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 - 20

2025 - RD 15: Rugby FC LA v Miami Sharks

24 - 26

2025 - RD 14: Chicago Hounds v Rugby FC LA

45 - 17

2025 - RD 13: Rugby FC LA v Anthem RC

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
111471421329427385566223371
211970472337829494296024368
38963260250318606434610308
41094660330583127-695732279
51105258027963026-2305218278
61085057127042934-2305323278
77546290200017862144113238
8863646422302545-3154617215
9702939217711884-1132716163
105630251140512651402710159
1161253511457142136249135
123425901036618418205125
13482126112121252-401811115
1431171228568015517392
153012162792890-9820577
1650941010171710-693191772
173013170662757-9510769
183003005811189-6088412

2025 Overall MLR Standings

PosTeamPWLDPFPAPDTBLBPts
114950420336849348
2149504504005010248
314950367294738246
414761425417812345
514950369324456244
6148604013851610244
714761388368209342
8147704083882010341
914770327368-416337
10144100394414-208731
11140140258513-255235

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 82416100023428205
Connor GrindalProp0000000000
Cronan GleesonProp32000051300
Rory van VugtFullback222184001418107448
Brooklyn HardakerFullback, Wing8610003303905
Christian Leali’ifanoCenter, Fly-half121213310194943474
Austin WhiteFullback, Wing13410003703305
Ben MitchellLock220000651400
Lincoln SiiProp50000091200
Will LeonardCenter149300042487015
Jack ShawWing1715500056981027
Sean NolanFly-half640400612148
Ben StrangHooker28126000606230032
Seth PurdeyCenter189200042182010
Reece MacDonaldFly-half, Fullback73170050720719
Christian DyerCenter, Fullback, Wing431000931505
Derek AdamsWing20100019105
Wilton ReboloProp720000413100
Dan HollinsheadFly-half9921440204621850
Jason EmeryCenter, Fly-half, Fullback109061026953715
Andrew CoeFullback, Wing2323110001496123055
Vaughen IsaacsFly-half, Fullback4404002611548
Cristian RodriguezScrum-half210000221000
Ben SugarsHooker1292000187110010
Sam BuckleyProp4000004600
Billy MeakesCenter13126000521125034
Gonzalo BertranouScrum-half1312600056042030
Tim AnsteeFlanker, Number 813123000309137015
Jordan ChaitFly-half2103401096718
Lucas BurLock53000015100
Reegan O’GormanLock1614000017312200
Tas SmithScrum-half30102000321101010
Mikaea WynyardLock50000016500
Justus TavaiProp4120001020012
Dane ZanderProp1814000020710500
Bruce Kauika-PetersenHooker14610003077205
Caleb StrumWing0000000000
Franco van den BergProp11220003153010
Alessandro HeaneyProp1710000011211000
Theo VukasinovicLock660000744400
Matt GelhausLock0000000000
Liam AntrobusLock600000272200
Michael AmirasFlanker10710004609005
Max KatjijekoFlanker1692000388140012
Semi KunataniFlanker, Number 82415110001393224059
Sam WalshFly-half820000135800
Matt AnticevFly-half820000542000
James StokesCenter, Fullback, Wing111010006307705
Harley DavidsonWing0000000000
Nick HartleyFullback, Scrum-half0000000000
Bruce YunFlanker, Hooker520000301700
Jurie van VuurenNumber 814142000198144010
Danny ChristensenScrum-half1000001300
Niall SaundersScrum-half1310310031473119
Jason DammNumber 8282612000740348060
Nick ChanCenter99200030093010
Matias JensenCenter, Wing7700003588400
Conor YoungProp158000015710300
Mikey Sosene-FeagaiHooker94300010253015
Timmy OhlweinProp4000005900
Maliu NiuafeProp1290000909000
Omer LevinsonScrum-half0000000000
Patrick BeattieProp0000000000
Robert MapaCenter, Wing20000023100
Cameron GerlachFullback21000080200
Ben HoustonFlanker, Number 811114000516129020
Penalty Try1110000007
Henry SpeightWing320000167500
Ed TimpsonFlanker, Number 813117000358154035

RFCLA - Active

PlayerPositionGPGSTCPDGMGTacklesKS/KA
Declan LeaneyProp72100054570
Matias JensenCenter, Wing770000358840
Dane ZanderProp2200000100
Franco van den BergProp112200031530
Alessandro HeaneyProp131000001021000
Semi KunataniFlanker, Number 8941000267630
Matt AnticevFly-half200000140
Jurie van VuurenNumber 8101010001111040
Jason DammNumber 8131250001501760
Nick ChanCenter992000300930
Conor YoungProp000000000
Mikaea WynyardLock5000001650
Mikey Sosene-FeagaiHooker943000102530
Timmy OhlweinProp400000590
Maliu NiuafeProp129000090900
Omer LevinsonScrum-half000000000
Patrick BeattieProp000000000
Robert MapaCenter, Wing2000002310
Ben HoustonFlanker, Number 8111140005161290
Ed TimpsonFlanker, Number 8131170003581540
Justus TavaiProp41200010200
Tas SmithScrum-half1421000185240
Matt HeatonFlanker, Number 81240000561160
Seth PurdeyCenter831000149160
Cronan GleesonProp3200005130
Rory van VugtFullback13136100804651
Christian Leali’ifanoCenter, Fly-half1212133101949434
Lincoln SiiProp000000000
Will LeonardCenter521000137210
Jack ShawWing321000129220
Sean NolanFly-half42000015110
Ben StrangHooker1211000116600
Reece MacDonaldFly-half, Fullback731700507207
Reegan O’GormanLock4300007140
Christian DyerCenter, Fullback, Wing43100093150
Andrew CoeFullback, Wing11114000641520
Vaughen IsaacsFly-half, Fullback440400261154
Ben SugarsHooker12920001871100
Billy MeakesCenter131260005211250
Gonzalo BertranouScrum-half13126000560420
Tim AnsteeFlanker, Number 8131230003091370
Lucas BurLock5300001510
Penalty Try111000000