New Zealand hooker Ben Strang played in Major League Rugby between 2023-2024. He represented Rugby ATL (2023) and Rugby FC LA (2024).

He was signed by ATL in November 2022 on a long term deal that would have seen him in Atlanta through the 2025 MLR season. He has previously represented Manawatu in New Zealand’s NPC but on 30th June 2023 the Southland Stags announced Strang’s signing for their 2023 NPC season. Strang was born in Maryland and so qualifies as a domestic player in Major League Rugby.

He scored 1 try in 4 appearances (1 start) during 2023, gaining over 100m and completing 24 tackles in limited game time. Following the 2023 season, MLR and Rugby ATL announced that the ownership of the team had changed, and that the new ownership group would be relocating to Los Angeles (who had been without a team since the demise of the LA Giltinis) for the 2024 season, and the identity of Rugby FC LA was revealed in December 2023. Strang followed the team to Los Angeles and enjoyed a solid 2024 season, appearing in all 16 of RFCLA’s games, earning 11 starts and scoring 5 tries. He ran for just under 500m gained and finished 10th in MLR tackling, with 170 tackles completed. RFCLA missed the playoffs, but enjoyed solid performances for their inaugural season.

Strang had a contract through the 2025 MLR season with Rugby ATL, and it’s unclear if that contract has transferred to RFCLA, or if they had signed a new contract for the 2024 season.

achievements

• 10th in MLR Tackling: 2024 (170)
• MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 18
• MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 12