Danny Christensen

Utah native Danny Christensen played in Major League Rugby between 2021-2025. the scrum-half has represented the Utah Warriors (2021-2022), Dallas Jackals (2023), San Diego Legion (2024), and Rugby FC LA (2025).

University of Utah alum Danny Christensen came through the Utah Warriors pathway, captaining the Utah Selects academy side in the fall of 2020 to earn a 4-week MLR contract as international cover and performed well, earning 4 caps in his debut MLR season and scoring 2 tries, as well as a full MLR contract with the Warriors for 2022. That year, Christensen earned 12 more MLR caps (5 starts), and scored his first MLR hattrick (3rd in Warriors club history) in a 33-5 victory over the Jackals in Round 18. His performance against them must have impressed the Jackals, as they signed Christensen in  February 2023, right before the start of the season. He earned another 12 MLR caps for the Jackals to take his total to 28 MLR caps in 3 seasons, and added another try to his total, now at 6.

On September 25th, 2023, the Jackals traded Christensen to the San Diego Legion in exchange for Joeli Tikoisuva (a surprise to many, as it was not announced that Tikoisuva was with the Legion instead of the NOLA Gold, where he had played for years) for the 2024 MLR season. In 2024, Christensen added a further 6 appearances, starting twice for the Legion and passed 100 career tackles completed. On December 24th, 2024, Christensen announced his retirement on Instagram after 4 season in MLR.

Despite announcing his retirement around Christmas 2024, on 24th May 2025, Christensen appeared in the Rugby FC LA reserves for their clash with the Miami Sharks in Round 15 of the 2025 season.

Achievements:
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2022 – Round 18
  • Hattrick: 2022 – Round 18
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2021 – Round 17

Derek Ellingson

California native Derek Ellingson played in Major League Rugby during the 2021 season. He represented the Utah Warriors for his entire MLR career.

A product of St. Mary’s College in California, Ellingson was the 3rd player ever drafted into Major League Rugby. He was selected 3rd overall by the Utah Warriors in the inaugural MLR Collegiate Draft in 2020, and started 4 of his 7 games for the Warriors in his debut season, running for just shy of 250m gained in possession.

Achievements
  • MLR Draftee: 2020 – 1st Round (3rd overall) – Utah Warriors

Joe Mano

Hawaiian born winger Joe Mano played in Major League Rugby between 2021-2026. He represented the Utah Warriors (2021-2025) and the California Legion (2026).

Born in Hawaii but raised in American Samoa, Mano began playing rugby in 2008 and attended Fa’asaō Marist High School where he was a jack of all trades, playing football, soccer, rugby, and volleyball. He moved to Alaska in 2013 and played his club rugby with Alaska Green Dragons until 2017 when he joined Tulsa RFC in Oklahoma and played at the Las Vegas Invitational with Stars Rugby Sevens before moving back to Alaska, then to Utah with the aim of playing for the Warriors, first joining the Salt Lake City Gladiators. In 2019 he represented the American Samoa Sevens side (Talavalu) at the Oceania 7s in Fiji.

Upon his return from Fiji he was invited to play with the Utah Selects academy side and played with them for their 2020 fall season before joining the Warriors for the 2021 MLR season. Mano has represented the Warriors for 4 MLR seasons, earning a total of 38 appearances (33 starts) for the team and scoring 25 tries including an exceptional 14 tries in 2023 when he finished 2nd in MLR try scoring to New England‘s Paula Balekana. That year he also gained 1,416m with ball in hand, finishing 4th in MLR and totalling almost half of his career MLR meters gained. As of the conclusion of the 2024 season, Mano sits T-9th all time for MLR tries scored after adding 3 more tries in 10 games (all starts) in 2024 and racking up another 745m gained.

On January 9th, 2025, the Utah Warriors announced the return of Joe Mano for a 5th season with the team. He enjoyed another excellent season in 2025, helping the Utah Warriors to end their playoff drought and finish as MLR’s best team during the regular season. Mano started in Utah’s Western Conference Semifinal victory over the Seattle Seawolves, the first postseason victory in team history, and started their Western Conference Final defeat to the Houston SaberCats. Joe Mano tied his career high with 14 tries in 16 games (all starts) in 2025, and finished 7th League-wide in Meters Gained, with 869m. As of the conclusion of the 2025 season, Mano is MLR’s 4th highest try scorer with 39 tries to his name. For his fantastic 2025 season, Mano was named to the All-MLR 1st XV, his second All-MLR selection selection.

Following the withdrawal of the Utah Warriors in late 2025, Joe Mano headed to the west coast and signed with the California Legion ahead of their inaugural season in 2026. He was confirmed by the team on 2nd March, 2026.

achievements
  • 2025 All-MLR First XV Selection
  • 7th in MLR Meters Gained: 2025 (869m)
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 11
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 3
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 2
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 6
  • 2023 All-MLR Second XV Selection
  • 4th in MLR Meters Gained: 2023 (1,416m)
  • 2nd in MLR Try Scoring: 2023 (14)

Cliven Loubser

Namibian fly-half Cliven Loubser played in Major League Rugby between 2021-2025. He represented the Utah Warriors (2021-2023) and Anthem RC (2024-2025).

A native of Rehoboth, south of Windhoek in Namibia, Loubser began playing rugby while at school at both Dr. Lemmer High School and Windhoek Gymnasium Private School. He attended the University of Pretoria in South Africa and played with the UP Tuks in the Varsity Cup. He represented the Eastern Province U19s between 2016-2017, and the Sharks U21 side. Loubser earned his international test debut for Namibia in September 2017 against Russia in Uruguay, having previous played in two World Rugby U20s Trophy tournaments. He represented his country at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan and the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, and has earned over 30 test caps.

At club level, Loubser played with the Yorkshire Carnegie in 2020 (now the Leeds Tykes) in the English Championship, and signed with the Utah Warriors ahead of the 2021 MLR season. Loubser played with the Warriors for 3 MLR seasons, scoring 8 tries and 97pts in 27 games (19 starts) between 2021-2023. Loubser signed with Anthem RC, a partnership between MLR, USA Rugby, and World Rugby ahead of their inaugural season in 2024, where he scored 3 tries and 51pts in 9 games (8 starts) to pass 100pts in MLR as Anthem recorded a 0-16 season, but were competitive in most games. Anthem RC confirmed the return of Cliven Loubser for his 5th season in MLR when they included him on their full 2025 roster on January 21st, 2025.

achievements

  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 12

Mike Gieselman

Michigan-born Flanker Mike Gieselman currently represents the Seattle Seawolves in Major League Rugby. Gieselman also represented the Utah Warriors from 2021-2022, having played with the Warrior Selects academy side during the fall of 2020.

To date, Gieselman has earned 26 MLR caps, the majority of which (22) coming as a finisher. During the 2022 season, Gieselman gained 173m on 31 ball carries, and made 59/68 tackles for a success rate of 86.76%.

On August 4th, 2022, it was announced that Mike Gieselman had been traded from the Utah Warriors to the Seattle Seawolves, in exchange for Salary Cap Considerations in 2023.