George Sharpe

US-Eligible English hooker George Sharpe played in Major League Rugby between 2022-2023. He represented the NOLA Gold for his entire MLR career.

Born and raised in Nottinghamshire, England, Sharpe moved to North Carolina for high school. He attended Arkansas State University, graduating in his draft year of 2021. He was selected in the 1st Round of the 2021 MLR Collegiate Draft, 11th overall by the NOLA Gold.

Sharpe earned 5 Caps (1 starts) in his debut MLR season, splitting his time between the ‘big club’ and the NOLA Gold academy team. He earned a contract extension with the Gold for 2023 but did not feature at MLR level. That same year he was named as the head coach of New Orleans Rugby Club.

Achievements:
  • 2022 NOLA Gold Rookie of the Year
  • MLR Draftee: 2021 – 1st Round (11th Overall) – NOLA Gold

Manuel Ardao

Uruguayan back row forward Manuel Ardao played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2025. He represented the Miami Sharks for their inaugural MLR season in 2024, and for his entire MLR career.

A capped international with Uruguay, Ardao is a veteran of 2 Rugby World Cups with Los Teros, representing them in both 2019 and most recently in 2023, where he was a standout. Ardao won 6 turnovers for Uruguay in their World Cup game against Italy, equalling a RWC record. He is a Uruguay regular, representing them in their 2025 July tests.

A then-24yo Manuel Ardao’s signing was announced by the Miami Sharks on 20th August 2023, 1 day before he was announced as a part of the Uruguay squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France. Ardao was the 7th player in Sharks history to be announced, and would join the Florida team from Peñarol in the Super Rugby Americas competition, where the Uruguayan club had just won their 2nd title in a row. Ardao had an excellent 2024 season, scoring 5 tries in 12 games (all starts) for the Sharks, completing over 115 tackles and gaining over 550m from the back row as the Miami Sharks recorded an admirable inaugural season that included a victory over the reigning champion New England Free Jacks.

On November 9th, 2024, the Miami Sharks announced the return of Manu Ardao for the 2025 MLR season, where he continued to be a standout. He scored another 5 tries and started 13 of his 14 appearances for the Sharks (both career highs). He helped the Miami Sharks to their first ever postseason appearance in 2025, facing the New England Free Jacks in the Eastern Conference Semifinal. Ardao was dynamic in possession, gaining 500m while also completing over 150 tackles on defence and was a menace at the breakdown, leading the league in turnovers won with 27. He was named to the All-MLR 1st XV for his performance in 2025.

Following the withdrawal of the Miami Sharks from Major League Rugby during the 2025/26 offseason, Manu Ardao returned to Uruguay and Super Rugby Americas Champions Peñarol for their 2026 title defence.

Achievements:

  • 2025 All-MLR First XV Selection
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 16
  • MLR Player of the Week: 2025 – Rd 13
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 13
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 2
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 4

Tomas Casares

Argentinian back row Tomas Casares has played in Major League Rugby between 2023-2026. He represented the New England Free Jacks (2023), the Miami Sharks (2024-2025), and the Chicago Hounds (2026).

A Thomas More alum, the Buenos Aires born Casares was drafted in the 2nd Round (17th overall) of the 2022 MLR Collegiate Draft by the New England Free Jacks. He spent the 2023 MLR season with the Free Jacks during their first Championship-winning campaign, but did not appear in a MLR game.

Casares was selected by the Miami Sharks during the 2023 expansion draft and the team announced that Casares had signed with the Argentine-owned Sharks ahead of their inaugural 2024 season, where he earned his MLR debut. On May 25th 2024 during Round 13, Casares scored an auto-7pt try with the clock in the red to secure a Sharks victory over the New England Free Jacks, the team that drafted him, in front of an elated home crowd in Fort Lauderdale.

Following the 2024 season, Casares was included in the USA squad for their November tour against Portugal, Tonga, and Spain. He became Eagle #583 when he earned his test debut off the bench in a hard-fought 21-17 victory over Portugal on November 9th. He earned a 2nd cap the following week in a 36-17 victory over Tonga. On November 20th, the Miami Sharks announced the return of Tomas Casares for the 2025 MLR season. He took another step forward with the Sharks in their sophomore season in 2025, starting 12 of his 14 appearances for Miami and completing 139 tackles to help the team earn their first ever playoff spot.

Following the 2025 MLR season, the Miami Sharks announced that they were withdrawing from Major League Rugby. This left Casares as a free agent ahead of the 2026 season, and on 22nd January 2026, the Chicago Hounds announced that they had added the back rower for the 2026 season.

Achievements:

Roelof Smit

South African Flanker Roelof Smit represented the Miami Sharks during their inaugural 2024 season.

The then-30yo Smit was the 2nd player ever announced for the Miami Sharks following Argentinian Tomas Cubelli. His signing was announced on 4th August 2023, joining from the Toyota Cheetahs in South Africa having previously played for the Blue Bulls, Lions, and Western Province among others.

 

 

 

Line Latu

San Mateo, California native Jerad Line Latu played in Major League Rugby between 2023-2026. He represented the Houston SaberCats (2023-2024) Anthem RC (2025), and the New England Free Jacks (2026).

Latu played gridiron football through highschool at a variety of positions and continued playing at the College of San Mateo, where he captained the team in 2018 before transferring to Eastern Michigan University where he played wide receiver. He joined the Colorado XO program for crossover athletes in 2020 and participated in a tryout with the LA Giltinis in 2021. Unfortunately, Latu was involved in a car accident shortly after that put his rugby career on hold for 10 months.

Post recovery he returned to the Colorado XO program (Now the American Raptors) and played with the USA Falcons in 2022 in South America. He featured prominently in the American Raptors’ inaugural Super Rugby Americas (SLAR) campaign and was the only Raptor to feature in SLAR’s Team of the Season for 2023. Following the conclusion of the Raptor’s SLAR season, Latu was picked up by the Houston SaberCats late in the season as an injury reserve. No announcement from the SaberCats meant that a few eyebrows were raised when Latu was featured in the SaberCats’ starting XV for their 2023 Western Eliminator match against the Seattle Seawolves.

On 18th October 2023, the Houston SaberCats announced the return of Line Latu for the 2024 MLR season, where he scored 2 tries in 10 games (5 starts) as the SaberCats finished as the top team of the regular season with a 14-2 record, before being stunned by the Dallas Jackals in the Western Conference Semifinals. Following the 2024 season on 14th August 2024, Anthem RC announced that they had acquired Latu, along with scrumhalf Carlo de Nysschen, from the SaberCats in exchange for a 2025 International Player Slot. Anthem RC confirmed the signing of Line Latu when they revealed their full 2025 roster on January 21st, 2025. He scored 1 try and 16pts for Anthem RC and started 5 of his 7 appearances. He set a career high of 399m gained in possession, smashing his former best of 175m set in 3 more games in 2024.

Following the 2025 season, the New England Free Jacks announced the addition of Line Latu on 8th December 2025, ahead of the 2026 MLR season.

 

Jamie Demers

Michigan native Jamie Demers represented the Seattle Seawolves during the 2023 Major League Rugby season.

Demers played gridiron football through high school and began playing rugby while at the University of Michigan, where he arrived in 2015 and captained the university side by their 2018/19 season. He obtained both a bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering in 2019 & 2020 respectively. Demers played for Detroit Rugby Club before joining Seattle Rugby Club.

Demers earned his MLR debut for Seattle in Week 18 of the 2023 regular season, when he came on as a substitute against the San Diego Legion in a game that the Seawolves ultimately lost 40-19. The Seawolves fielded a drastically different line up for this game as they had already secured a playoff spot and home field advantage. Head Coach Allan Clarke described it as an opportunity to award members of the Seawolves extended squad that have put in the effort throughout the season.

Brandon Tupufia

American Samoan lock Brandon Tupufia represented the Seattle Seawolves during the 2023 Major League Rugby season.

The Seawolves are Tupufia’s local MLR team, having moved to Washington State in 2017. He is a football player initially, but has been playing with Seattle RFC since 2022 and caught on quick.

Tupufia made his MLR debut as a replacement during Seattle’s Week 18 clash against the San Diego Legion, a game that the Seawolves ultimately lost 40-19. The Seawolves fielded a drastically different line up for this game as they had already secured a playoff spot and home field advantage. Head Coach Allan Clarke described it as an opportunity to award members of the Seawolves extended squad that have put in the effort throughout the season.

Taniela Tupou

Washington state native and crossover athlete Taniela Tupou represented the Seattle Seawolves from 2022-2023.

Tupou played gridiron football for the University of Washington, playing 33 games as a defensive lineman. In May 2016, The Seattle Seahawks signed Tupou as a fullback/defensive tackle option after impressing at a rookie minicamp. Tupou bounced around a number of NFL roster before landing with the San Diego Fleet of the short-lived AAF. When the AAF ceased operations Tupou returned home to the PNW just as the XFL was emerging, and he was drafted by the Seattle Dragons in the 7th Round before the XFL was shut down due to COVID-19.

The American Raptors crossover program invited him to Colorado to try out, and impressed. He rose to Captain the Raptors and participated in the Raptors’ tour of Uruguay in Fall 2021. With the Raptors not finding a home league until 2023, Tupou signed with the Seattle Seawolves ahead of the 2022 season. He opted to return to the XFL in 2023 when that league got up and running post-COVID, but was re-signed by the Seawolves towards the end of the 2023 MLR season, featuring in the last regular season game of the season, which the Seawolves ultimately lost 40-19.

Alexis Glover

Alexis ‘Alex’ Glover played in Major League Rugby between 2023-2024. He represented the Seattle Seawolves (2023) and the Miami Sharks (2024).

The Oakland, California native was a trialist with the USA u20 side in 2017, and spent time in New Zealand plying his trade with Rotorua. He spent 2021 playing with the LA Giltinis academy before being signed by the Seawolves in 2022.

Glover earned his MLR debut off the bench in 2023, during Seattle’s Week 18 clash with the San Diego Legion which the Seawolves ultimately lost 40-19. The Seawolves fielded a drastically different line up for this game as they had already secured a playoff spot and home field advantage. Head Coach Allan Clarke described it as an opportunity to award members of the Seawolves extended squad that have put in the effort throughout the season. On 29th December 2023, the Miami Sharks announced the signing of Alex Glover for their inaugural MLR season in 2024, when he earned 9 further appearances off the bench during the Sharks’ admirable first season.

On 21st August 2024, Glover announced his retirement from professional rugby on Instagram.

Shane Barry

English-born US-eligible Fly-half Shane Barry played in Major League Rugby between 2023-2024. He represented the Seattle Seawolves (2023) and Anthem RC (2024).

Born and raised in London, Shane Barry had played at county level for Middlesex back in the UK, and was a part of the London Irish Academy system before heading stateside. He attended UCLA, playing with the Bruins during his time there. Upon his graduation, Barry declared for the 2022 MLR Collegiate Draft and was drafted in the 1st Round, 12th overall by the Seattle Seawolves.

Barry was been selected for the USA Men’s Selects in 2021, as well as the USA Falcons in 2022. He was loaned to the newly established USA Hawks development team in March of 2023, returning to the Seattle Seawolves following the Hawks’ 8-game exhibition season. He made his MLR debut in Week 18 of the 2023 season, when he was selected in the starting XV for the Seawolves’ clash against the San Diego Legion, which ultimately ended with a 40-19defeat. The Seawolves fielded a drastically different line up for this game as they had already secured a playoff spot and home field advantage. Head Coach Allan Clarke described it as an opportunity to award members of the Seawolves extended squad that have put in the effort throughout the season.

The following season, Shane Barry was included on the roster for the hastily put together Anthem RC squad, a new MLR team that serves as a national team development tool and is the evolution for the USA Hawks team that Barry represented in 2023. In a promising first season in Charlotte, Barry scored 2 tries and started 5 of his 10 appearances, running for just shy of 300m in possession. Following the MLR season in the fall of 2024, he played with New York Old Blue in the ARP, before returning to England. He has been playing club rugby with Reeds Weybridge RFC on the outskirts of London.

Achievements