American Samoan born, New Zealand raised hooker Sam Faoagali played in Major League Rugby between 2023-2024. He represented the Utah Warriors (2023) and the Chicago Hounds (2024).

Although raised in New Zealand, Faoagali played for Perth Bayswater in Australia alongside his 3 brothers Falaniko, Joseph, and Mathew Faoagali (who represented the Houston SaberCats in 2019). Faoagali played with the Utah Warriors academy for part of 2023, before being selected for the USA Hawks Development team for their tour of South America. Upon his return, he joined the Chicago Hounds Academy for their fall 2023 season, starting against both San Diego and Toronto.

Due to his previous relationship with the USA Hawks, Faoagali could have been a prime candidate for the next evolution of the Hawks, a full MLR side purely focused on developing US talent, Anthem RC. However, on 17^th January 2024, the Utah Warriors (who still held his rights) formally traded Faoagali to the Chicago Hounds in exchange for 2024 Salary Cap Considerations (unknown). The Hounds confirmed Faoagali’s signing on 19 January 2024.