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. Momsen appeared in all 19 Houston SaberCats games during 2025, starting 17 times as the SaberCats finished the regular season 2nd in the Western Conference before earning their first two postseason victories ever to claim the Western Conference Title, before falling to the New England Free Jacks in the Championship Game in Rhode Island, which Momsen started. He scored 3 tries in 2025, gaining 239m in possession and recording his 2nd 200+ tackle season completing a career high 220 tackles and finishing 7th League-wide. Momsen was named to the All-MLR Second XV for his performance in 2025, the 4th All-MLR selection of his career.

Achievements

• 2025 All-MLR Second XV Selection
• 2025 Western Conference Champion – Houston SaberCats
• 7th in MLR Tackling: 2025 (220)
• 2025 MLR Ironman
• MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 4
• 2023 All-MLR First XV Selection
• MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Rd 12
• MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Rd 8
• MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Rd 3
• 2022 All-MLR First XV Selection
• 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 All-MLR First XV Selection
• 2021 Eastern Conference Champion – 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)