Canada-eligible Australian Nic Benn played in Major League Rugby between 2023-2024. He represented the Toronto Arrows (2023), the Dallas Jackals (2024), and the Utah Warriors (2025).

Born in Newcastle, Australia to an Aussie father and a Canadian mother, Benn lived in British Columbia (where his mother was born and raised) between the ages of 4-9. He played with the Australia Sevens U18 side at the World School 7s in Auckland, New Zealand in 2019. Benn played with the Manly Marlins U20 side between 2020-2021, and represented the senior side in the 2022 Shute Shield competition in Australia. His initial move to MLR was announced by the Arrows in August 2022 ahead of the 2023 MLR season.

His debut season in North America was cut cruelly short by a shoulder injury in the Arrows’ season opener which ruled him out for the entire 2023 campaign. On 9th November 2023, the Toronto Arrows announced the return of Nic Benn for the 2024 MLR season, however in late November 2023 the Toronto Arrows and MLR announced that the Arrows would not compete in the 2024 season due to financial difficulties. A week later, the Rugby New York Ironworkers announced that they too would not compete in the 2024 season. In the subsequent Dispersal Draft for Toronto & NY players, Benn was selected 13^th overall by the Dallas Jackals, who confirmed his signing for the 2024 season on 12^th January, 2024.

Finally given a chance to play uninjured, Benn scored 5 tries in 16 games (15 starts) for the Jackals, racking up over 750m gained as they qualified for the post season for the first time in team history. Benn started both of their Playoff games in 2024 including their shock victory over the 14-2 Houston SaberCats, and scored 2 tries in the Western Conference Final against the Seattle Seawolves, as the Jackals fell in the final few minutes. Although Benn did earn his test debut with Canada in the summer of 2024, his luck in MLR did not improve. The Dallas Jackals announced that they would withdraw from the league shortly after the conclusion of the 2024 season, and Benn declared for the dispersal draft, his 2nd in as many seasons. He was selected 4th by the Utah Warriors, who confirmed Benn’s signing for 2025 on the 28th October, 2024.

achievements

• MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 6