New York native Chris Mattina played in Major League Rugby between 2019-2024. He represented Rugby United New York (2019-2021), the Austin Gilgronis (2022), the Chicago Hounds (2023), and the San Diego Legion (2024).

Mattina played under Mike Tolkin (later the USA Eagles head coach and now runs the Premier Rugby 7s) at Xavier High School in NY between 2008-2011. Following high school, Mattina attended the University of Delaware between 2011-2016, captaining the team for 3 years, and was the team president in his final year. He played with NYAC in 2017 as the team advanced to the USA Rugby Division 1 Club XVs National Championship, losing to the Austin Huns, and he also delved into the world of Sevens, touring South America with the USA Falcons and playing in the Punta Del Este Sevens, in Uruguay and the Viña Del Mar Sevens in Chile. He continued his sevens career the following year, making 24 appearances in eight HSBC World Sevens Series Tournaments for the USA after debuting at the Sydney Sevens. He was signed with the San Diego Legion during 2018, but his Sevens commitments took priority. Mattina earned his test debut for the USA in August 2023 against Romania as Eagle #564. He was declared the Player of the Tournament during the La Vila Cup in November 2023.

Mattina signed with his hometown team, Rugby United New York, for their inaugural MLR season in 2019, scoring the first try in club history in the season opener. He earned 12 appearanced (all starts) during his debut season in MLR, scoring 41pts total (18/26 from the tee). Mattina played with New York for 3 seasons, earning 26 caps for the Ironworkers (21 starts), scoring 3 tries and 62pts total (23/36 from the tee). He moved to the Austin Gilgronis for the 2022 season, earning 12 caps with the AGs (7 starts) and scoring 2 tries, 17pts during the regular season. Prior to the 2022 Championship Series, the Austin Gilgronis were disqualified from the season (along with the LA Giltinis) for alleged salary cap violations, and folded shortly after. Mattina was selected by the Chicago Hounds in the subsequent Expansion/Dispersal draft, and represented them during their inaugural season in 2023. He appeared in all 16 games for the Hounds in the regular season (15 starts), scoring another try and 41pts total (15/19 from the tee), including a last minute kick to secure one of the Hounds’ 3 wins. His performance in the 2023 season earned him a place in the USA Eagles squad for their 2023 RWC qualifying campaign, where he earned his test debut and 4 additional caps that year.

Through his first 5 seasons in MLR, Mattina earned 54 caps in the competition, including 43 starts. He scored 6 tries and 120pts total (41/58 – 70.89% from the tee), and earned 5 Team of the Week Selections. On 28th December 2023, the San Diego Legion announced that they had signed Chris Mattina for the 2024 MLR season, where he added two further appearances off the bench. On November 23rd, 2024, Chris Mattina announced his retirement on Instagram after 6 seasons in MLR. He is heavily involved with the United States Rugby Players Association (USRPA) and the Major League Rugby Players Association (MLRPA) so he will still be around the game and the league, but off the field.

achievements

• MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Round 5
• MLR Team of the Week: 2022 – Round 10
• MLR Team of the Week: 2021 – Round 11
• MLR Team of the Week: 2019 – Round 10
• MLR Team of the Week: 2019 – Round 7