Missouri native Alec McDonnell played in Major League Rugby between 2020-2025. He represented the Rugby New York Ironworkers (2020), the Houston SaberCats (2021-2023), and the Miami Sharks (2024-2025).

McDonnell is a Lindenwood University alum, attending from 2015-2019. He signed with Rugby United New York training squad ahead of the 2020 season, and made his MLR debut from the bench before the season was cancelled after only 5 rounds due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He moved to Houston in the fall and played for Rugby HTX, the SaberCats academy side (now SaberCats 2) between 2020-2022. He made the senior SaberCats side in 2022, earning 9 caps (8 starts) during that year’s MLR season, and appeared in a career high of 16 appearances during the 2023 season for the ‘Cats, primarily in a substitute role. Through the 2023 season, McDonnell has earned 26 MLR caps (10 starts) between New York & Houston.

On 16th December 2023, the Miami Sharks announced the signing of Alec McDonnell for the 2024 season, where he earned 4 starts and appeared in all 16 games during the Sharks’ inaugural season, where they recorded solid and competitive results despite missing the post-season. On November 26, 2024, the Miami Sharks announced the return of Alec McDonnell for their 2025 season.