Wing/fullback Trevior Owens played in Major League Rugby during the 2023 season. Although raised in New Zealand, Owens is originally from Hawaii and so qualifies as a domestic player.
Rugby ATL announced the signing of Owens on 28th April, 2023.
Tomás Cubilla
Argentinian centre Tomás Cubilla played in Major League Rugby between 2023-2025. He represented the Dallas Jackals (2023-2024) and the Miami Sharks (2025).
The Buenos Aires native has represented Argentina XV since 2019 and captained that side during their 2022 tour of Portugal & Spain, and has also represented Ceibos (now Dogos XV) in Super Rugby Americas. Between 2020-2022, Cubilla captained the Jaguares XV in Super Liga Americana (now Super League Americas). He was announced by the Jackals of 25th April, 2023, part-way through the 2023 MLR season and started all 3 of the games he appeared in, racking up 150m gained in his limited game time.
On 21st November 2023 the Dallas Jackals announced the re-signing of Tomás Cubilla for the 2024 MLR season, where he improved almost across the board. Cubilla scored 5 tries in 8 games (all starts) for the Jackals, gaining over 600m with ball in hand as the Jackals. The Jackals qualified for the MLR Playoffs for the first time in club history that season, and Cubilla started both of their games in the Championship series, including their stunning victory over the #1 seeded Houston SaberCats, and their Western Conference Final loss to the Seattle Seawolves.
Following the withdrawal of the Dallas Jackals from Major League Rugby in September 2024, Cubilla was not selected during the Dallas Jackals dispersal draft. This is likely because he does not count as a domestic player so would use an international slot. However, on November 23rd, 2024, the Miami Sharks announced the signing of Tomás Cubilla for the 2025 season, joining a healthy South American contingent in Florida.
achievements
- MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 11
- MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 3
- MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 14
Sidney Tobias
South African Hooker Sidney Tobias represented Rugby ATL in Major League Rugby during the 2023 season. Tobias was announced on April 26, 2023 joining from the Bulls organisation in South Africa. He was brought in as injury cover.
Tomás Cubelli
Los Pumas Veteran scrum-half Tomás Cubelli competed in MLR between 2024-2025. He represented the Miami Sharks for his entire MLR career.
Cubelli began playing rugby with Belgrano Athletics Club in Buenos Aires, the same club his dad had represented. He played for the BAC senior side in the URBA Top 12 between 2010-2018. Cubelli joined the Pampas XV after they were accepted into South Africa’s Vodacom Cup competition and played there from 2011-2015, where they were crowned Champions in 2011. Following 5 seasons in the Vodacom Cup, Cubelli joined the Brumbies, making his Super Rugby debut in Round 1 and was a key part of their 2016 season, before an injury ruled him out for a huge part of the 2017 campaign. He joined Argentina’s Super Rugby side, the Jaguares, and represented them between 2018-2020. When the Jaguares pulled out of Super Rugby, Cubelli signed with the Western Force to compete in the Super Rugby AU competition, a one off league during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cubelli then moved to France, representing Biarritz in the French Top 14 between 2021-2023, before the call came from the Miami Sharks and MLR.
Internationally, Cubelli earned his test debut against Uruguay in the 2010 South American Rugby Championship, and has represented Los Pumas at three Rugby World Cups in 2015, 2019, and 2023. He is closing in on 100 international caps for Argentina.
On April 26, 2023 Cubelli was announced as the very first player to sign with the Miami Sharks expansion side. He earned 11 appearances (10 starts) during the Sharks inaugural season, Captaining the club through it’s first season in MLR. On 6th November 2024, the Miami Sharks announced the return of Tomás Cubelli for their 2025 campaign.
achievements
- MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 11
Tyler Wong
British Columbia native Tyler Wong played in Major League Rugby between 2023-2025. He represented the Toronto Arrows (2023) and the Utah Warriors (2024-2025).
Wong was born in Costa Rica and raised in British Columbia, making him the first Costa Rican born player to play in Major League Rugby. The former Canada U20 hooker was announced by the Arrows on April 21st, 2023 and joined the Ontario franchise from the Pacific Pride, Rugby Canada’s development program in British Columbia. Wong made his MLR debut for the Arrows from the bench during Week 10 of the 2023 season and earned 5 appearances during his debut season (3 starts) in total.
On 3rd November 2023, the Toronto Arrows announced the return of Tyler Wong for the 2024 MLR season, however in late November 2023 the Toronto Arrows and MLR announced that the Arrows would not compete in the 2024 season due to financial difficulties. A week later, the Rugby New York Ironworkers announced that they too would not compete in the 2024 season. In the subsequent Dispersal Draft for Toronto & NY players, Wong was selected 1st overall by the Miami Sharks, but on January 18th 2024, the Utah Warriors announced the signing of Wong for 2024. It is unclear if the Sharks traded Wong’s rights to the Warriors or if he signed as a Free Agent. Having opted into the dispersal draft, his 2024 salary will not count towards the Warriors’ Cap Hit. Wong earned an additional 3 MLR appearances in 2024 as Warriors #129, coming off the bench in all 3 but still gaining over 50m in posession. On December 23rd, 2024, the Utah Warriors announced the return of Tyler Wong for the 2025 season.
Filimone Waqainabete
Fijian centre Filimone Waqainabete played in Major League Rugby between 2023-2024. He represented the San Diego Legion for his entire MLR career..
Waqainabete joined the Legion from Naitasiri Rugby Club in Fiji, having previously represented the Panasonic Wild Knights and Shimizu Blue Sharks in Japan, and Canterbury in New Zealand’s NPC competition. He earned 3 MLR caps (all starts) for the San Diego Legion in his debut season in North America, recording over 200m gained during the Legion’s 15-1 season, the best regular season record in MLR history. Waqainabete and the Legion fell just short of the Shield following a 24-25 loss to the New England Free Jacks in Chicago.
On July 22nd, 2023, White Plains RFC announced Waqainabete in a ‘player spotlight’ suggesting that he will be spending the offseason playing with the American Rugby Premiership side. He will join fellow Fijian Apisai Naikatini there. On 23rd December 2023, the San Diego Legion announced the return of Filimone Waqainabete for the 2024 MLR season, where he improved almost across the board, scoring 2 tries in 7 games (6 starts) and ran for over 600m gained, helping the Legion secure a solid 11-5 record. Waqainabete gained 75m during the Legion’s Western Conference Semifinal clash with the Seattle Seawolves, which he started, but the Legion were defeated 30-28 as their comeback fell just short.
Achievements
- MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 18
- MLR Runner-Up: 2023 (San Diego Legion)
Jonah Dietenberger
Wisconsin native Jonah Dietenberger played in Major League Rugby between 2022-2025. He represented the San Diego Legion (2022), the Utah Warriors (2023-2024), and the Chicago Hounds (2025).
A native of Fond du Lac, WI, Dietenberger began his rugby journey with flag rugby in fourth grade, before playing with the North Fond du Lac High School Wolfpac, also playing football and wrestling through high school. Following high school, Dietenberger attended rugby powerhouse Lindenwood University, playing with the Lions between 2017-2021. In 2018, he attended the USA Junior All-American Camp, which was used for the World Rugby Trophy Qualifier selection.
Dietenberger declared for the 2021 MLR Collegiate Draft, and was selected 5th overall by the San Diego Legion. He earned his MLR debut for the Legion during the 2022 season, the same year he played with the USA Falcons in their tour of Uruguay. He was involved in a high-profile trade following the 2022 MLR season, when he was traded to the Utah Warriors on September 12th, 2022 along with 2023 Cap Space in exchange for USA Eagle and MLR legend Mikey Te’o to the Legion. Dietenberger played with the Warriors for two MLR seasons, earning 4 of his 5 MLR appearances for them, including a high of 3 appearances in 2024.
On October 2nd, 2024, the Utah Warriors announced the departure of 17 players who would not be returning for 2025, including Dietenberger. He returned to his native Wisconsin and on February 11th, 2025, less than a week before the season kicked off, the Chicago Hounds announced the signing of Jonah Dietenberger for their 2025 campaign. Dietenberger earned his Hounds debut off the bench in their 2025 season opening victory against the Houston SaberCats.
achievements
- MLR Draftee: 2021 – 1st Round (5th Overall) – San Diego Legion
Bill Whiteside
California native Bill Whiteside played in Major League Rugby between 2023-2025. He represented the Rugby New York Ironworkers (2023), and Old Glory DC (2024-2026).
Whiteside played gridiron football and lacrosse through high school, before attending Lindenwood University between 2017-2021 and playing D1A rugby. He was named to the USA U23 team in 2021, before declaring for the 2022 MLR Collegiate Draft where he was selected in the 3rd round (29th overall) by the Rugby New York Ironworkers, who signed him for the 2023 MLR season. He appeared in one matchday 23 during the season but did not make his MLR debut, spending most of the year playing with Old Blue in the American Rugby Premiership as well as the USA Hawks (now Anthem RC) on their South American Tour.
In early December 2023, a week after the Toronto Arrows announced that they would not compete in the 2024 season, the Rugby New York Ironworkers announced that they would also not compete in 2024. It is unknown if Whiteside opted into the subsequent Dispersal draft but on 29th January 2024, Old Glory DC included Bill Whiteside in their greater training squad and he spent the 2024 season with the Flags, earning his MLR debut for Old Glory DC and 12 appearances (4 starts) in total including a Team of the Week selection in Round 13 as Old Glory DC qualified for the MLR Playoffs.
On December 6th, 2024, Old Glory DC confirmed the return of Bill Whiteside for the 2025 MLR season where he equaled his career high in starts (4) and set a new high for appearances with 13. He also improved his career high in tackles from 58 in 2024 to 64 in 2025, for 122 in total in his MLR career. Whiteside helped Old Glory DC to their 3rd straight playoff appearance, where they fell to the Chicago Hounds in the Eastern Conference Semifinal. On 4th December 2025, Old Glory DC announced the return of Bill Whiteside for his 3rd season with the team in 2026.
ACHIEVEMENTS:
- MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 13
- 2022 MLR Draftee: 3rd Round (29th Overall) – Rugby New York Ironworkers
Finn Kearns
Australian back row Finn Kearns played in Major League Rugby between 2023-2024. He represented the San Diego Legion for his entire MLR career.
Kearns played with the famous Randwick Galloping Green between 2018-2022, including for the Premier side during 2022. He was supposed to play with the Legion for the 2022 MLR season but was unable to do so due to visa delays. Kearns made it stateside for 2023, earning 4 MLR caps for the Legion in their record-breaking 2023 campaign in which they advanced to the Championship Final, falling 24-25 to the New England Free Jacks.
On 23rd December 2023, the San Diego Legion announced the return of Finn Kearns for the 2024 MLR season.
achievements
- MLR Runner-Up: 2023 (San Diego Legion)
- MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Round 13