South African lock/back row Johan Momsen played in Major League Rugby between 2020-2025. He represented Rugby ATL (2020-2023), and the Houston SaberCats (2024-2025).
At the end of the 2023 MLR season, Momsen was the 2nd highest capped Rugby ATL player with 53 MLR games played, behind only Alex Maughan on 54. In those games, Momsen has scored 12 tries and has Captained the side 10 times. 8 of those captaincies came in 2023 where he split leadership duties with Canadian Matt Heaton. Momsen was part of the ATL side that finished runners-up to the LA Giltinis in the 2021 MLR season and was named as the MLR Forward of the Year for his efforts. He followed up a successful 2021 with 15 starts in 16 games in 2022. Momsen was one of only 2 MLR players to earn 5 MLR Team of the Week selections in the 2022 season, alongside Billy Meakes (LA Giltinis). At the conclusion of the 2023, Momsen has a total of 11 Team of the Week selections.
On 29th June 2023, the Manawatu Turbos announced the signing of Momsen for their 2023 NPC season, a new competition for the man from Paarl. He was signed with ATL through the 2024 MLR season and returned stateside following the NPC season, but not with Rugby ATL. Following news that Rugby ATL was under new ownership and was relocating to LA, Johan Momsen was traded to the Houston SaberCats on September 25th, 2023 along with Justin Basson in exchange for 2024 Salary Cap Considerations (unknown). Basson & Momsen, both South Africans, joined a healthy Saffa contingent in Houston, that finished the 2024 regular season with a 14-2 record as the top team in MLR, before being stunned by the Dallas Jackals in the playoffs.
On 1st June 2024, the Manawatu Turbos announced that Momsen had signed for their 2024 & 2025 NPC seasons, and on November 7th 2024, the Houston SaberCats announced the return of Johan Momsen for the 2025 MLR season.
Achievements
- MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 4
- MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Rd 12
- MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Rd 8
- MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Rd 3
- MLR Team of the Week: 2022 – Rd 17
- MLR Team of the Week: 2022 – Rd 10
- MLR Team of the Week: 2022 – Rd 8
- MLR Team of the Week: 2022 – Rd 2
- MLR Team of the Week: 2022 – Rd 1
- 2021 MLR Runner-Up – Rugby ATL
- 2021 MLR Forward of the Year
- 4th in MLR Tackling: 2021 (201)
- MLR Team of the Week: 2021 – Conference Finals
- MLR Team of the Week: 2021 – Round 11
- MLR Team of the Week: 2021 – Round 3
- T-3rd in League Tackling: 2020 (70)