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.

John Powers

New York native John Powers played in Major League Rugby between 2021-2026. He represented the Utah Warriors (2021), the Rugby New York Ironworkers (2022-2023) and Old Glory DC (2024-2026).

An Iona College graduate, Powers had been a member of the Ironworkers system prior to getting drafted, having been named the Rugby United New York U23 Development Academy Captain in 2019. He was drafted 7th overall in the first round of the first ever MLR Collegiate Draft by the Utah Warriors, and earned his MLR debut from the bench for the Warriors late in the 2021 season. On 4th January 2022, the Utah Warriors traded John Powers to Rugby New York (Powers’ hometown team) in exchange for NY‘s 3rd Rd Draft Pick in the 2022 draft. This pick was then traded by the Warriors to Rugby ATL (now Rugby FC LA) along with 2022 Cap Considerations in exchange for Coleson Warner. Rugby ATL traded NY’s 3rd Rd pick AGAIN, to the Houston SaberCats along with Marno Redelinghuys for Houston’s 1st Rd pick in 2022 (used to select Matt Gelhaus) and a short term loan for Kian Meadon. The pick involved in the trade for John Powers was eventually used by the SaberCats to select Brandon Karnes 39th overall, the last pick of the 2022 draft.

Powers spent 2 seasons with the Ironworkers between 2022-2023, appearing in 3 MLR games as NY advanced to the MLR Championship Final following a controversial end to the 2022 season, where they defeated the Seattle Seawolves 30-15 to lift the MLR Shield. He followed up his 2022 season with another 3 caps in 2023 before a leg injury ended his season prematurely. He was able to recover and played with NYAC during the American Rugby Premiership in the fall of that year. In early December 2023, the Rugby New York Ironworkers and MLR announced that the club would not take part in the 2024 season due to financial difficulties. In the subsequent Dispersal Draft for NY & Toronto players (the Arrows declared that they would not compete in 2024 a week prior to NY’s announcement), Powers was selected 19th overall by Old Glory DC, a signing which was confirmed by the Flags on 20th December, ahead of the 2024 season.

Powers set career highs across the board in 2024, earning his first 9 MLR starts and scoring his first two career tries in 15 appearances for Old Glory DC. He recorded over 50 tackles completed for the first time in his career, completing 7 of those in the Flags’ Eastern Conference Semifinals clash with rivals the New England Free Jacks. On December 11th, 2024, Old Glory DC confirmed the return of John Powers for his 5th season in MLR in 2025. Powers earned another 12 appearances for the Flags in 2025, starting twice, running for 172m gained as a scrum-half, and scoring a conversion to help Old Glory DC qualify for the post-season yet again. On 29th December 2025, Old Glory DC announced the return of John Powers for his 3rd season with the Flags in 2026, his 6th in MLR.

Achievements

Kaleb Geiger

Colorado native Kaleb Geiger played in Major League Rugby between 2021-2026. He represented the Rugby New York Ironworkers (2021-2023) and the New England Free Jacks (2024-2026).

A Crossover athlete, Geiger is a product of the American Raptors crossover program having previously played football. He joined New York during the 2021 season but did not make his MLR debut until 2022, instead playing with the NY academy team. When he became a regular matchday presence in 2022, Geiger earned 17 caps during New York’s 2022 season in which they advanced to the MLR Championship Final, defeating the Seattle Seawolves 30-15 to lift the 2022 Shield. He followed this up with another 16 caps in 2023, and a career-high 11 starts, racking up 480m gained and completing 156 tackles.

In early December 2023, MLR and the Ironworkers announced that they would not be competing in the 2024 season. Geiger opted in to the subsequent Dispersal Draft for NY and Toronto players (the Arrows had announced that they would also not compete in 2024, a week prior to NY) and was selected 11th by the New England Free Jacks, who confirmed Kaleb Geiger’s signing on 20th December, 2023. Geiger earned 14 appearances for the Free Jacks in 2024, serving mainly as a replacement. He came off the bench in the 2024 MLR final and completed 13 tackles to help the Free Jacks to a 11-20 victory over the Seattle Seawolves in San Diego, claiming both New England’s and Geiger’s 2nd Shield.

On 29th October, 2024, the New England Free Jacks announced the return of Geiger for their 2025 MLR campaign, where he equalled his career high of 17 appearances for the 3rd time and recorded over 100 tackles for the 3rd time in his career, completing 140 tackles to pass 500 in his career. Geiger was a regular in the Free Jacks’ Shield winning 2025 season, claiming his 3rd Shield and 2nd with New England.

achievements

Jason Emery

New Zealand utility back Jason Emery played in Major League Rugby between 2022-2026. He represented the Rugby New York Ironworkers (2022-2023), Rugby FC LA (2024), and Old Glory DC (2025-2026).

Emery represented the New Zealand Schools team in 2010, before playing with the New Zealand U20 side at the Junior World Cup in 2012, finishing 2nd. That same year he made his NPC (then the ITM Cup) debut for Manawatu, with whom he played through 2017, also earning 35 Super Rugby appearances with the Highlanders between 2013-2017 before heading to Japan to play with their Super Rugby side, the Sunwolves, from 2018-2019. While with the Sunwolves he also played with Munakata Sanix Blues in the Japanese domestic league, representing them until 2021 when he returned to the Manawatu Turbos. Emery has also played with the Maori All Blacks inconsistently since 2014.

Emery headed stateside to join the Rugby New York Ironworkers ahead of their 2022 MLR season, where he scored 2 tries and 45pts in 17 games (16 starts) as New York ran to the Championship Final, comfortably defeating the Seattle Seawolves 30-15 to claim their first and only MLR Shield. He returned for a 2nd season with New York in 2023, and earned a total of 33 appearances (29 starts) in 2 seasons, scoring 123pts including a high of 6 tries and 75pts in 2023, finishing T-9th in MLR Scoring. Following the withdrawal of Rugby New York from the 2024 MLR season on financial grounds, Emery joined the newly established Rugby FC LA side (relocated from Atlanta with a new ownership group) for their inaugural season in 2024. With RFCLA, Emery scored a further 15pts in 10 games (9 starts), stepping into the fly-half role after injuries hit the LA 10 shirt.

On 13th June 2024, the Manawatu Turbos announced that Emery would be returning for their 2024 NPC season and on 7th August 2024, RFCLA traded Emery to Old Glory DC for the 2025 season in exchange for Salary Cap Considerations (Unknown). Emery returned to MLR following the NPC season, and started 13 of his 16 appearances for the Flags primarily in the 10 shirt after a season-ending injury to regular fly-half Jason Robertson. He scored 73pts from the tee during 2025 with a 65.96% success rate from the tee to take his career total over the 200pt milestone, and he recorded just shy of 100 tackles to take his career total to 390. On 14th November 2025, Old Glory DC announced that they had re-signed Jason Emery for their 2026 campaign.

achievements

  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 14
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 12
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 14
  • T-9th in MLR Scoring: 2023 (75pts)
  • MLR Champion: 2022 (Rugby New York)

Wilton Rebolo

Brazilian prop Wilton Rebolo played in Major League Rugby between 2021-2022, and again from 2024-2026. He represented the Rugby New York Ironworkers (2021-2022), Rugby FC LA (2024), the Houston SaberCats (2025), and the Chicago Hounds (2026).

A native of São Jose dos Campos, Brazil, Rebolo began playing his club rugby with São José, also representing Band Saracens, the Bandeirantes Rugby Club, and Pasteur Athletique during his club career. He earned his international debut against Germany in 2015 and has been a regular in the Brazilian front row ever since.

Rebolo was set to become the first Brazilian to play in MLR when he signed with the Austin Gilgronis, playing with them in the 2020 pre-season before an injury kept him out of the shortened season, and that achievement would have to wait until he represented Rugby New York in 2021. Rebolo became a regular in the New York setup, earning 27 appearances (7 starts) for the Roosters over 2 seasons, including 15 in their Shield-winning 2022 campaign, when he set a career high 156m gained in possession. Following the 2022 MLR season, Rebolo earned a contract with the Western Force, becoming the first Brazilian to play in Super Rugby in 2023.

Rebolo returned to MLR with Rugby FC LA, newly relocated from Atlanta. He earned 7 further appearances (2 starts) in their inaugural season after joining the team later in the season. On November 13th, 2024, RFCLA traded Wilton Rebolo to the Houston SaberCats in exchange for the ‘Cats First Round Draft Pick in 2025 (Ieremia Ieremia). In his 4th MLR season, Rebolo added a 3rd MLR try and earned 10 appearances for the SaberCats, passing 200 career tackles made and 350m gained total to help the SaberCats advance to the 2025 MLR Championship Final, where they fell to the New England Free Jacks.

Following the surprise withdrawal of the Houston SaberCats during the 2025/26 MLR offseason, Wilton Rebolo became a free agent and on 21st January 2026, the Chicago Hounds announced that they had signed Rebolo on a 1yr contract for their 2026 campaign.

achievements

Benjamín Bonasso

Born in Connecticut to Argentinian parents, Ben Bonasso played in Major League Rugby between 2021-2026. He represented the Rugby New York Ironworkers (2021-2023) the Miami Sharks (2024-2025), and Old Glory DC (2026).

Bonasso moved back to Argentina at a young age, and is a former Argentina U19 player and U20 selection, Bonasso played with Club Newman in the URBA Top 14 between 2017-2019, and his move back north was announced in January 2021 by Rugby United New York. In his debut season in North America, Bonasso was one of only 2 NY players to appear in all 17 games of their 2021 season (12 starts), scoring 3 tries and 21pts total. Bonasso earned an international call-up for the USA in the fall of 2021, and he made his debut for the USA in October 2021 when he came off the bench against Uruguay. He earned a second cap as a started later that month against New Zealand.

Bonasso followed this up with 16 more caps for NY in 2022 (all starts) and 1 more try as New York advanced to the 2022 MLR Championship Final where they defeated the Seattle Seawolves 30-15 to lift the Shield. Through his 3 seasons with New York, Bonasso earned 40 MLR caps (33 starts), scoring 5 tries. He missed a large part of the 2023 season with injury, but still managed over 200m gained with ball in hand, and completed 86 tackles.

On 11th December 2023, the Miami Sharks announced the signing of Ben Bonasso for the 2024 season. Although this signing was made public a few days after the announcement that the Rugby New York Ironworkers would not compete in the 2024 season, NARDB understands that this signing was finalised prior to this. Given Bonasso’s Argentinian heritage, and the heavy Argentinian influence within the Sharks organisation, it seems like a natural fit for Bonasso. He tied his MLR-high of 3 tries scored in 15 games (14 starts) during the Sharks’ inaugural season, carrying for over 500m gained and completing 167 tackles. He was named as the 2024 Shark of the Season for his performance, and was the only Miami Sharks player named to the 2024 All-MLR squads, earning a spot in the Honorable Mention XV.

On 21st October 2024, the Miami Sharks announce that they had re-signed Ben Bonasso for the 2025 MLR season. That year, Bonasso added 3 more tries and started all 14 of his appearances for the Miami Sharks, completing 183 tackles to take his career total to over 800 in his 69 MLR appearances, and marking the 4th time in 5 seasons that he had recorded over 165 tackles completed. Bonasso sits on 11 tries and 63pts scored in his 69 games, but would not return for the Sharks for a 3rd campaign following the announcement that they would be withdrawing from MLR. Instead, Old Glory DC announced the signing of Ben Bonasso on October 29th, 2025.

Achievements

  • MLR Team of the Week: 2026 – Rd 8
  • 2024 All-MLR Honorable Mention XV
  • 2024 Miami Sharks Shark of the Season
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 13
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 2
  • 2022 MLR Champion: Rugby New York
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2021 – Rd 16

Nolan Tuamoheloa

A native of American Samoa, Nolan Tuamoheloa played in Major League Rugby between 2019-2021, and again in 2022 and 2025. He represented the Utah Warriors (2019-2020, 2025), Rugby ATL (2022), and the Seattle Seawolves (2026).

Hailing from Ili’ili on American Samoa, Nolan Tuamoheloa began playing 7s, and played his amateur rugby with Kau Toa, before attending Weber State University in Utah, playing rugby throughout. Following his graduation, Tuamoheloa signed with the Utah Warriors for the 2019 season, starting 2 of his 8 games and scoring his first MLR try. He returned to the Warriors for the 2020 season, but did not feature before the season was shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2021, Tuamoheloa played with the Tsunami Barbarians at Rugbytown 7s, and represented the USA Selects for the Americas Pacific Challenge in Uruguay before returning to MLR the following year, signing with Rugby ATL. He earned 2 starts in 5 games for the RATLers in 2022 before joining the Experts for the PR7s season through the summer. From there, he caught the eyes of the USA National Sevens program, earning his Sevens Series debut in Hong Kong that year. Tuamoheloa has spent the last few years with the USA Sevens side as well as the Experts, but on 2nd May 2025, the Utah Warriors announced his return for the remainder of the 2025 season where he scored a 2nd career MLR try and another 2 starts in 3 games to help the Warriors finish as the league’s best team during the regular season, gaining a career high 250m in the process.

Although he was never announced, Nolan Tuamoheloa appeared in the Seattle Seawolves training squad ahead of their first game of the 2026 campaign against Old Glory DC.

achievements
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2026 – Rd 8
  • MLR Player of the Week: 2025 – Rd 15
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 15

Will Leonard

Irish center Will Leonard played in Major League Rugby between 2019-2026. He represented Rugby United New York (2019-2021), Rugby ATL (2022-2023), Rugby FC LA (2024-2025), and Anthem RC (2026).

Leonard began playing with Shannon RFC in County Limerick, Ireland at the age of 6, and played rugby with Crescent Comprehensive College between 2011-2014, helping the school to it’s first Munster School Senior Cup in 19 years, and winning back-to-back cups in 2013-2014. Leonard then attended the University of Limerick between 2014-2018, graduating with First Class Honours. He also remained playing with Shannon RFC and was named All Munster Provincial Player of the Year during the 2017/18 season.

In 2019, Leonard headed stateside to join Rugby United New York for their inaugural season, and representing them for 3 seasons between 2019-2021, earning 31 MLR appearances (29 starts), scoring 6 tries and gaining over 1,500m with New York alone. During the 2021 season, he also completed 198 tackles placing him 6th league-wide. For the 2022 season, Leonard moved to Rugby ATL and spent 2 seasons with the RATLers, earning a further 30 appearances (29 starts) and 5 tries including 4 in 2022 when he ran up 1,267m gained with ball in hand and finishing 8th in MLR. On March 18th 2023, Leonard became the 35th player in MLR history to reach 50 games played in the league.

Following the 2023 season, MLR and Rugby ATL announced that a new ownership group had taken over the franchise, and were relocating the team to Los Angeles for 2024. Leonard followed the team to LA, and played in their inaugural season, scoring 2 tries in 9 games (7 starts). Ahead of the 2024 season, World Rugby also granted Leonard US-eligibility on grounds of residency, along with fellow Irishman and former New York teammate Mark O’Keeffe. On December 6th, 2024, Rugby FC LA confirmed the return of Will Leonard for the 2025 season, where he scored a 14th career MLR try and started 2 of his 5 appearances, taking his career total to 75 games played in MLR. In those 75 games, Leonard has completed just shy of 800 tackles and gained an even 4,100m in possession. Following the merger of RFCLA and the San Diego Legion to form the California Legion, Will Leonard headed back east, signing with Anthem RC on 22nd December, 2025.

achievements
  • 35th player in MLR history to reach 50 caps
  • 8th in MLR Meters Gained: 2022 (1,267m)
  • 6th in MLR Tackling: 2021 (198)

Rory van Vugt

New Zealand fullback/wing Rory van Vugt played in Major League Rugby between 2020-2021, and again from 2024-2026. He represented Rugby ATL (2020-2021), Rugby FC LA (2024-2025), and the California Legion (2026).

Van Vugt played international touch rugby for New Zealand between 2017-2018 before turning his focus to the contact game. He joined the Southland Stags in NZ’s National Provincial Championship (NPC) in 2018 and has played with them every year since.

Rugby ATL signed van Vugt ahead of the 2020 season, scoring 1 try in 3 games (all starts) before the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the season after only 5 rounds. He returned to ATL for the 2021 season, scoring 2 tries in 13 additional appearances (all starts) for the RATLers as they advanced to the MLR Championship Final, falling to the LA Giltinis 31-17. Van Vugt returned to NZ between 2022-2023, playing with the Super Rugby Highlanders in 2022. He returned to MLR ahead of the 2024 season, signing with a rebranded, relocated ATL, now Rugby FC LA. He scored another 2 tries in 9 games (8 starts) for LA in their inaugural season.

On 27th June 2024, the Southland Stags announced that van Vugt would once again be returning to the NPC for their 2024 campaign, and on December 3rd 2024, RFCLA announced the return of van Vugt for his 4th MLR season in 2025. Van Vugt set career highs across the board in 2025, scoring 6 tries and 32pts and starting all 14 of his appearances for Rugby FC LA, helping their to their first ever postseason appearance. Van Vugt completed 69 tackles on defence, and finished 8th League-wide in Meters Gained, with 850m. Rory van Vugt remained in California following Rugby FC LA’s merger with San Diego to form the California Legion, with the team announcing his signing on 3rd February, 2026.

achievements
  • 8th in MLR Meters Gained: 2025 (850m)
  • MLR Team of the Week: 2025 – Rd 5
  • 2021 MLR Runner-Up: Rugby ATL

Harley Wheeler

California born, Tennessee raised wing/fullback Harley Wheeler played in Major League Rugby between 2020-2026. He represented the NOLA Gold (2020-2025) and Old Glory DC (2026).

Born in Long Beach, CA and raised in Knoxville, TN, Wheeler followed his brother to the rugby field at the age of 14 for South Doyle High School. He attended Life University, playing for the Running Eagles between 2016-2019, he helped lead the team to three USA Rugby D1A XV National Championships and was a 2019 Rudy Scholz Award Winner.

Wheeler represented the USA U20s against Canada, and played with the USA Falcons on their South American tour in 2019. He signed with the NOLA Gold ahead of the 2020 season, and appeared in 4 games (starting 3) before the season was cancelled after 5 rounds due to COVID-19. After a year out of MLR, he returned to the Gold in 2022, and scored 6 of his 10 career tries in 15 games (13 starts). In total, Wheeler has earned 38 appearances (29 starts) for the Gold through the 2024 season, completing over 150 tackles and gaining just shy of 1,700m gained in possession.

On January 4th, 2025, the NOLA Gold announced the return of Harley Wheeler for his 5th MLR season in 2025, where he started 4 of his 5 appearances in a down year for the NOLA Gold, but still scored 2 tries to take his career total to 10 tries in 43 MLR games, starting 33 times. Following the announcement in August 2025 that the NOLA Gold were withdrawing from Major League Rugby, Harley Wheeler became a free agent and on 30th November 2025, Old Glory DC announced the addition of Wheeler for the 2026 season, his 6th in the competition.

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. Momsen served as Captain of the 2026 Anthem squad, sometimes alongside Sam Golla as Co-Captain. He started all 10 games for the Rising Stars that season, splitting his time between lock and flanker. He lead the team to their best ever result, earning their first franchise victory in their first game of the season against the California Legion, and backing this win up with a victory over the Seattle Seawolves two weeks later. Unfortunately, they would lose the remaining games of the season to finish in 6th place with a 2-8 record. In that Round 3 victory over Seattle, Momsen became just the 3rd player in MLR history to pass 1,000 tackles made in the competition. He would average 11.9 tackles per game in 2026 for 119 in total, and scored two tries in his debut season in Charlotte, beating 12 defenders on 168m gained in possession.

Following the 2026 campaign and with the future of Anthem RC unclear, Johan Momsen returned to his native South Africa and on 14th July he appeared in the Sharks’ starting lineup for their Currie Cup opener against the Pumas.

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)