Malakai Latu

Shilo Klein

New Zealand hooker Shilo Klein played in Major League Rugby during the 2023 & 2025 seasons. He represented the San Diego Legion for his entire MLR career.

Klein already had 4 seasons of professional rugby for Canterbury under his belt when he signed for the Legion in December 2022, as well as a handful of caps with the Crusaders in Super Rugby. Klein was born in Sacrameto, CA and so is a US-eligible player in MLR, making him all the more appealing. He served in a back-up role behind Sama Malolo during his debut MLR season, earning 15 caps and 4 starts, scoring 2 tries. He was a part of the San Diego Legion squad that recorded a 15-1 record during the 2023 season, the best regular season record in League history.

On July 18th, 2023 Klein was named in the North Harbour squad for the 2023 NPC season, playing alongside fellow Legion player Ben Grant. It will be the first time that Klein has played in the NPC for a non-Canterbury side. On 8th November 2023, Klein was included as part of the wider training squad for the Blues in Super Rugby, ruling him out of a return to MLR for 2024. He spent 2024 between the Blues and North Harbour. On 2nd November 2024, the San Diego Legion announced the return of Klein for their 2025 MLR season and the following week, Klein made his test debut for the USA as Eagle #581 in a 17-24 win against Portugal.

On October 20th, 2025, Italian side Zebre Parma announced the signing of Shilo Klein for the remainder of the 2025/26 URC season. With the URC regular season running to mid-may, it’s possible that Klein could return to MLR for a playoff push, but he will still be in the URC when the 2026 campaign kicks off.

Achievements:

2023 MLR Runner-up: San Diego Legion

Tomas Aoake

New Zealand winger Tomas Aoake played in Major League Rugby between 2022-2026, representing the San Diego Legion for his entire MLR career.

Aoake’s signing was announced by the San Diego Legion in January 2022, ahead of the MLR season for that year. He joined from North Harbour in New Zealand’s National Provincial Championship competition, with whom he had played since 2019. Aoake’s debut season in North America saw him scoring 4 tries in 10 games (all starts) for the Legion, earning a surprise playoff berth following the disqualification of the LA & Austin franchises. Aoake followed up a solid debut MLR season with a spectacular 2023 season. He scored 9 tries in 13 regular season games (all starts) for the Legion, tied for 5th in MLR in 2023, racking up 1,160m gained in possession (10th in MLR) as the Legion finished the regular season with a MLR-record 15-1 standing. Aoake added 2 more tries in as many games in the playoffs as the San Diego Legion advanced all the way to the Championship Final, falling 24-25 to the New England Free Jacks. Aoake and wing-partner Nate Augspurger provided the Legion with an incredible offensive ‘double punch’ on the edge that delivered 18 tries for the Legion in the regular season, and another 4 during the playoffs for 11 each, placing them both T-4th in MLR Try Scoring that season.

On 12th October 2023, the San Diego Legion announced that they had signed Tomas Aoake to a 3 year contract extension that would keep the then-28yo in California through the 2026 MLR season. In the first year of that new contract, Aoake scored another 2 tries in 11 games (all starts) as the Legion again qualified for the post-season, falling to their rivals the Seattle Seawolves in the Western Conference Semifinals. On November 14th, 2024, the San Diego Legion announced the return of Tomas Aoake for the 2025 season during which he became the San Diego Legion’s highest try scorer after scoring his 23rd try for the team against Rugby FC LA during round 11, his 5th of the 2025 season.

Achievements

MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 6
MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 2
2023 MLR Runner-Up: San Diego Legion
T-4th in MLR Tries Scored: 2023 (11)
10th in MLR Meters Gained: 2023 (1,160m)
MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Round 16
MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Round 11
MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Round 4

Josh Henderson

Scottish fly-half Josh Henderson played in Major League Rugby between 2022-2024. He represented the San Diego Legion for the entirety of his MLR career.

A former Scotland U16, U19, and U20 player, as well as a Scotland 7s player, Henderson joined the San Diego Legion mid-way through the 2022 season from the USRC Tigers in Hong Kong. He earned 2 Caps (both starts) in his debut MLR season and followed this up with a very strong 2023 season playing in tandem with capped USA Eagle Will Hooley in the Legion 10 shirt. The Legion’s record-breaking 2023 season saw Henderson earn 12 caps (8 starts), score 2 tries and a total of 54pts (19/31 from the tee, 61.29%), gaining 470m.

Henderson’s 2024 season saw him score another try and 24pts in 4 games (2 starts) playing a primarily reserve role behind Lincoln McClutchie and Matt Giteau, despite an outstanding performance in the Legion’s first game of the year in which he scored all of the Legion’s points. On 2nd October 2023, the San Diego Legion announced the return of Josh Henderson on a multi-year contract through (at least) the 2025 season, but on 27th August 2024, Henderson appeared to announce his retirement from rugby on instagram, at the age of 27.

Achievements:

MLR Runner-Up: 2023 (San Diego Legion)
MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Round 1

Richard Judd

New Zealand scrum-half Richard Judd represented the San Diego Legion in Major League Rugby for their record-breaking 2023 season, and again in 2025.

Judd joined the Legion from NPC side Wellington in November 2022. His outstanding performances in the 9 jersey helped to move Nate Augspurger to the wing, where the American had a stand-out season. Judd and Augspurger were tied for the most Team of the Week selections of the 2023 season, at 6 each. He was the starting 9 during the Legion’s record-breaking 15-1 season in 2023, the best regular season in MLR history. The Legion’s season ultimately ended with a 24-25 loss to the Free Jacks in the Championship Final.

Judd scored 7 tries in his 14 games in 2023 and also delievered 120 tackles. His efforts earned him an All-MLR First XV selection in his debut MLR season.

On July 20th, 2023, Judd was named in Bay of Plenty’s squad for their 2023 NPC Season. This will be his 4th NPC season and his first with the Bay of Plenty Steamers. On 1st November 2023, the Hurricanes of Super Rugby announced the signing of Richard Judd for 2024. Judd linked up with fellow 2023 Legionnaire Ben Grant at the Wellington-based club. On November 9th, 2024, the San Diego Legion announced the return of Richard Judd for the 2025 MLR season after a year in Super Rugby. In his 2nd MLR season, he added another 2 tries and started 10 of his 12 appearances for the Legion while completing another 87 tackles as a scrumhalf for 213 in his 26 game MLR career!

During the frenetic 2025/26 MLR off-season, the San Diego Legion announced that they would be merging with their California rivals Rugby FC LA to form the California Legion. Judd would not return to MLR for the 2026 season. Instead, he headed to France and signed with Vannes in the Pro D2, which the club announced on 4th November, 2025.

Achievements:

MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 2
2023 All-MLR First XV Selection
2023 MLR Runner-Up: San Diego Legion
MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Rd 17
MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Rd 15
MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Rd 12
MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Rd 11
MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Rd 5
MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Rd 3

Blair Cowan

Tupou Ma’afu Afungia

Tongan back row Tupou Ma’afu Afungia played in Major League Rugby between 2023-2025. He represented the San Diego Legion (2023-2024) and the NOLA Gold (2025).

The signing of former Tonga U16 and U20 player Afungia was announced in November 2022, joining the Legion from Hawke’s Bay in New Zealand’s NPC competition in November 2022. In his debut season in North America, the 23yo earned 11 MLR caps (10 starts) and scored 3 tries in the regular season, and started both playoff games for the Legion, gaining over 500m and delivering 117 successful tackles during the Legion’s 15-1 regular season and Championship Series push. The Legion fell at the final hurdle, with a 24-25 defeat to the New England Free Jacks in the Championship Final in Chicago.

On 2nd October 2023, the San Diego Legion announced the re-signing of Tupou Ma’afu Afungia along with 6 other returnees for the 2024 season. In 2024, Afungia added 2 tries in 12 appearances (10 starts), setting a career best with just under 700m gained and completing just under 100 tackles as the Legion advanced to the post-season with a solid 11-5 record, but fell to their rivals the Seattle Seawolves in the Western Conference Semifinals. Afungia appeared off the bench in that game, racking up 81m gained. On 23rd October 2024, the San Diego Legion traded Afungia to the NOLA Gold in exchange for 2025 Salary Cap Considerations (unknown)

Achievements:

MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 2
MLR Runner-Up: 2023 (San Diego Legion)
MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Rd 9

Sam Davies

New Zealander Sam Davies played in Major League Rugby during the 2023 Major League Rugby season, and again during the 2025 season. He represented the Rugby New York Ironworkers (2023), and Old Glory DC (2025).

Davies’ signing was announced by Rugby New York in November 2022, joining from North Harbour in New Zealand’s NPC where the then-20yo had just finished his first season in professional rugby. He earned 15 appearances for the Ironworkers during his debut season in North America, starting twice and completing 65 tackles. He also gained just shy of 200m in possession, which is relatively high for a primarily replacement prop.

On 17th July, 2023, Davies was announced as part of the North Harbour squad for their 2023 NPC season and, following the withdrawal of Rugby New York from MLR in November 2023, did not return to Major League Rugby for the 2024 season. He did, however, return the following season. With under a week to go before the 2025 season kicked off, Old Glory DC announced the signing of Sam Davies for the 2025 season on February 11th, 2025.

Tei Walden

Former All Blacks u20 & Māori All Blacks centre Teihorangi ‘Tei’ Walden represented the Rugby New York Ironworkers during the 2023 Major League Rugby season.

Walden has considerable experience, having represented Otago from 2013-2017 and Taranaki since 2018, both at the NPC level. At the Super Rugby level, he represented the Highlanders from 2016-2020 and made a return to Super Rugby with the Hurricanes in 2022 following an achilles injust that sidelined him for many months.

He appeared in 16 of the Ironworkers’ 17 games in MLR 2023, starting 15 of them. He racked up over 1000m gained and 175 tackles in his debut MLR season, establishing himself as a fearsome midfield presence on both sides of the ball.

Walden was included on the Taranaki Bulls roster for their 2023 NPC season, and it is unknown if he will return to MLR for 2024.

Achievements:

MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Week 8

Hamish Dalzell

New Zealand lock Hamish Dalzell played in Major League Rugby during the 2023 season. He represented the Rugby New York Ironworkers for his entire MLR career.

Dalzell’s signing was announced in November 2022, joining from the Crusaders in Super Rugby, where he had also played in 2018. Like many Kiwi MLR players he is a regular in the NPC competition, representing Canterbury from 2016-2018 and again in 2021, and Auckland in 2020 & 2022.

In his debut MLR season, the towering 6’7 lock earned 17 MLR appearances for New York including 1 in the Championship Series, scoring 1 try and completing an impressive 189 tackles. 181 of these tackles were during the regular season, placing him 9th league-wide in tackles completed, and highest on the Ironworkers’ roster in 2023. His efforts earned him the Rugby New York Players’ Player of the year award in 2023,

On July 26th 2023, Dalzell was included in the Auckland squad for their upcoming 2023 NPC season. When news of Rugby New York‘s demise emerged in late 2023, Dalzell did not return to MLR.