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 began playing rugby at the age of 5. He played for the First XV at Christ’s College as well as the Canterbury U18s & Canterbury Māori U21s. 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 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 at the start of 2025 and he has expressed an interest in following that path.

achievements

• MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 2