemeti’s career.

Following MLR’s shift towards domestic talent for the 2026 season, Cam Nordli-Kelemeti was released by New England after 2 seasons with the Free Jacks. On 4th December it was announced that the scrum-half had joined the Doncaster Knights in the English Championship as short-term injury cover.

achievements
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 16
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 12
  • 2024 MLR Champion: New England Free Jacks

Brock Gallagher

Alberta native Brock Gallagher played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2025. He represented the Dallas Jackals (2024) and the Seattle Seawolves (2025).

Prior to his entry into MLR, Gallagher had represented Canada at U18, U19, and U20 levels, and has played with the Loggerheads in Premier Rugby Sevens between 2022-2023, winning the men’s title both years. He also played with the Cape Town Wild Dogs in the Rugby Tens Series.

On 26th October 2023, the Dallas Jackals announced the signing of Gallagher for the 2024 MLR season. He earned 15 appearances for the Jackals during their remarkable 2024 season, scoring 1 try and helping them qualify for the playoffs for the first time in team history. He came of the bench during their nailbiting Western Conference Final defeat to the Seattle Seawolves. Following the 2024 season, the Dallas Jackals and MLR announced that the team would not participate in the 2025 season. In the subsequent dispersal draft, Gallagher was selected 21st by the Seattle Seawolves, who confirmed his signing on December 4th, 2024.

Prior to his appearance for the Jackals in the 2024 playoffs, Brock Gallagher earned his test debut for Canada when he came off the bench against Scotland in the July tests. He earned his first start for Canada against Romania in the 2024 November tests.

 

Killian Coghlan

Boston-born Irishman Killian Coghlan played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2026. He represented the New England Free Jacks for his entire MLR career.

Deemed a domestic player because he was born in the US, 23yo Coghlan was selected for the USA U20 side in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled all fixtures. He joined the Free Jacks from the University of Cork Constitution in the All-Ireland League, where he had been playing between 2019-2023. Coghlan earned 4 MLR appearances from the bench during the Free Jacks’ successful 2024 season, helping them to go back-to-back and lift his first MLR Shield.

On 6th November 2024, the New England Free Jacks announced the return of Killian Coghlan for the 2025 season where he set career highs across the board. He started more games in 2025 than he played in the season before and earned 9 appearances total, racking up an even 200m gained in possession (20x his total from 2024), and 23 of his 29 total MLR tackles. Coghlan helped the Free Jacks to their 3rd successive MLR shield in 2025, Coghlan’s second. On 24th November 2025 the New England Free Jacks announced the return of Killian Coghlan for his 3rd Major League Rugby season in 2026.

achievements

Gabe Casey

Canadian centre Gabe Casey played in Major League Rugby during the 2024 season. He represented the New England Free Jacks (2024) and the Utah Warriors (2025).

A native of Ottawa, ON, Gabe Casey has the rare distinction of having been drafted into MLR twice. He was initially drafted in the 3rd Round (31st overall) of the 2022 MLR Collegiate Draft by the Toronto Arrows, but opted to return to play with the University of Victoria Vikes in British Columbia. He was drafted again in 2023 by the New England Free Jacksin the 1st Round (13th Overall), whom he represented in 2024. He is the only player in MLR history to have been selected in 2 MLR Collegiate Drafts (2022 & 2023). Casey was selected as part of the Canada squad for their August tour of Tonga, where he earned his international debut on August 10th, 2023.

Following his 2nd successful MLR Draft in 2023, the announcement of Gabe Casey’s official signing with the New England club came on 25th October 2023, along with the signing of Killian Coghlan and fellow draftee Junior Gafa. The day after his signing was announced, Casey was included in the Canada squad for their November tests in Spain. Casey earned just 1 appearance for the Free Jacks in the shield-winning 2024 season, coming off the bench and making a pair of tackles. His season was affected by injury, as well as a deep Free Jacks squad at centre. On October 28th, 2024, the Utah Warriors announced the signing of Casey for the 2025 MLR season. The MLR Trade Wire shows that the Utah Warriors acquired Casey via trade with the New England Free Jacks in exchange for 2025 Salary Cap Considerations, but this trade was dated October 31st, 2024. Three days after the Warriors announced his signing.

Now with the Utah Warriors, Casey earned a pair of appearances off the bench during the Warriors’ best-ever season, finishing as the top team during the regular season and advancing to the Western Conference Final, where they fell to the Houston SaberCats. Casey gained 20m in his two appearances.

achievements

Junior Gafa

Samoan-born, California raised crossover athlete Junior Gafa playing in Major League Rugby between 2024-2026. He represented Anthem RC for his entire MLR career.

A Brown University alum, Junior Gafa played both football and rugby at Brown between 2019-2023, and played with the Peaks at the Collegiate Rugby Shield in 2023. Upon his graduation he declared for the 2023 MLR Collegiate Draft where he was selected in the 2nd Round, 23rd overall by the New England Free Jacks, who signed him for the 2024 MLR season on 25th October 2023 along with fellow draftee Gabe Casey and US-born Irishman Killian Coghlan. Following the hasty introduction of Anthem RC to the 2024 season, Gafa was sent to North Carolina on 9th February 2024 on short term loan to pick up some regular minutes. On 8th April, Anthem RC & the NE Free Jacks agreed to extend this loan for the entire 2024 season and threw in their 2024 1st Rd Pick (12th overall – Ray Santiago) and 2024 Salary Cap Considerations (Unknown).

Gafa had a phenomenal season for Anthem RC, scoring 4 tries in 13 games (all starts) and running for 1,062m with ball in hand (finishing 10th in MLR). Despite their 0-16 record Anthem RC, a partnership between World Rugby, USA Rugby, and MLR, put together admirable performances and Gafa was one of the standouts of that side, earning Anthem RC Back of the Year honors and was named to the All-MLR Honorable Mention XV. He was a clear front runner for the MLR 2024 Rookie of the Year award, which he was awarded on 17th August 2024. On 24th September 2024, Anthem RC announced that they had acquired Junior Gafa from the New England Free Jacks on a permanent basis, in exchange for their 2nd Round pick in the 2025 MLR Collegiate Draft (Tevita Mapa), 2025 Salary Cap Considerations (Unknown), and an International Player Spot in the 2026 MLR season.

In the 2025 MLR season, Gafa proved that his rookie year was not a fluke. He recorded another 95 tackles completed and started all 12 of his games for Anthem RC, scoring 2 tries and gaining over 400m in possession, already passing 1,500m in his young career along with 222 tackles in 25 MLR games. On 25th November 2025, Anthem RC confirmed the return of Junior Gafa for his 3rd MLR season with the Rising Stars in 2026.

Achievements:

  • 2024 MLR Rookie of the Year
  • 2024 All-MLR Honorable Mention XV
  • Anthem RC Back of the Year: 2024
  • 10th in MLR Meters Gained: 2024 (1,062m)
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 11
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 9
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 6
  • 2023 MLR Draftee: 2nd Round (23rd Overall) – New England Free Jacks

Michael Manson

New Zealand winger Michael Manson played in Major League Rugby during the 2024 season, representing the Utah Warriors for his entire MLR career.

Manson was a Top 3 sprinter in New Zealand at u18 level, recording a time of 10.8 seconds for the 100m. His signing was announced by the Utah Warriors on 24th October 2023, joining from the Southland Stags in NZ’s NPC competition, whom he represented since 2022 having previously played with Otago.

His debut season in North America was hampered by a short suspension and injury, but he still had a huge effect on the field for the Utah Warriors. He was the first MLR player of the 2024 season to pass the 1,000m gained milestone which he achieved in only 8 games, and scored 4 tries in Utah’s high-scoring 50-46 victory over the Dallas Jackals, becoming just the 4th player in MLR history to score 4+ tries in a game. Manson finished his debut MLR season as MLR’s Top Try Scorer (14) and Top Meter Eater (1,491m) during the regular season, and finished as Joint-top Try Scorer and 3rd in Metres Gained (just 1m behind Seattle’s Divan Rossouw…) despite only playing 12 games. For his outstanding performance in 2024, he was named as the Utah Warriors Back of the Year and was selected for the All-MLR First XV.

On 26th June 2024, the Southland Stags announced that Manson would return for their 2024 NPC campaign following the conclusion of the MLR season.

achievements:

  • 2024 All-MLR First XV
  • T-1st in MLR Try Scoring: 2024 (14)
  • 3rd in MLR Meters Gained: 2024 (1,491m)
  • 2024 Utah Warriors Back of the Year
  • 4+ Try Game: 2024 – RD 17 (4)
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 17
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 16
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 8
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 6

George Merrick

English lock George Merrick played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2025. He represented the Chicago Hounds for his entire MLR career.

Former England U20 player George Merrick represented Harlequins between 2013-2019, earning over 100 appearances with the English Premiership side. He moved to Top 14 club Clermont for the 2019/20 season, before moving back to the Premiership, signing with the Worcester Warriors before moving to the Newcastle Falcons between 2021-2023. He joins the Hounds from Chinnor RFC after representing Carcassonne in the French Pro D2. His signing was announced by the Hounds on 24th October 2023, and he earned 15 appearances (12 starts) for Chicago in 2024, helping them to qualify for the post-season for the first time in team history. He gained just shy of 200m gained in possession and completed 94 tackles in his debut season in North America.

On January 9th, 2025, the Chicago Hounds confirmed the return of George Merrick for the 2025 season, his 2nd in the league.