Minnesota native Emmanuel Albert played in Major League Rugby between 2022-2025. The Lindenwood product was drafted 2nd overall by the Houston SaberCats in the 2021 MLR Collegiate Draft, and has represented the ‘Cats for his entire MLR career.

Albert earned 13 MLR caps and his first start for Houston in his rookie year in 2022, also scoring his first MLR try. He followed this up with a 16-cap season in his sophomore year, racking up over 250m gained and 115 successful tackles as well as his first Team of the Week selection in Round 16. Having earned 29 caps through his first 2 years in MLR, the Houston SaberCats announced the return of Emmanuel Albert for the 2024 season on 17th November 2023. Albert equalled his high of 16 appearances in 2024, but earned a PB 6 starts and scored 2 tries as the SaberCats finished with the best record in MLR during the 2024 regular season, 14-2. Albert came off the bench as the SaberCats were stunned by the Dallas Jackals in the Western Conference Semifinal, ending their season far earlier than they would’ve hoped.

On December 21st, 2024, the Houston SaberCats announced the return of Emmanuel Albert for his 4th MLR season in 2025, where he will continue his role as a stalwart in the SaberCats pack. During Round 6 of that season, Albert earned his 50th MLR appearance in a high-scoring, 45-46 victory over Anthem RC. Albert is the first MLR Draftee to reach 50 Appearances in the competition. Albert’s previous career high for starts before 2025 was 6, but he started 16 of his 17 appearances for the SaberCats in 2025 as they finished the regular season 2nd in the Western Conference before earning their first postseason victories by defeating Rugby FC LA and the Utah Warriors to claim the Western Conference Title, before falling to the New England Free Jacks in the 2025 Championship Game in Rhode Island. As well as recording a career high in starts, Albert set new career highs in Metres Gained (311m) and finished T-10to League-wide in tackles Completed, with 206.

Achievements:

• 2025 Western Conference Champion – Houston SaberCats
• T-10th in MLR Tackling: 2025 (206)
• MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 17
• First MLR Draftee to reach 50 Appearances
• MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 6
• MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 5
• MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Rd 16
• 2021 MLR Draftee: 2nd Overall (1st Rd) – Houston SaberCats