Season: MLR 2026

The 9th season of Major League Rugby saw the merging of the San Diego Legion and Rugby FC LA to form the California Legion, as well as the withdrawal of multiple teams to take the league from 11 sides in 2025, to 6 in 2026.

Dorian Jones

Welsh fly-half Dorian Jones played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2026. He represented the NOLA Gold (2024-2025), and the Seattle Seawolves (2026).

The son of former Canada head coach Kingsley Jones, Dorian started his professional career in Wales, representing the Newport Gwent Dragons (now just the Dragons) in the Pro 14 (now the URC) between 2013-2018. He spent a brief time with the Worcester Warriors in the English Premiership, before heading to France and playing with Soyaux Angoulême in the Pro D2 until 2021. After a short time at Nice in the French Nationale, Jones moved to Carcassonne where he played between 2021-2023. He makes his move stateside from Agen, where he also played in 2023.

On 1st December 2023, the NOLA Gold announced the signing of Dorian Jones ahead of the 2024 MLR season, where he scored 1 try and 38pts in 5 games (all starts) for NOLA, helping them to finally qualify for a spot in the 2024 MLR Playoffs for the first time in team history. On December 21st, 2024, the NOLA Gold confirmed the return of Dorian Jones for his 2nd MLR season in 2025. In his sophomore MLR season, Jones would add 55pts scored in 7 games (all starts) during a tough year for the NOLA Gold as they missed out on the postseason, taking his career total to 93pts in 12 games (all starts), recording over 50 tackles and gaining over 350m in total.

Following the withdrawal of the NOLA Gold from Major League Rugby during the 2025/26 off-season, Dorian Jones headed northwest and signed with the Seattle Seawolves, who announced his addition to their 2026 squad on 5th February, 2026.

AchievementS

  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 9

Piers von Dadelszen

Canadian forward Piers von Dadelszen played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2026. He represented the New England Free Jacks for his entire MLR career.

British Columbia Native von Dadelszen played with the Canadian U18 side, and is a fully capped Canadian international after earning his debut in 2022, and was selected as part of the Canada squad for their November 2023 tests in Spain. He joined the New England Free Jacks from the Oxford University Blues, where he was studying at St Edmunds Hall for his Master’s Degree in Engineering.

The Free Jacks announced the signing of Piers von Dadelszen on 28th October 2023, along with Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti for the 2024 MLR season. He scored 2 tries in 14 games (8 starts) in his debut MLR regular season, completing over 100 successful tackles as the Free Jacks finished atop the Eastern Conference. For his performance in 2024, von Dadelszen was names as Free Jacks Rookie of the Year. Dadelszen started all 3 of the Free Jacks post-season games in 2024 including the Championship game, helping New England triumph over the Seattle Seawolves to lift their 2nd MLR Shield in as many seasons.

On November 13th, 2024, the New England Free Jacks announced the return of Piers von Dadelszen for 2025, again alongside Cam Nordli-Kelemeti, and Tevita Sole. Von Dadelszen started 15 of his 16 appearances for the Free Jacks in 2025, completing just shy of 150 tackles to help New England secure their third (and his 2nd) MLR Shield in a row. His 15 starts and 145 tackles were both career highs. Von Dadelszen was a regular for Canada throughout 2025, starting every single one of their 9 tests that year and while he was touring with the team for their November tests, the New England Free Jacks announced the return of Piers van Dadelszen for his 3rd MLR season in 2026.

achievements:

Killian Coghlan

Boston-born Irishman Killian Coghlan played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2026. He represented the New England Free Jacks for his entire MLR career.

Deemed a domestic player because he was born in the US, 23yo Coghlan was selected for the USA U20 side in 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled all fixtures. He joined the Free Jacks from the University of Cork Constitution in the All-Ireland League, where he had been playing between 2019-2023. Coghlan earned 4 MLR appearances from the bench during the Free Jacks’ successful 2024 season, helping them to go back-to-back and lift his first MLR Shield.

On 6th November 2024, the New England Free Jacks announced the return of Killian Coghlan for the 2025 season where he set career highs across the board. He started more games in 2025 than he played in the season before and earned 9 appearances total, racking up an even 200m gained in possession (20x his total from 2024), and 23 of his 29 total MLR tackles. Coghlan helped the Free Jacks to their 3rd successive MLR shield in 2025, Coghlan’s second. On 24th November 2025 the New England Free Jacks announced the return of Killian Coghlan for his 3rd Major League Rugby season in 2026.

achievements

Junior Gafa

Samoan-born, California raised crossover athlete Junior Gafa playing in Major League Rugby between 2024-2026. He represented Anthem RC for his entire MLR career.

A Brown University alum, Junior Gafa played both football and rugby at Brown between 2019-2023, and played with the Peaks at the Collegiate Rugby Shield in 2023. Upon his graduation he declared for the 2023 MLR Collegiate Draft where he was selected in the 2nd Round, 23rd overall by the New England Free Jacks, who signed him for the 2024 MLR season on 25th October 2023 along with fellow draftee Gabe Casey and US-born Irishman Killian Coghlan. Following the hasty introduction of Anthem RC to the 2024 season, Gafa was sent to North Carolina on 9th February 2024 on short term loan to pick up some regular minutes. On 8th April, Anthem RC & the NE Free Jacks agreed to extend this loan for the entire 2024 season and threw in their 2024 1st Rd Pick (12th overall – Ray Santiago) and 2024 Salary Cap Considerations (Unknown).

Gafa had a phenomenal season for Anthem RC, scoring 4 tries in 13 games (all starts) and running for 1,062m with ball in hand (finishing 10th in MLR). Despite their 0-16 record Anthem RC, a partnership between World Rugby, USA Rugby, and MLR, put together admirable performances and Gafa was one of the standouts of that side, earning Anthem RC Back of the Year honors and was named to the All-MLR Honorable Mention XV. He was a clear front runner for the MLR 2024 Rookie of the Year award, which he was awarded on 17th August 2024. On 24th September 2024, Anthem RC announced that they had acquired Junior Gafa from the New England Free Jacks on a permanent basis, in exchange for their 2nd Round pick in the 2025 MLR Collegiate Draft (Tevita Mapa), 2025 Salary Cap Considerations (Unknown), and an International Player Spot in the 2026 MLR season.

In the 2025 MLR season, Gafa proved that his rookie year was not a fluke. He recorded another 95 tackles completed and started all 12 of his games for Anthem RC, scoring 2 tries and gaining over 400m in possession, already passing 1,500m in his young career along with 222 tackles in 25 MLR games. On 25th November 2025, Anthem RC confirmed the return of Junior Gafa for his 3rd MLR season with the Rising Stars in 2026.

Achievements:

  • 2024 MLR Rookie of the Year
  • 2024 All-MLR Honorable Mention XV
  • Anthem RC Back of the Year: 2024
  • 10th in MLR Meters Gained: 2024 (1,062m)
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 11
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 9
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 6
  • 2023 MLR Draftee: 2nd Round (23rd Overall) – New England Free Jacks

Brandon Harvey

North Carolina native Brandon Harvey played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2026. He represented the San Diego Legion (2024-2025) and the Chicago Hounds (2026).

Harvey’s signing was announced by the San Diego Legion on 17th October 2023, whom he joined from Cardiff Met University in Wales, where he had been studying since 2021. He was selected as part of the USA U20 team in 2022 and played in the Netherlands. Harvey earned his MLR debut in 2024, starting 3 times and earning 5 appearances in his debut season, and running for over 100m gained in possession.

On 5th November 2024, the San Diego Legion announced the return of Harvey for the 2025 MLR season where he earned a career high 4 starts in 4 games, contributing 22m gained and 39 tackles completed, another career high. Following the 2025 MLR season, Brandon Harvey was included in the USA squad for their Fall internationals, and earned his test debut as Eagle #598 against Georgia in Batumi. After the merging of the San Diego Legion with Rugby FC LA to form the California Legion, Harvey signed a 2-year deal with the Chicago Hounds which was announced by the team on December 19th, 2025.

achievements
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2026 – Rd 5

Perry Humphreys

English wing/fullback Perry Humphreys played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2027. He represented Old Glory DC for his entire MLR career.

Prior to joining the Flags in the US Capital, Humphreys was a regular in the Worcester Warriors lineup in the English Premiership. He earned over 100 caps with the Warriors between 2014-2022, when the team went into liquidation. Humphreys’ signing was announced by Old Glory DC on 12th October 2023, ahead of the 2024 MLR season.

In his debut MLR season, Humphreys scored 2 tries in 11 games (all starts), gaining over 500m in possession, earning a Team of the Week selection in Round 18 and helping Old Glory DC return to the MLR Post-season for the 2nd year in a row. Humphreys started their Eastern Conference Semifinals clash with the New England Free Jacks, gaining 45m as the Flags ran the Free Jacks close, but fell 29-33 to the eventual Champions. On December 15th, 2024, Old Glory DC confirmed the return of Perry Humphreys for the 2025 season.

On April 29th, 2025, just over half way through the 2025 MLR season, Old Glory DC announced that they had extended Perry Humphreys, keeping him with the Flags through the 2027 MLR season. In 2025 he recorded a career high 594m gained and scored 6 tries in only 12 games to help the Flags qualify for the post-season for the 3rd season in a row. Despite MLR’s shift towards a more domestic focus, Old Glory DC announced the return of Perry Humphreys for the 2026 campaign on 26th November, 2025.

achievements

  • MLR Team of the Week: 2026 – Rd 4
  • MLR Player of the Week: 2025 – Rd 12
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 12
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 5
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 18

Kirby Myhill

Welsh hooker Kirby Myhill played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2026. He represented the Miami Sharks (2024-2025) and Old Glory DC (2026).

Born in Burry Port in Wales, Myhill attended the University of Wales Trinity Saint David in Lampeter. In his youth he played with his local club, Burry Port RFC, before entering the Scarlets system and playing with their U18 side. At senior level he represented Llanelli RFC in the Welsh premier division, as well as the Scarlets in the Pro14 (now the URC) over 60 times between 2010-2016. He then moved to Cardiff RFC between 2017-2023, earning just shy of 100 Pro14/URC caps between 2017-2023.

Myhill played with the Wales U16 & U20 sides, and is a fully capped Welsh international, earning his debut in October 2021 against the All Blacks as #1,172.

The Miami Sharks released a ‘soft’ announcement of Myhill’s signing on 13th October 2023, along with the signing of fellow welshman Rob Evans. He joined from Cardiff RFC in the United Rugby Championship (URC). Myhill ran for over 200m gained and completed 34 tackles in his 7 games (6 starts) during the Sharks’ respectable MLR season. On November 18th, 2024, the Miami Sharks announced the return of Kirby Myhill for his 2nd season with the team in 2025. In his 2nd season with the Sharks, Myhill recorded over 100 tackles made in 15 games (10 starts), scoring 4 tries on over 100m gained, including a try in the Sharks’ first (and only) postseason appearance in the Eastern Conference Semifinal against the New England Free Jacks.

Following the withdrawal of the Miami Sharks from MLR during the 2025/26 offseason, Kirby Myhill became a free agent and on 20th January, 2026, Old Glory DC announced that they had added the Welsh international to their roster for the 2026 MLR season.

Divan Rossouw

Namibian winger/fullback Divan Rossouw played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2026. He represented the Seattle Seawolves for his entire MLR career.

Rossouw played with the Blue Bulls academy in South Africa in 2015, before joining the Currie Cup squad in 2016 and the full Bulls Super Rugby team in 2018, earning 40 caps and scoring 4 tries between 2018-2020. In 2020 he moved to the Lions organisation, representing both the Super Rugby side and the Golden Lions in the Currie Cup between 2020-2022. He returned to Namibia towards the end of 2022 to rejoin the national side, with whom he is a fully capped international.

The Seattle Seawolves announced the signing of Divan Rossouw on 7th October 2023, with Rossouw fresh off of Namibia’s 2023 Rugby World Cup campaign in France. In his debut MLR season in 2024, Rossouw appeared in 18 of Seattle’s 19 games (all starts), scoring 6 tries as the Seawolves qualified for the post-season and defeated the San Diego Legion and Dallas Jackals to advance to the team’s 4th MLR final, in which they fell 11-20 to the New England Free Jacks. Rossouw gained a match-high 142m in the Final, taking his season total to 1,492m putting him 2nd in MLR in this category, just 1m ahead of Utah’s Michael Manson. Rossouw was named to the All-MLR Second XV for his efforts during the 2024 season.

Divan Rossouw returned for the Seattle Seawolves in 2025, and had another great year. He started all 17 of the Seawolves’ games in his sophomore season, scoring a career high 8 tries and finishing 4th League-wide with 995m gained in a down year for metres across the league. He also recorded an even 100 tackles completed on defence. For his efforts, Rossouw was named as the Seattle Seawolves’ 2025 Coaches’ Player of the Year and was named to the All-MLR First XV. On 16th December 2025, the Seattle Seawolves announced the return of Divan Rossouw for a 3rd season in MLR in 2026.

achievements
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2026 – Rd 8
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2026 – Rd 7
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2026 – Rd 3
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2026 – Rd 2
  • 2025 All-MLR First XV Selection
  • 4th in MLR Meters Gained: 2025 (995m)
  • Seattle Seawolves 2025 Coaches’ Player of the Year
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 15
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 12
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 7
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 5
  • 2024 MLR Runner-Up: Seattle Seawolves
  • 2024 All-MLR Second XV Selection
  • 2nd in MLR Meters Gained: 2024 (1,492m)
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 13
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 11

Damien Hoyland

Scottish wing/fullback Damien Hoyland played in major League Rugby between 2024-2026. He represented Old Glory DC for his entire MLR career.

Hoyland is a former Scotland u20 player and has represented Scotland at senior level in both 7s and 15s. He played in 11 tournaments for the 7s side, and earned 5 caps for the 15s between 2015-2022.

Old Glory DC announced the signing of Hoyland on 28th September, 2023. He joined The Flags from Edinburgh Rugby, where he had earned over 100 caps for his hometown side since 2014. Hoyland gained over 1000m in 12 games (all starts) for Old Glory DC in his debut season in MLR, helping the Flags to qualify for the post-season for the 2nd season in a row. Hoyland started their Eastern Conference Semifinal clash with rivals the New England Free Jacks, but Old Glory fell just short to the eventual Champions, with a 29-33 defeat in Quincy. On December 17th, 2024, Old Glory DC announced the return of Damien Hoyland for a 2nd MLR season in 2025.

Hoyland’s sophomore season in Major League Rugby was just as impactful as his first. He avoided serious injury and started all 13 of his appearances for Old Glory DC, helping them to qualify for the postseason for the 3rd straight year. He scored his first MLR try and bettered his career high with 1,073m gained in possession, his 2nd season in a row with over 1,000m gained. He finished as MLR’s 3rd highest Meter Eater, and one of only 3 players to gain over 1,000m in 2025, averaging 82.5m per game.

On October 15th, 2025, Scottish Rugby announced the creation of a full-time Scotland men’s sevens programme, with Damien Hoyland named as one of 6 contracted players for the squad. Many thought that this spelled the end of Hoyland’s time in Major League Rugby, however on 28th November 2025, Old Glory DC announced the return of Damien Hoyland for the 2026 season.

Achievements:

  • 3rd in MLR Meters Gained: 2025 (1,073m)
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 1
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 16

Rob Harley

English-born Scottish forward Rob Harley played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2026. He represented Old Glory DC for his entire MLR career.

Harley is a capped Scottish international, having represented his country 23 times between 2012-2020. He played for the Glasgow Warriors between 2010-2022, and is their most capped player, earning 267 caps for the URC club. Follow his 12 years with the Warriors, Harley moved to France, representing Carcassonne and Colomiers in the Pro D2 competition.

Old Glory DC announced the signing of Harley on September 19th 2023 from Colomiers, ahead of the 2024 MLR season. He earned 15 appearances and 14 starts for the Flags in his debut MLR season, finishing 5th in MLR for tackles completed with 189. Old Glory DC qualified for the playoffs for the 2nd year in a row in 2024, and for the 2nd year in a row were defeated by the New England Free Jacks, running them close in a 29-33 game in the Eastern Conference Semifinal, in which Harley started and completed 17 tackles. For his performance in 2024, Harley was named as the Old Glory DC Player’s Player of the Year for 2024.

On December 21st, 2024, Old Glory DC announced the return of Rob Harley for his 2nd season in 2025, for which he was named Captain. He started all 14 of his games during his sophomore season in Major League Rugby, earning a pair of Team of the Week selections and helping the Flags back to the post-season for the 3rd straight season. Harley recorded another 150+ tackles season with 181 to bring his career total to 370, and passed 250m gained in possession. On 17th December 2025, Old Glory DC announced the return of Rob Harley for a 3rd season with the team in 2026 where he served as DC captain once again. He started all 7 of his appearances for the Flags that year and passed 400 tackles made in his MLR career, helping the team finish 4th in teh regular season to qualify for the playoffs, where they came up against the juggernaut Chicago Hounds in the semifinals. Following the MLR season, Harley headed to New Zealand and joined the Manawatu Turbos for their 2026 season.

Achievements