Massachusetts native Nate Brakeley played in Major League Rugby between 2019-2023. He represented the Rugby New York Ironworkers for his entire MLR career, and for their entire tenture in Major League Rugby.

Brakeley attended Dartmouth College before heading across the pond to Cambridge University, where he played in the prestigious Varsity Match against Oxford University. He graduated in 2012, and had been playing with the New York Athletics Club since the fall of 2013. Brakeley earned his international debut with the USA in February 2016, and is Eagle #469. He represented the USA at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. His signing with the Ironworkers (Rugby United New York at the time) was announced in September 2018.

In his debut MLR season, Brakeley earned 15 caps with NY and led the team in minutes with 1200 (equal with former England International Ben Foden). Brakeley was a regular in the New York starting lineup over his 5 seasons with the club, earning 65 total caps (63 starts) and captaining the team 28 times (highest in club history). He earned 3 MLR Team of the Week selections through the 5 weeks of the shortened 2020 season, and was the only player league-wide to earn 5 MLR Team of the Week selections during the 2021 season. Through the 2023 season, he was the 2nd most capped player in club history behind Dylan Fawsitt (72).

Brakeley was expected to return for the Ironworkers in 2024, however he announced an end to his playing career on November 27, 2023. Just over a week later, MLR and the Ironworkers announced that the team would not compete in the 2024 MLR season, and subsequently folded. Brakeley could not stay away from MLR for long, though. On 25th October 2024, the New England Free Jacks announced the addition of Brakeley as the coach of their U23 team from 2025.

Achievements:

• MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Round 7
• 2022 MLR Champion (Rugby United New York)
• All-MLR 1st XV Selection: 2021
• MLR Team of the Week: 2021 – Round 15
• MLR Team of the Week: 2021 – Round 13
• MLR Team of the Week: 2021 – Round 10
• MLR Team of the Week: 2021 – Round 8
• MLR Team of the Week: 2021 – Round 7
• 1st in League Tackling: 2020 (96)
• MLR Team of the Week: 2020 – Round 4
• MLR Team of the Week: 2020 – Round 3
• MLR Team of the Week: 2020 – Round 2
• All-MLR 1st XV Selection: 2019
• MLR Team of the Week: 2019 – Round 12
• MLR Team of the Week: 2019 – Round 17
• MLR Team of the Week: 2019 – Round 18