Born in Connecticut to Argentinian parents, Ben Bonasso played in Major League Rugby between 2021-2024. He represented the Rugby New York Ironworkers (2021-2023) and the Miami Sharks (2024).

Bonasso moved back to Argentina at a young age, and is a former Argentina U19 player and U20 selection, Bonasso played with Club Newman in the URBA Top 14 between 2017-2019, and his move back north was announced in January 2021 by Rugby United New York. In his debut season in North America, Bonasso was one of only 2 NY players to appear in all 17 games of their 2021 season (12 starts), scoring 3 tries and 21pts total. Bonasso earned an international call-up for the USA in the fall of 2021, and he made his debut for the USA in October 2021 when he came off the bench against Uruguay. He earned a second cap as a started later that month against New Zealand.

Bonasso followed this up with 16 more caps for NY in 2022 (all starts) and 1 more try as New York advanced to the 2022 MLR Championship Final where they defeated the Seattle Seawolves 30-15 to lift the Shield. Through his 3 seasons with New York, Bonasso earned 40 MLR caps (33 starts), scoring 5 tries. He missed a large part of the 2023 season with injury, but still managed over 200m gained with ball in hand, and completed 86 tackles.

On 11th December 2023, the Miami Sharks announced the signing of Ben Bonasso for the 2024 season. Although this signing was made public a few days after the announcement that the Rugby New York Ironworkers would not compete in the 2024 season, NARDB understands that this signing was finalised prior to this. Given Bonasso’s Argentinian heritage, and the heavy Argentinian influence within the Sharks organisation, it seems like a natural fit for Bonasso. He tied his MLR-high of 3 tries scored in 15 games (14 starts) during the Sharks’ inaugural season, carrying for over 500m gained and completing 167 tackles. He was named as the 2024 Shark of the Season for his performance, and was the only Miami Sharks player named to the 2024 All-MLR squads, earning a spot in the Honorable Mention XV.

On 21st October 2024, the Miami Sharks announce that they had re-signed Ben Bonasso for the 2025 MLR season.

Achievements

• 2024 All-MLR Honorable Mention XV
• 2024 Miami Sharks Shark of the Season
• MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 13
• MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 2
• 2022 MLR Champion: Rugby New York
• MLR Team of the Week: 2021 – Rd 16