New Zealand lock Hamish Dalzell played in Major League Rugby during the 2023 season. He represented the Rugby New York Ironworkers for his entire MLR career.

Dalzell’s signing was announced in November 2022, joining from the Crusaders in Super Rugby, where he had also played in 2018. Like many Kiwi MLR players he is a regular in the NPC competition, representing Canterbury from 2016-2018 and again in 2021, and Auckland in 2020 & 2022.

In his debut MLR season, the towering 6’7 lock earned 17 MLR appearances for New York including 1 in the Championship Series, scoring 1 try and completing an impressive 189 tackles. 181 of these tackles were during the regular season, placing him 9th league-wide in tackles completed, and highest on the Ironworkers’ roster in 2023. His efforts earned him the Rugby New York Players’ Player of the year award in 2023,

On July 26th 2023, Dalzell was included in the Auckland squad for their upcoming 2023 NPC season. When news of Rugby New York‘s demise emerged in late 2023, Dalzell did not return to MLR.

Achievements

• 7th in MLR Tackling: 2023 (189)
• 2023 NY Ironworkers Player’s player of the Year