California native Jacob Merklinger played in Major League Rugby during the 2025 season. He represented the Houston SaberCats for his entire MLR career.

A native of Carlsbad in Southern California, Merklinger has played rugby since a young age. He played through high school at La Costa Canyon, also playing his club rugby with the Carlsbad Thunder, winning a national Championship in 2021. Merklinger was selected to the San Diego Legion U18 academy as an Elite Academy Player (EAP).

Merklinger joined the Houston SaberCats academy and played there at the start of 2024, before representing the San Clemente Rhinos at the World Rugby Tens in California in the fall of 2024. On December 17th, 2024, the Houston SaberCats announced the signing of academy product Jacob Merklinger for their 2025 season.

NARDB Player #1,352