New Zealand back rower Albert O’Shannessey played in Major League Rugby during the 2024 season. He represented Anthem Rugby Carolina for his entire MLR career.

A Christchurch native, O’Shannessey has rugby in his blood as his maternal grandfather Kevin Meates represented the All Blacks in the early 1950s. He began playing rugby at the age of 5 and played for the First XV while at Christ’s College as well as the Canterbury U18s & Canterbury Māori U21s. While at Christ’s College, O’Shannessey enjoyed a successful rowing career. He was in the top 8 for four years and is a New Zealand National Medalist in the Maadi Cup, in the U17 Eight, the U18 Quad Skulls and the Prestigious Maadi Cup U18 Eight. O’Shannessey moved to the US in 2018 to attend Central Washington University for his undergraduate degree, continuing to study at CWU for his Master’s degree, with which he graduated in 2023. That same year he played with, and captained,  the Canyons at the Collegiate Rugby Shield, the precursor to the MLR Rising Collegiate Draft Combine.

After declaring for the 2023 MLR Collegiate Draft, O’Shannessey was selected in the 2nd round, 21st Overall by the Rugby New York Ironworkers. When the Ironworkers withdrew from the 2024 season and Anthem RC came into the league, he was snapped up by the MLR, World Rugby, and USA Rugby partnership team. In his debut MLR season, O’Shannessey scored 2 tries in 12 games (all starts) and completed just shy of 150 tackles.

O’Shannessey became US-eligible in the fall of 2024 and MLR confirmed that he would count as a domestic player for 2025. He has expressed an interest in following the path to representing the Eagles.

achievements

• MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 2