Australian lock Nathan ‘Moose’ den Hoedt played in Major League Rugby between 2021-2025. He represented the LA Giltinis (2021-2022) and the Houston SaberCats (2023-2025).
Brisbane native den Hoedt played with NRC side NSW Country Eagles as well as an Emerging NSW Waratahs side. He played with the famous Randwick Club in the 2019/20 Shute Shield before making the move stateside. Den Hoedt signed with the LA Giltinis ahead of their inaugural MLR season in 2021, earning 16 appearances (13 starts) and scoring 1 try as the Giltinis advanced all the way to the Championship Final in their first season, defeating Rugby ATL 31-17 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to lift the 2021 Shield. Den Hoedt returned for the Giltinis for the 2022 MLR season, starting all 16 games during the regular season and scoring another try before the LA Giltinis (along with their sister team, the Austin Gilgronis) were disqualified for alleged salary cap breaches. In the offseason, the Giltinis folded.
In the subsequent Expansion/Dispersal draft, den Hoedt was selected 19th overall by the Chicago Hounds expansion side and on 2nd December 2023, the Hounds traded him to the Houston SaberCats in exchange for 2023 Salary Cap Considerations (unknown). Den Hoedt signed with the ‘Cats for the 2023 season, earning 14 appearances for his new side and racking up 95 successful tackles. On 6th January 2024, the Houston SaberCats announced the return of Nathan den Hoedt for the 2024 MLR season where he served as part of the leadership group as he started 10 times in as many games for the SaberCats as they recorded an MLR-best record of 14-2 in the regular season before being stunned by the Dallas Jackals in the Western Conference Semifinals, a game which Den Hoedt started and was Houston Captain.
achievements:
- MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 11
- MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Rd 13
- MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Rd 6
- MLR Team of the Week: 2022 – Rd 4
- 2021 MLR Champion: LA Giltinis
- MLR Team of the Week: 2021 – Rd 10
- MLR Team of the Week: 2021 – Rd 6