Position: Number 8

Johan Momsen

South African lock/back row Johan Momsen played in Major League Rugby between 2020-2026. He represented Rugby ATL (2020-2023), the Houston SaberCats (2024-2025), and Anthem RC (2026).

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 scored 12 tries and 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.

On 26th November 2025 following the surprise withdrawal of the Houston SaberCats from MLR in September, Anthem RC announced the addition of Johan Momsen for the 2026 season. He was the first International player named to the Anthem roster during the 2025/26 season.

Achievements
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2026 – Rd 7
  • 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)

Matt Gordon

Scottish back row Matt Gordon played in Major League Rugby between 2021-2023. He represented Old Glory DC (2021-2022) and the Dallas Jackals (2023).

An Aberdeen native, Gordon attended the University of Mary Washington where he was named a Collegiate All-American in 2019. He declared for MLR’s inaugural Collegiate Draft in 2020 and was selected in the 2nd Round, 23rd overall by Old Glory DC. Gordon did not feature for the Flags in his rookie season and it’s not known if this was due to injury or something else, but he returned for Old Glory DC the following year, earning his MLR debut in DC’s 2022 season opener against Rugby ATL. Gordon would earn his first MLR start the following week which would be his final MLR appearance for the team.

Gordon signed with the Dallas Jackals for the 2023 MLR season and matched the 2 appearances and 1 start that he recorded with Old Glory DC. In total, Gordon completed 30 tackles and gained 61m in possession, starting 2 of his 4 MLR appearances.

Achievements
  • MLR Draftee: 2020 – 2nd Round (23rd Overall) – Old Glory DC

Jesse Parete

Kiwi back row Jesse Parete represented the New England Free Jacks in Major League Rugby during the 2022 & 2023 seasons. A part of the Free Jacks team that finished with the best record in MLR history at the time (13-3), the 29yo former Highlanders man earned 8 MLR caps (5 starts) during the 2022 season, scoring 1 try.

He gained 274m on 52 ball carries and made 43 tackles for a success rate of 71.67%. He earned the nickname ‘The Pest’ from Free Jacks fans.

On October 12, 2022, an ARN report concerning the Free Jacks signing of Mitch Jacobson confirmed that Jesse Parete would not be returning for MLR’s 2023 season, but circumstances change and in March 2023 the Free Jacks announced that Parete would return for the remainder of the 2023 season. Parete’s 2023 season was a mixed bag. Although the Free Jacks did capture their first MLR Shield, he earned a further 6 MLR caps but also received 2 red cards (both for cumulative yellows) and earned a number of sanctions that came along with it, placing him on the sidelines more regularly than the pitch.

He was included on the Taranaki Bulls roster when they announced it for their 2023 NPC roster, and it is unknown if Jesse Parete will return for the 2024 MLR season.

MLR Achievements:

  • 2023 MLR Champion – NE Free Jacks
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2023 – Week 8
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2022 – Week 13

Terrell Peita

New Zealand back rower Terrell Peita played in Major League Rugby during the 2022 season. He reprensented the New England Free Jacks for his entire MLR career.

Although only 21 when he joined New England, Peita had already featured for Auckland in New Zealand’s National Provincial Championship a number of times as well as representing their U19 side. He plays his club rugby with Ponsonby, and has already been selected for the Blues U20 and All Blacks U20 squads in his young career.

The New England Free Jacks announced the signing of Peita in November 2021 ahead of the 2022 season. The young back row started 8 of his 10 appearances for the Free Jacks in his debut season, scoring 1 try and runniong for over 300m gained in possession while completing 65 tackles. Peita was initially signed on a 3yr deal through the 2024 MLR season, but headed back to New Zealand after the 2022 campaign to rejoin Auckland, scoring 4 tries in 5 games during the 2022 NPC. Although he has represented Auckland, Manawatu, and Northland in the NPC since leaving the Free Jacks, he has not returned to MLR.

Wian Conradie

Namibian loose forward Wian Conradie has played in Major League Rugby since 2021. Initially signed by the Dallas Jackals, he signed with the New England Free Jacks following the Jackals’ deferral to 2022, and has represented the Free Jacks for his entire MLR career.

He signed with Gloucester in the English Premiership for their 2021/22 season, but returned to the Free Jacks part way through the 2022 MLR season. He started 16 games for the Free Jacks during their 2023 campaign, scoring 7 tries and gaining 1,262m with ball in hand (7th in MLR) as well as completing 234 tackles (3rd in MLR)in a season where he was named MLR Forward of the Year, as well as lifting the shield with the Free Jacks following a dramatic 24-25 victory over the San Diego Legion in Chicago.

Conradie returned for the Free Jacks‘ title defence, but only managed 7 further appearances before injury cut his season short. To date, Conradie has made 44 starts in 47 games for New England, scoring 15 tries and carrying for over 3000m gained, not to mention his nearly 700 completed tackles. On October 22nd, 2024, the New England Free Jacks announced the return of Wian Conradie for their 2025 MLR campaign. Conradie matches his career high in both starts and appearances in 2025, starting all 16 of his appearances and scoring 5 tries to take his career total to 20. Conradie recorded his 3rd 200+ tackle campaign, finishing 8th League-wide with 210 tackles completed and recording over 550m in possession, contributing significantly to the Free Jacks finishing atop the Eastern Conference, and completing the Threepeat for their (and Conradie’s) 3rd straight MLR Shield with Conradie starting all 3 playoff games in 2025. Conradie was named to the 2025 All-MLR 1st XV for his performance.

Achievements

Cyrille Cama

Fijian born US-eligible back row/hooker Cyrille Cama played in Major League Rugby between 2021-2022, and again between 2024-2026. He represented the LA Giltinis (2021-2022), the San Diego Legion (2024-2025), the New England Free Jacks (2026), and the California Legion (2026).

Born and raised in Fiji, Cama moved to the US in 2013. He has represented the USA U20s as well as the Rhinos Rugby Academy in Sacramento, California, with whom he played in the World Tens Series in Bermuda in 2020, and in the Rugby Tens Championship (R10C) in South Africa in 2022.

Cama signed with the LA Giltinis on a short term contract as injury/Olympics coverage, earning his MLR debut during the regular season as the Giltinis were crowned MLR champions in their inaugural season following a 31-17 victory over Rugby ATL in the final. Cama re-signed with the Giltinis for the 2022 season, earning an additional 12 appearances and scoring 1 try. Following the disqualification of the Giltinis prior to the 2022 playoffs, and their subsequent cessation of operations post-season, Cama moved to Australia to play with the prestigious Randwick club in the Shute Shield competition.

On 8th November 2023, the San Diego Legion announced the signing of Cyrille Cama ahead of the 2024 MLR season. In his first season with Legion, Cama set career highs across the board, earning his first two MLR starts and appearing in 16 games, scoring 3 tries for 17pts and running for almost 300m gained while completing 60 tackles. On November 21st, 2024, the San Diego Legion announced the return of Cyrille Cama for their 2025 MLR season, although he did not feature at MLR level. Following the 2025 season, the San Diego Legion and Rugby FC LA announced that the two sides were merging to create the California Legion for the 2026 season. Following this news, Cyrille Cama headed to the East Coast, and signed with the reigning Champion New England Free Jacks on 19th November 2025. Cama did not feature for the Free Jacks through the first half of the 2026 season however, and on 5th May 2026 the California Legion announced that they had signed him for the remainder of the season. It is unknown if this was a trade between New England and California.

Achievements: