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.

Max Schumacher

UC – Berkeley alum Max Schumacher played in Major League Rugby between 2024-2026. He represented the Houston SaberCats (2024-2025), and Old Glory DC (2026)

A native of Carmichael, CA, Max Schumacher was a stand out for the Golden Bears while enrolled at UC-Berkeley. He was named a D1A Collegiate All-American in 2022, before beind selected as a Rudy Scholz Award Finalist in his senior year in 2023. Following his graduation, Schumacher declared for the 2023 Major League Rugby Collegiate Draft where he was selected in the 1st Round, 2nd Overall by the Houston SaberCats using a pick acquired via trade with the Toronto Arrows. The SaberCats did not wait long to sign Schumacher, doing so in September 2023, joining fellow UCal alumni Christian Dyer in Houston. In his debut MLR season Schumacher earned 14 appearances from the bench, running for over 100m gained in limited game time for the Houston SaberCats as they finished as the top team in MLR during the regular season, with a record of 14-2. On December 11th, 2024, the Houston SaberCats announced the return of Max Schumacher for the 2025 season.

Although Schumacher earned 14 appearances in his rookie season in 2024, the 2025 season was a real break out for him. He made his first MLR start, scored his first MLR try, and surpassed his career highs in both tackles and meters made before the half-way point of the regular season. Schumacher appeared in every game during the regular season and earned his first 13 pro starts, helping the ‘Cats to finally earn their first playoff victory over Rugby FC LA. The SaberCats would go on to defeat the Utah Warriors to claim the Western Conference Title, before falling to the New England Free Jacks in the 2025 MLR Championship Game. Schumacher featured in all 3 playoff games for Houston in 2025, even scoring a pair of tries in the Championship Game.

In total, Max Schumacher started 13 of his 19 appearances for the Houston SaberCats in 2025, scoring 5 tries and gaining over 500m in possession during a stand-out season. In September 2025 following the end of the MLR season, the Houston SaberCats announced their withdrawal from the competition, forcing Schumacher to look for professional opportunities elsewhere. On october 25th, Old Glory DC announced the addition of Max Schumacher for their 2026 season, his 3rd in the competition.

Achievements:

  • 2025 Western Conference Champion: Houston SaberCats
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 11
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 7
  • 2023 Draftee: 2nd Overall – Houston SaberCats

All-Time MLR Standings

This table shows the All-Time MLR standings across all seasons, from the inaugural 2018 campaign through to today.

This table includes both active and former MLR teams, 19 in total. Obviously, the teams that have featured in more MLR campaigns have a distinct advantage here, but as time goes on we are seeing more of a mix between the years. The San Diego Legion are in the lead despite never lifting the shield (2x runners-up though!), although with their merging with Rugby FC LA to create a new franchise, the California Legion, the Seattle Seawolves now have a great opportunity to pass the Legion in 2026.

Tomas Casares

Argentinian back row Tomas Casares has played in Major League Rugby between 2023-2026. He represented the New England Free Jacks (2023), the Miami Sharks (2024-2025), and the Chicago Hounds (2026).

A Thomas More alum, the Buenos Aires born Casares was drafted in the 2nd Round (17th overall) of the 2022 MLR Collegiate Draft by the New England Free Jacks. He spent the 2023 MLR season with the Free Jacks during their first Championship-winning campaign, but did not appear in a MLR game.

Casares was selected by the Miami Sharks during the 2023 expansion draft and the team announced that Casares had signed with the Argentine-owned Sharks ahead of their inaugural 2024 season, where he earned his MLR debut. On May 25th 2024 during Round 13, Casares scored an auto-7pt try with the clock in the red to secure a Sharks victory over the New England Free Jacks, the team that drafted him, in front of an elated home crowd in Fort Lauderdale.

Following the 2024 season, Casares was included in the USA squad for their November tour against Portugal, Tonga, and Spain. He became Eagle #583 when he earned his test debut off the bench in a hard-fought 21-17 victory over Portugal on November 9th. He earned a 2nd cap the following week in a 36-17 victory over Tonga. On November 20th, the Miami Sharks announced the return of Tomas Casares for the 2025 MLR season. He took another step forward with the Sharks in their sophomore season in 2025, starting 12 of his 14 appearances for Miami and completing 139 tackles to help the team earn their first ever playoff spot.

Following the 2025 MLR season, the Miami Sharks announced that they were withdrawing from Major League Rugby. This left Casares as a free agent ahead of the 2026 season, and on 22nd January 2026, the Chicago Hounds announced that they had added the back rower for the 2026 season.

Achievements:
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2026 – Rd 11
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2026 – Rd 3
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 12
  • 2023 MLR Champion: New England Free Jacks
  • 2022 MLR Draftee – 2nd Round (17th Overall) – New England Free Jacks

Line Latu

San Mateo, California native Jerad Line Latu played in Major League Rugby between 2023-2026. He represented the Houston SaberCats (2023-2024) Anthem RC (2025), and the New England Free Jacks (2026).

Latu played gridiron football through highschool at a variety of positions and continued playing at the College of San Mateo, where he captained the team in 2018 before transferring to Eastern Michigan University where he played wide receiver. He joined the Colorado XO program for crossover athletes in 2020 and participated in a tryout with the LA Giltinis in 2021. Unfortunately, Latu was involved in a car accident shortly after that put his rugby career on hold for 10 months.

Post recovery he returned to the Colorado XO program (Now the American Raptors) and played with the USA Falcons in 2022 in South America. He featured prominently in the American Raptors’ inaugural Super Rugby Americas (SLAR) campaign and was the only Raptor to feature in SLAR’s Team of the Season for 2023. Following the conclusion of the Raptor’s SLAR season, Latu was picked up by the Houston SaberCats late in the season as an injury reserve. No announcement from the SaberCats meant that a few eyebrows were raised when Latu was featured in the SaberCats’ starting XV for their 2023 Western Eliminator match against the Seattle Seawolves.

On 18th October 2023, the Houston SaberCats announced the return of Line Latu for the 2024 MLR season, where he scored 2 tries in 10 games (5 starts) as the SaberCats finished as the top team of the regular season with a 14-2 record, before being stunned by the Dallas Jackals in the Western Conference Semifinals. Following the 2024 season on 14th August 2024, Anthem RC announced that they had acquired Latu, along with scrumhalf Carlo de Nysschen, from the SaberCats in exchange for a 2025 International Player Slot. Anthem RC confirmed the signing of Line Latu when they revealed their full 2025 roster on January 21st, 2025. He scored 1 try and 16pts for Anthem RC and started 5 of his 7 appearances. He set a career high of 399m gained in possession, smashing his former best of 175m set in 3 more games in 2024.

Following the 2025 season, the New England Free Jacks announced the addition of Line Latu on 8th December 2025, ahead of the 2026 MLR season.

 

Oliver Kane

Nashville, Tennesse native Oliver Kane played in Major League Rugby between 2023-2026. He represented the San Diego Legion (2023-2025) and Anthem RC (2026).

The 6’4, 270lbs prop was drafted out of the University of San Diego in the 2nd Round of the 2022 MLR Collegiate Draft (21st Overall) by the San Diego Legion. On 8th February 2023, the Legion announced that they had signed Oli Kane for the 2023 season. Kane spent the first half of the season with the newly formed USA Hawks development team for their 8-week exhibition season, and made his MLR debut for the Legion in Week 18 of the 2023 Major League Rugby season against long-time rivals Seattle Seawolves. A game that the Legion won 40-19, securing a 15-1 season record, the best record in the history of Major League Rugby. The Legion would advance to the MLR Championship Final in 2023, where they fell to the New England Free Jacks by a score of 24-25.

On 23rd December 2023, the San Diego Legion announced the return of Oli Kane for the 2024 MLR season, where he earned 3 further MLR appearances and gained his first MLR meters in possession. Continuing to prove himself a reliable front row, the San Diego Legion announced the return of Oli Kane for their 2025 season on 3rd November, 2024. Now in his 3rd MLR campaign, Kane would triple his appearances from the previous season, earning 9 caps off the bench for the Legion and completing 23 tackles. The Legion would miss out on the postseason to their rivals the Seattle Seawolves by a single point that year, and merged with Rugby FC LA in the offseason to form the California Legion. Upon this merger, Oli Kane became a free agent and on 5th December 2025, Anthem RC announced the addition of the 28yo prop for the 2026 MLR season.

achievements

KoiKoi Nelligan

Washington DC Native KoiKoi Nelligan played in Major League Rugby between 2023-2026. He represented Old Glory DC for his entire MLR career.

A native of Bethesda, MD, KoiKoi Nelligan swam and captained both the lacrosse and football teams at Severn School, winning MVP honours in both Lacrosse and Football. Nelligan enrolled at Army West Point and turned his athleticism towards rugby, playing with the Army team. Following his graduation from West Point, Nelligan declared for the 2022 MLR Collegiate Draft where he was selected in the 3rd Round, 34th overall by the San Diego Legion. On 7th December 2022 before he had a chance to suit up for the Legion, Nelligan was traded to his hometown Old Glory DC in exchange for DC’s 1st Round Draft pick in 2023 (10th overall, used to select James Rivers).

Having been signed by Old Glory DC ahead of the 2023 season, Nelligan earned his MLR debut and first MLR start for the Flags during the 2023 season, earning a pair of appearances in his rookie season. On 12th December 2023, Old Glory DC announced the return of Koikoi Nelligan for the 2024 MLR season and although he didn’t start a game in 2024, he earned 13 appearances for Old Glory DC and scored his first two MLR tries that year to help the Flags back to the postseason.

On December 2nd, 2024, Old Glory DC announced the return of Koi Koi Nelligan for his 3rd MLR season in 2025 where he took another step forward. In 2025, Nelligan scored 3 tries and started 5 of his 16 appearances to help the Flags back to the postseason for the 3rd year in a row. He completed over 100 tackles for the first time in his career (114) and gained 127m in possession, setting career highs across the board and earning a pair of MLR Team of the Week nominations for his performances. On 2nd December 2025, Old Glory DC announced the return of KoiKoi Nelligan for the 2026 season, his 4th in the competition. Nelligan earned 4 appearances off the bench for the Flags in 2026, adding a 6th career MLR try and passing 200m gained in his MLR career to help Old Glory DC finish 4th in the regular season and qualify for the playoffs. For his contributions, Nelligan was named as Old Glory DC’s Club Man of the Year for 2026.

achievements

Jason Tidwell

Texas Native Jason Tidwell played in Major League Rugby between 2023-2026. He represented the Dallas Jackals (2023-2024), Anthem RC (2025), and the Chicago Hounds (2026).

Tidwell began playing with Alliance Rugby at the age of 10, and founded the Gorilla Rugby invitational side that competes at a number of Sevens tournaments across the US. Tidwell has a gorilla tattoo on his left thigh. He attended Texas A&M University, captaining the rugby team while there and was drafted in the 3rd round, 36th overall, by the Dallas Jackals in the 2022 MLR Collegiate Draft.

Tidwell earned limited game time in 2022, earning 3 appearances off the bench as the Jackals began to turn things around after a dreadful inaugural season. Tidwell’s sophomore season was a standout however, earning a further 16 appearances and starting 7 times, scoring 3 tries and racking up over 600m gained. One of Tidwell’s tries came in the Dallas Jackals‘ first ever MLR Playoff game, as they stunned the 14-2 Houston SaberCats by a score of 22-34 in the Western Conference Semifinal, advancing to the Western Conference Final against the Seattle Seawolves, where they fell 25-28.

For his efforts in his 2nd MLR season, Tidwell was named as the Dallas Jackals Most Improved Player for 2024. Following the withdrawal of the Dallas Jackals from MLR shortly after the conclusion of the 2024 season, Jason Tidwell declared for the subsequent dispersal draft and was selected 9th by Anthem RC. His signing was confirmed on 21st January, 2025 when Anthem RC unveiled their complete roster for the 2025 MLR season. Tidwell started all 10 of his games for Anthem RC in 2025, scoring another 3 tries and gaining over 300m in possession for the Rising Stars. Having made the most of limited game time early in his pro career and earning a regular starting spot with Anthem RC, Jason Tidwell headed northwest and signed with the Chicago Hounds ahead of their 2026 MLR campaign.

achievements

Chris Hilsenbeck

California born test capped German fly-half Chris Hilsenbeck played in Major League Rugby in 2023, and again in 2025-2026. He represented Rugby ATL (2023) and the Chicago Hounds (2025-2026).

Prior to his move to MLR, Hilsenbeck had spent his entire professional career playing in France in the Pro D2, mainly with Vannes where he had over well over 100 appearances, and over 800pts. Rugby ATL announced the signing of then-31yo Hilsenbeck on May 17th, 2023 for the remainder of the season, joining from US Carcassonne. Hilsenbeck started all 4 of his appearances for Rugby ATL in 2023, kicking 11pts and going 5/7 from the tee. Following the 2023 season, and news that Rugby ATL had changed ownership and would be relocating, Hilsenbeck returned to Europe and the ProD2, where he joined Biarritz.

On February 9th, 2025, 1 week before the MLR season kicked off, the agency representing Chris Hilsenbeck, KHAOS Sports, announced that US-eligible Hilsenbeck had signed with the Chicago Hounds for the 2025 MLR season. Hilsenbeck stepped up in a huge way for the Hounds in the 2025 season, starting 12 of his 15 games and scoring 1 try and 109pts in total. He started both of Chicago’s postseason games including their Eastern Conference Final clash with the New England Free Jacks, were he had an opportunity to win the game in the final minute, but his penalty kick rang off the upright in Quincy, and the Free Jacks knocked the Chicago Hounds out by a score of 21-20. Hilsenbeck earned two Team of the Week selections in 2025 and finished as the Top Scorer of the 2025 MLR season and was the only player to finish with over 100pts scored. For his performance in 2025, Hilsenbeck was named to the All-MLR 1st XV.

Although capped for Germany, US-born Hilsenbeck was included in the USA Eagles squad for their 2025 July tests, and earned his debut as Eagle #590 when he came off the bench in a 36-17 victory over Belgium on July 5th, 2025. 4 months later to the day on 5th November 2025, the Chicago Hounds announced the return of Hilsenbeck for their 2026 MLR campaign.

achievements
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2026 – Rd 9
  • 2025 MLR Top Scorer: 109pts
  • 2025 All-MLR First XV Selection
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 16
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 5

Bill Whiteside

California native Bill Whiteside played in Major League Rugby between 2023-2025. He represented the Rugby New York Ironworkers (2023), and Old Glory DC (2024-2026).

Whiteside played gridiron football and lacrosse through high school, before attending Lindenwood University between 2017-2021 and playing D1A rugby. He was named to the USA U23 team in 2021, before declaring for the 2022 MLR Collegiate Draft where he was selected in the 3rd round (29th overall) by the Rugby New York Ironworkers, who signed him for the 2023 MLR season. He appeared in one matchday 23 during the season but did not make his MLR debut, spending most of the year playing with Old Blue in the American Rugby Premiership as well as the USA Hawks (now Anthem RC) on their South American Tour.

In early December 2023, a week after the Toronto Arrows announced that they would not compete in the 2024 season, the Rugby New York Ironworkers announced that they would also not compete in 2024. It is unknown if Whiteside opted into the subsequent Dispersal draft but on 29th January 2024, Old Glory DC included Bill Whiteside in their greater training squad and he spent the 2024 season with the Flags, earning his MLR debut for Old Glory DC and 12 appearances (4 starts) in total including a Team of the Week selection in Round 13 as Old Glory DC qualified for the MLR Playoffs.

On December 6th, 2024, Old Glory DC confirmed the return of Bill Whiteside for the 2025 MLR season where he equaled his career high in starts (4) and set a new high for appearances with 13. He also improved his career high in tackles from 58 in 2024 to 64 in 2025, for 122 in total in his MLR career. Whiteside helped Old Glory DC to their 3rd straight playoff appearance, where they fell to the Chicago Hounds in the Eastern Conference Semifinal. On 4th December 2025, Old Glory DC announced the return of Bill Whiteside for his 3rd season with the team in 2026.

ACHIEVEMENTS:

Dewald Donald

South African prop Dewald Donald played in Major League Rugby between 2023-2026. He represented the Seattle Seawolves for his entire MLR career.

A native of Pretoria and local of Centurion in the province of Gauteng, Donald attended Afrikaanse Hoer Seunskool between 2014-2018, playing rugby for the school for his entire time there before attending the University of Pretoria. Donald had entered the Blue Bulls system in 2016 and played with the U16 side, progressing through the U18 & U19 sides. Donald represented the Springboks at U19 and U20 levels while also earning a U21 Currie Cup title for the Blue Bulls in 2020. He earned his senior Currie Cup debut for the Blue Bulls in 2021.

Donald signed with the Seattle Seawolves for the 2022 MLR season and has represented them in ever season since. Through his first three seasons in Seattle, he has started 7 of his 18 games and scored 1 try, while completing 80 tackles on defence including a high of 50 in 2024 when the Seawolves advanced to the Championship Final before falling to the New England Free Jacks. This was the 2nd time that Donald has finished as a MLR runner-up with the Seawolves after they also fell to the Rugby New York Ironworkers in 2022. Donald did not feature in either Championship game, however. On January 14th, 2025, the Seattle Seawolves included Dewald Donald on their full 2025 roster, and he earned another 4 appearances for the Seawolves off of the bench that year to take his career total to 22. Almost exactly a year after he was announced by the Seawolves for the 2025 season, the team confirmed that Dewald Donald would return for his 5th season with the team in 2026.

achievements

  • 2024 MLR Runner-Up: Seattle Seawolves
  • 2022 MLR Runner-Up: Seattle Seawolves