Position: Number 8

Baden Godfrey

Australian back rower Baden Godfrey played in Major League Rugby during the 2026 season. He represented Anthem RC for his entire MLR career.

A native of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), Baden Godrey developed in the Brumbies system, representing the U19s and ‘A’s in 2022 & 2023 while also playing with the Tuggeranong Vikings First Grade side for 3 years between 2022-2024. In November 2024 Godfrey was selected for the Australia Sevens squad, and in March of 2025 Godfrey signed with the Norths in the Shute Shield Competition.

On 23rd December 2025, Anthem RC announced the signing of Baden Godfrey for their 2026 Major League Rugby campaign.

NARDB Player #1,652

Alex Mackenzie

Seattle native Alex Mackenzie played in Major League Rugby during the 2026 season. He represented the New England Free Jacks for his entire MLR career.

Born in Japan but raised in Seattle, Crossover athlete Alex Mackenzie grew up playing gridiron football all through high school, playing both linebacker and running back. His first introduction to rugby was in his senior year, and he quickly fell in love with the sport as a back row. Mackenzie enrolled at Central Washington University and represented the Wildcats for 5 seasons, becoming an All-American in 2019. He graduated from CWU in 2021 and was clearly an impressive player, as he was invited to try out for a number of Japanese clubs.

Alex Mackenzie signed with the Urayasu D-Rocks in the Japanese Rugby League One in 2022 and represented them for 3 seasons, playing in both JRLO D1 and D2 leaving the club in June of 2025. On 12th December 2025, the New England Free Jacks announced the addition of Alex Mackenzie for their 2026 title defence.

NARDB Player #1,643

Jacob Norris

New Zealand back row Jacob Norris played in Major League Rugby during the 2026 season. He represented the New England Free Jacks for his entire MLR career.

Born and raised in Tauranga, NZ, Jacob Norris played his junior rugby for the Tauranga Sports rugby club before heading to St Peters Cambridge, and signed with the Tasman Mako in the Mitre 10 (now the NPC) in 2017. He made his Mako debut in 2018 and went on to scored 3 tries and start 12 of his 16 games with the Tasman Mako from 2018-2021. In June 2021 Norris earned his debut for the Māori All Blacks as injury cover in a 35-10 victory over Samoa. He moved from the Tasman Mako to the Bay of Plenty Steamers for the 2022 NPC season and has represented them in each NPC season since, starting 34 of his 39 appearances and scoring another 3 tries for the Steamers.

In 2023, Norris earned his Super Rugby debut with the Western Force as injury cover, before breaking into Super Rugby proper with the Moana Pasifika in 2024, earning 12 appearances (11 starts) that season. Norris was named to the Chiefs wider training and replacement players group for the 2025 season, but has yet to make his Chiefs debut. On 10th December, the New England Free Jacks announced the signing of the 27yo back row for their 2026 title defence, joining fellow Steamers Sione Tupou and Filipe Vakasiuola as well as Free Jacks Captain Joe Johnston, another Steamers player.

NARDB Player #1,639

Tayne Hemopo

New Zealand lock/back row Tayne Hemopo played in Major League Rugby during the 2026 season. He represented the New England Free Jacks for his entire MLR career.

After graduating from Nelson College in New Zealand, Tayne Hemopo entered the Crusaders pathway system, playing with the Academy side and U20s before joining the Tasman Mako development squad for the 2024 NPC season. He earned 2 appearances for the Mako in his debut season, but followed this up with 5 starts in 8 games in 2025 where he scored his first professional try. On 5th December 2025, the New England Free Jacks announced the addition of 21yo Tayne Hemopo for their 2026 title defence.


NARDB Player #1,637

Neal Moylett

Irish back row Neal Moylett played in Major League Rugby during the 2024 season. He represented the Seattle Seawolves for his entire MLR career.

A native of Ballina in County Mayo, Ireland, Neal Moylett was introduced to rugby at Ballina RFC at the age of 4. He progressed through the Ballina age-grade sides and represented the senior team in the All-Ireland League, and played with the Connacht U19s and Connacht A from 2016-2019, as well as representing the Ireland U19s in 2018. In 2019, Moylett moved to Dublin to attend UCD, playing with the Lansdowne RFC U20s and the senior team in D1A of the All-Ireland League before heading across to the United States to study at Lindenwood University in 2021.

Moylett played with the Lindenwood Lions for a year and declared for the 2022 MLR Collegiate Draft where he was selected in the 2nd Round, 25th Overall by the Seattle Seawolves. Instead of entering MLR however, he chose to return to Lindenwood and was named Captain for their 2022/23 season. Following his graduation, Moylett joined Mystic River Rugby Club in the Fall of 2023 and played in the ARP before the Seattle Seawolves re-signed him for their 2024 season, although he did not feature at MLR level.

achievements

NARDB Player #1,628

Nolan Buckley

Massachusetts back row Nolan Buckley played in Major League Rugby between 2023-2024. He represented the Dallas Jackals (2023) and the New England Free Jacks (2024).

A native of North Attleboro, MA, Nolan Buckley studied plastics engineering at the University of Massachusetts – Lowell. Upon his graduation, Buckley declared for the 2022 MLR Collegiate Draft and took part in the Rugby Showcase that year, catching the eye of the Dallas Jackals who drafted him in the 2nd Round, 23rd Overall, and signed him for the 2023 MLR season. He remains the only MLR draftee from UMass Lowell.

Buckley spent his rookie season in Dallas, but did not feature at MLR level during a tough inaugural season for the Jackals. Following the MLR season he returned hope to Massachusetts and played at club level with Mystic River Rugby Club in the ARP before signing as a development player with the New England Free Jacks for their 2024 MLR campaign, but did not feature during their successful title defence that year.

achievements

NARDB Player #1,627

DeCor Davis

Pennsylvanian back row DeCor Davis played in Major League Rugby during the 2022 season. He represented the Dallas Jackals for his entire MLR career.

A Philadelphia native, DeCor Davis attended Queens University of Charlotte between 2016-2021, playing with the University’s rugby team from 2017 onwards. He declared for the 2021 MLR Collegiate Draft and was selected in the 1st Round, 10th Overall by the Dallas Jackals.

The Dallas Jackals announced the signing of DeCor Davis on October 22nd, 2021 ahead of their inaugural 2022 campaign. He trained with the Jackals during the season but did not feature at MLR level and spent at least some of the season sidelined with injury.

achievements

NARDB Player #1,620

Brooklyn Vaifanua

California native Brooklyn Vaifanua played in Women’s Elite Rugby during it’s inaugural 2025 season. She represented the Boston Banshees for her entire WER career.

Signed by the Boston Banshees part-way through the 2025 season, Brooklyn Vaifanua earned her WER debut when she was named in the Boston Banshees reserves for their Round 10 clash with the Denver Onyx. At college level, Vaifanua represented the Life University Running Eagles, graduating in 2025 shortly before earning her WER debut. In 2022, she represented the USA U23s in the Garnet & Gold Classic, and represented them again in a 2-game series against Canada in 2023.

NARDB Player #1,603

Julia Buescher

California native Julia Buescher played in Women’s Elite Rugby during it’s inaugural 2025 season. She represented the Denver Onyx for her entire WER career.

Named as a reserve player for the 2025 season, Julia Buescher earned her WER debut when she was named in the Denver Onyx reserves for their Round 7 clash with the Boston Banshees. Buescher has previously worked as the account executive for MLR’s San Diego Legion, and has represented the Legion’s Women’s side when they competed in the Rugby Tens Championship in 2024. Buescher has also represented the San Diego Surfers in the WPL before their withdrawal in 2022.

NARDB Player #1,592

Chloe Jex

Lock/back row Chloe Jex played in Women’s Elite Rugby during it’s inaugural 2025 season. She represented the New York Exiles for her entire WER career.

Chloe Jex was signed by the New York Exiles part-way through WER’s inaugural season. She earned her WER debut when she was named in the NY Exiles reserves for their Round 7 clash with the TC Gemini. She has previously played with Tempe Rugby’s D1 team in Arizona, and has represented the DC Furies (2018), NYRC (2019), and the Colorado Gray Wolves (2022-2023) in the WPL.

NARDB Player #1,589