Rugby FC LA

Background & HIstory

Rugby Football Club Los Angeles (Rugby FC LA or RFCLA for short) came to be when a new ownership group bought the Rugby ATL franchise, announcing that the team would relocate to Los Angeles for the 2024 MLR season. Due to the significant change that the franchise went through between Rugby ATL and LA, this site treats the two teams as separate entities. This franchise is no relation to the previous LA franchise, the Giltinis.

Between August and December of 2023, fans would hear nothing about the club apart from the odd rumour, or spark of activity on the MLR trade wire. The ownership group of the LA franchise has some overlap with the Tel Aviv Heat who compete in the Rugby Europe Super Cup, which explains why there is a significant number of Heat players on the LA roster during their inaugural season. A number of Rugby ATL players moved with the franchise to LA for their inaugural season where they finished at the bottom of the Western Conference with a record of 5-1-10. Although they finished 6th in the West, they finished on the exact same number of points as fellow 2024 expansion side the Miami Sharks, 32, and only 3pts behind the Utah Warriors on 35. If nothing else, RFCLA were a competitive team in their first MLR season which, for an expansion team, is a good result. Following their 2024 season, RFCLA announced that the contact of Head Coach Steve Brett (who had followed the team from Atlanta) ‘would not be renewed’ beyond the 2024 season.


Records

all time

Top Scorer: Semi Kunatani (54pts)
Top Try Scorer: Semi Kunatani (10)
Top Playoff Scorer: N/A
Top Tackler: Jason Damm (172)
Top Meter Eater: Semi Kunatani (1,126m)
Most Capped Player: Max Katjijeko, Tas Smith, Ben Strang, Dane Zander (16)
Most Starts: Jason Damm (14)

single season

Top Scorer: Semi Kunatani (54pts)
Top Try Scorer: Semi Kunatani (10)
Top Tackler: Jason Damm (172)
Top Meter Eater: Semi Kunatani (1,126m)

historical performance

2024: 5-1-10 (-106) – 32pts: 6th in Western Conference

Overall Regular Season Record: 5-1-10
Overall Championship Series Record: N/A
Championship Series Appearances: 0

head coach & captain

head coach
  • Steve Brett (2024)
captain

Logo & Jersey

2024-25

The name, logo, and venue were unveiled on 21st December 2023, and were not received particularly well by the MLR fanbase. While the colours went down well and the acorn outline was something new, fans could not understand how an acorn represented LA or Southern California, and found the ‘L’ and the ‘A’ to make up an unfortunate shape within the acorn outline. RFCLA CEO Pete Sickle stated on Episode 3 of TRN’s Rugby Rundown show that the oak tree had been present in LA long before people, and was a symbol of strength, stability, solidity, & nurture. Sickle also stated that the font chosen was reminiscent of early Hollywood ‘art deco’ style, while the larger A was a tribute to the Rugby ATL franchise that was the foundation of the club. The name of Rugby Football Club Los Angeles was chosen as a more ‘classic’ team name reminiscent of clubs throughout the world, as well as at the professional level in the United Kingdom and Ireland. However, MLR fans thought this name was clunky and lazy, especially after having waited so long to hear any news at all about the team.

RFCLA’s inaugural jerseys instill the sand and beaches of LA, with subtle wave designs throughout. The jerseys are primarily dark blue (home) and light blue (away), with yellow accents similar to the logo. While some fans thought this was also rather dull, it fits in very well with Los Angeles.

Venue

During their inaugural MLR season in 2024, RFCLA played at Dignity Health Sports Park, the 27,000 seat home of MLS franchise LAFC. The stadium had hosted 1 MLR game prior to 2024, a San Diego Legion game against the Utah Warriors in April 2021. It also hosted 3 USA Eagles test matches between 2013-14, and is a planned venue for the 2028 Olympic Rugby Sevens tournaments. For their 2nd season in 2025, RFCLA relocated from Dignity Health Sports Park to the UCLA campus, playing most of their home games out of Wallis Annenberg Stadium, a 2,145 seat soccer stadium.

Wallis Annenberg Stadium at UCLA

 

Results

26 - 26

2025 - RD 12: Seattle Seawolves v Rugby FC LA

36 - 38

2025 - RD 11: Rugby FC LA v San Diego Legion

23 - 21

2025 - RD 11: New England Free Jacks v Rugby FC LA

28 - 45

2025 - RD 9: Rugby FC LA v Utah Warriors

22 - 24

2025 - RD 8: Houston SaberCats v Rugby FC LA

54 - 44

2025 - RD 7: Rugby FC LA v Old Glory DC

24 - 31

2025 - RD 6: NOLA Gold v Rugby FC LA

35 - 29

2025 - RD 5: Rugby FC LA v Seattle Seawolves

36 - 28

2025 - RD 4: San Diego Legion v Rugby FC LA

28 - 45

2025 - RD 2: Rugby FC LA v Houston SaberCats

17 - 24

2025 - RD 1: Rugby FC LA v New England Free Jacks

24 - 31

2024 - RD 18: Utah Warriors v Rugby FC LA

29 - 12

2024 - RD 17: Seattle Seawolves v Rugby FC LA

21 - 38

2024 - RD 16: Rugby FC LA v NOLA Gold

29 - 12

2024 - RD 15: Houston SaberCats v Rugby FC LA

45 - 15

2024 - RD 14: Rugby FC LA v Miami Sharks

19 - 27

2024 - RD 13: Rugby FC LA v San Diego Legion

29 - 33

2024 - RD 12: Anthem RC v Rugby FC LA

26 - 29

2024 - RD 11: Dallas Jackals v Rugby FC LA

12 - 34

2024 - RD 9: Rugby FC LA v New England Free Jacks

54 - 31

2024 - RD 8: Chicago Hounds v Rugby FC LA

5 - 36

2024 - RD 7: Rugby FC LA v Seattle Seawolves

22 - 22

2024 - RD 6: Old Glory DC v Rugby FC LA

36 - 32

2024 - RD 4: Rugby FC LA v Utah Warriors

19 - 18

2024 - RD 3: San Diego Legion v Rugby FC LA

12 - 27

2024 - RD 2: Rugby FC LA v Houston SaberCats

29 - 32

2024 - RD 1: Rugby FC LA v Dallas Jackals

All-Time MLR Standings

PosTeamPWLDPFPAPDTBLBPts
111271401324926725776022368
211667472330728914165824354
3866224024401793647459302
41055054126432851-2085221275
51064558329843031-475531272
61075057027102973-2635017267
77546290200017862144113238
8833346421422495-3534417201
9702939217711884-1132716163
105630251140512651402710159
1161253511457142136249135
123425901036618418205125
13452024111381180-421710109
1431171228568015517392
1550941010171710-693191772
16279162695829-13417562
172711160587693-1069659
182702705261070-5448412

2025 Overall MLR Standings

PosTeamPWLDPFPAPDTBLBPts
111830376304728141
211830304227777140
311830295252435138
412750363322418238
511740334283517237
611560313335-228230
711461328356-289330
81146131731077328
91147033333127528
1011560252304-525227
11110110203394-191235

2024 MLR Standings

PosTeamPWLDPFPAPDTBLBPts
116142047834713111067
216115049837312511457
3161150421374477556
41611504633441198355
5161060410349618250
616871454387678445
716610048245032111043
816772394416-226442
9165110424471-477835
10166100335389-544432
11165101367473-1068232
12160160323676-353617

Rugby FC LA Players – All

PlayerPositionGPGSTCPDGMGTacklesKS/KAPts
Declan LeaneyProp721000545705
Alex MaughanHooker, Prop141100001197800
Matt HeatonFlanker, Number 82114100023123505
Connor GrindalProp0000000000
Cronan GleesonProp32000051300
Rory van VugtFullback19187400122287443
Brooklyn HardakerFullback, Wing8610003303905
Christian Leali’ifanoCenter, Fly-half9912610174672760
Austin WhiteFullback, Wing13410003703305
Ben MitchellLock220000651400
Lincoln SiiProp50000091200
Will LeonardCenter149300042487015
Jack ShawWing1715500056981027
Sean NolanFly-half540400612048
Ben StrangHooker26115000594201025
Seth PurdeyCenter168200036577010
Reece MacDonaldFly-half, Fullback63170047316719
Christian DyerCenter, Fullback, Wing431000931505
Derek AdamsWing20100019105
Wilton ReboloProp720000413100
Dan HollinsheadFly-half9921440204621850
Jason EmeryCenter, Fly-half, Fullback109061026953715
Andrew CoeFullback, Wing2121100001402110050
Vaughen IsaacsFly-half, Fullback11020096524
Cristian RodriguezScrum-half210000221000
Ben SugarsHooker10710001528505
Sam BuckleyProp4000004600
Billy MeakesCenter109500038389027
Gonzalo BertranouScrum-half1110500040938025
Tim AnsteeFlanker, Number 810910002399405
Jordan ChaitFly-half2103401096718
Lucas BurLock33000014100
Reegan O’GormanLock1514000017312200
Tas SmithScrum-half279200026997010
Mikaea WynyardLock50000016500
Justus TavaiProp30100041107
Dane ZanderProp1814000020710500
Bruce Kauika-PetersenHooker14610003077205
Caleb StrumWing0000000000
Franco van den BergProp82000073800
Alessandro HeaneyProp1470000737500
Theo VukasinovicLock660000744400
Matt GelhausLock0000000000
Liam AntrobusLock600000272200
Michael AmirasFlanker10710004609005
Max KatjijekoFlanker1692000388140012
Semi KunataniFlanker, Number 82114110001286204059
Sam WalshFly-half820000135800
Matt AnticevFly-half720000541600
James StokesCenter, Fullback, Wing111010006307705
Harley DavidsonWing0000000000
Nick HartleyFullback, Scrum-half0000000000
Bruce YunFlanker, Hooker520000301700
Jurie van VuurenNumber 81111200015796010
Niall SaundersScrum-half1310310031473119
Jason DammNumber 825239000713302045
Nick ChanCenter77200019569010
Matias JensenCenter, Wing6600003437100
Conor YoungProp158000015710300
Mikey Sosene-FeagaiHooker7430005649015
Timmy OhlweinProp1000000000
Maliu NiuafeProp1070000817300
Omer LevinsonScrum-half0000000000
Patrick BeattieProp0000000000
Robert MapaCenter, Wing20000023100
Cameron GerlachFullback21000080200
Ben HoustonFlanker, Number 810104000474114020
Penalty Try1110000007
Henry SpeightWing320000167500
Ed TimpsonFlanker, Number 81196000312119030

RFCLA - Active

PlayerPositionGPGSTCPDGMGTacklesKS/KA
Declan LeaneyProp72100054570
Matias JensenCenter, Wing660000343710
Dane ZanderProp2200000100
Franco van den BergProp8200007380
Alessandro HeaneyProp107000063650
Semi KunataniFlanker, Number 8631000160430
Matt AnticevFly-half100000100
Jurie van VuurenNumber 877100070560
Jason DammNumber 810920001231300
Nick ChanCenter772000195690
Conor YoungProp000000000
Mikaea WynyardLock5000001650
Mikey Sosene-FeagaiHooker74300056490
Timmy OhlweinProp100000000
Maliu NiuafeProp107000081730
Omer LevinsonScrum-half000000000
Patrick BeattieProp000000000
Robert MapaCenter, Wing2000002310
Ben HoustonFlanker, Number 8101040004741140
Ed TimpsonFlanker, Number 811960003121190
Justus TavaiProp3010004110
Tas SmithScrum-half1111000133200
Matt HeatonFlanker, Number 892000053690
Seth PurdeyCenter62100093110
Cronan GleesonProp3200005130
Rory van VugtFullback10105100608451
Christian Leali’ifanoCenter, Fly-half99126101746727
Lincoln SiiProp000000000
Will LeonardCenter521000137210
Jack ShawWing321000129220
Sean NolanFly-half32000015100
Ben StrangHooker1000000104310
Reece MacDonaldFly-half, Fullback631700473167
Reegan O’GormanLock3300007140
Christian DyerCenter, Fullback, Wing43100093150
Andrew CoeFullback, Wing993000547390
Vaughen IsaacsFly-half, Fullback1102009652
Ben SugarsHooker1071000152850
Billy MeakesCenter1095000383890
Gonzalo BertranouScrum-half11105000409380
Tim AnsteeFlanker, Number 81091000239940
Lucas BurLock3300001410
Penalty Try111000000