California native Cassh Maluia played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2026. He represented the Chicago Hounds (2024), the San Diego Legion (2025), and the California Legion (2026).

Former NFL player Maluia played football all through high school as well as for all 4 years at the University of Wyoming between 2016-2019. He was drafted 204th overall (6th Rd) in the 2020 NFL draft by the New England Patriots, and signed a short-term contract with the Tennessee Titans in 2021. Following this, Maluia joined up with the Colorado XO program (formerly Colorado Raptors of MLR, and the American Raptors of SRA) and played with the crossover program until 2023.

On 6th December 2023, the Chicago Hounds announced the signing of Cassh Maluia for the 2024 MLR season, where he earned 2 starts and 7 appearances, scoring 1 try and running for over 150m gained in possession. Maluia was released by the Hounds following the 2024 season, but on February 27th, 2025, the San Diego Legion announced the signing of Maluia for the remainder of the 2025 season, and was included in the matchday 23 for their Rd 3 clash with Old Glory DC. Maluia would enjoy a solid sophomore season in MLR, setting career highs almost across the board. He started 6 of his 9 appearances for the Legion, scoring a 2nd MLR try and gaining a career high 187m with an even 50 tackles completed (doubling his previous career high). Following the merger of the San Diego Legion with Rugby FC LA to form the California Legion, Maluia remained in California, with the Legion announcing his signing on January 27th, 2026 ahead of their inaugural season that year.

Maluia would earn a career high 10 appearances with the California Legion in 2026, equalling a career high 6 starts as well as maintaining his 1 try a season scoring pace. He gained just shy of 350m in possession, a huge jump from his previous career high of 187m, and was just 1 short of his tackle total from last season, with 49 completed. As well as helping the Legion qualify for the postseason, Cassh Maluia was named in the starting XV for both of their playoff matches in 2026, including the Championship game where they fell to the Chicago Hounds. Following the MLR season, Maluia was selected for the USA squad for the condensed Pacific Nations Cup in August, and earned his test debut as Eagle #605 in a 19-16 loss to Canada in Japan.

achievements

• MLR Team of the Week: 2026 – Rd 5