background & History
The Miami Sharks were confirmed to be joining Major League Rugby on 8th February, 2023 for the following year. By MLR standards this was a huge amount of time prior to their first season. Their first season competing in MLR will be the 2024 season competing in the Western Conference and bringing the total number of teams to 13 (prior to the withdrawal of NY and Toronto, and the addition of Anthem RC).
The Sharks boast a strong Argentinian and South American identity in part through their ownership group. On April 24, 2023, Jose Pellicena was announced as the clubs first Head Coach, having previously ran the Los Pumas men’s u20 side. Two days later on April 26, 2023, the Sharks announced the first player ever signed for the Miami side, Los Pumas veteran scrum-half Tomas Cubelli. South African flanker Roelof Smit was announced in early August, before a trio of Uruguayan Internationals. The Sharks’ inaugural season was a solid one. They missed the playoffs with a record of 6-10 in the Eastern Conference (In the West, the Dallas Jackals qualified with that same record and reached the Conference Finals), but recorded upset victories over the reigning champion New England Free Jacks and a strong NOLA Gold side.
Records & Record Holders
all time
Top Scorer: Santiago Videla (74pts)
Top Try Scorer: Nick Grigg (7)
Most Appearances: Sean McNulty, Rick Rose, Jonas Petrakopoulos, Alec McDonnell, Guiseppe du Toit (16)
Most Starts: Tomás Inciarte (15)
Top Tackler: Ben Bonasso (167)
Top Meter Eater: Felipe Etcheverry (789m)
single season
Top Scorer: Santiago Videla (74pts) – 2024
Top Try Scorer: Nick Grigg (7) – 2024
Top Tackler: Ben Bonasso (167) – 2024
Top Meter Eater: Felipe Etcheverry (789m) – 2024
historical performance
2024: 6-0-10 (-54) – 32pts: 5th in Eastern Conference
Overall Regular Season Record: 6-0-10
Overall Championship Series Record: N/A
Championship Series Appearances: 0
Head Coach & Captain
Head Coach
- José Pellicena (2024-)
Captain
- Tomás Cubelli (2024-)
Logo & Jerseys
The Miami Sharks Logo depicts a shark swatting at a rugby ball with it’s tail. The shark itself is outlined in black and pink, the club’s typical colour scheme. The Sharks’ 2024 home jersey was primarily pink with some blue undertones, and the away featured pink/blue accents on a black base. Both jerseys were reminiscent of Miami Vice/summer evenings and beach parties, which the city of Miami well.
venue
For their inaugural season, the Miami Sharks played at Autonation Sports Field, a part of DRV PNK Stadium, the home of MLS side Inter Miami CF. The field had a capacity of 3,200 when announced, but seating will be increased to 5,000 for MLR games in 2024.
Miami Sharks – Active
| Player | Position | GP | GS | T | MG | Tackles | KS/KA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matías Orlando | Centre | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Josh McAdam | Centre | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Marcos Eliçagaray | Fullback | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Federico Gutíerrez | Lock | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kirby Myhill | Hooker | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Alex Tucci | Prop | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Isaac Bales | Hooker | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Zach Bastres | Wing | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Connor Burns | Fullback | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chase Schor-Haskin | Flanker, Number 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Setu Vole | Prop | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Manuel Ardao | Flanker, Number 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rick Rose | Lock | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Martin Elias | Fly-half | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tomás Bekerman | Hooker, Prop | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tomás Malanos | Centre | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lautaro Soto | Centre | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Damian Morley | Fly-half, Scrum-half | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ma’ake Muti | Prop | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sean McNulty | Hooker | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Marcos Young | Fullback, Wing | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ronan Foley | Flanker, Number 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tomas Casares | Flanker, Number 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Alec McDonnell | Prop | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Reinaldo Piussi | Prop | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tomás Inciarte | Centre, Scrum-half | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tomás Cubilla | Centre | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Shane O’Leary | Fly-half | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Guiseppe du Toit | Centre | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jonas Petrakopoulos | Prop | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Santiago Videla | Fly-half, Fullback, Wing | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Miami Sharks – All
| Player | Position | GP | GS | T | C | P | AC | DG | MG | Tackles | KS/KA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alec McDonnell | Prop | 16 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 101 | 52 | 0 | 0 |
| Alex Tucci | Prop | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Alexis Glover | Hooker | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Avery Oitomen | Wing | 10 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 183 | 31 | 0 | 0 |
| Benjamín Bonasso | Flanker | 15 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 508 | 167 | 0 | 17 |
| Charlie Overton | Lock | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Chase Schor-Haskin | Flanker, Number 8 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 53 | 21 | 0 | 0 |
| Connor Burns | Fullback | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Damian Morley | Fly-half, Scrum-half | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Dan Pryor | Flanker, Number 8 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 358 | 119 | 0 | 0 |
| David Beach | Lock | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Eric Naposki | Fullback, Wing | 9 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 185 | 22 | 0 | 5 |
| Federico Gutíerrez | Lock | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Felipe Etcheverry | Fly-half | 14 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 789 | 44 | 21 | 73 |
| Guiseppe du Toit | Centre | 16 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 264 | 46 | 0 | 5 |
| Isaac Bales | Hooker | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jonas Petrakopoulos | Prop | 16 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 76 | 55 | 0 | 0 |
| Josh McAdam | Centre | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| Kirby Myhill | Hooker | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 222 | 34 | 0 | 5 |
| Lautaro Soto | Centre | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ma’ake Muti | Prop | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Manuel Ardao | Flanker, Number 8 | 12 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 573 | 118 | 0 | 29 |
| Marcos Eliçagaray | Fullback | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Marcos Young | Fullback, Wing | 15 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 668 | 82 | 0 | 12 |
| Marques Fuala’au | Flanker | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Martin Elias | Fly-half | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Matias Caramuti | Fly-half | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Matías Freyre | Fullback | 8 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 422 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Matías Orlando | Centre | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 133 | 26 | 0 | 0 |
| Mauro Rebussone | Lock | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Michael Hand | Wing | 8 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 239 | 27 | 0 | 15 |
| Micheal Etete | Flanker, Lock | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 143 | 26 | 0 | 0 |
| Nick Grigg | Centre | 14 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 717 | 130 | 0 | 35 |
| Nicolas Elewaut | Wing | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Penalty Try | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | |
| Reinaldo Piussi | Prop | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 92 | 34 | 0 | 5 |
| Rick Rose | Lock | 16 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 265 | 117 | 0 | 0 |
| Rob Evans | Prop | 12 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 181 | 55 | 0 | 0 |
| Roelof Smit | Flanker | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 193 | 52 | 0 | 5 |
| Ronan Foley | Flanker, Number 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Santiago Videla | Fly-half, Fullback, Wing | 12 | 12 | 3 | 9 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 589 | 127 | 22 | 74 |
| Sean McNulty | Hooker | 16 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 337 | 122 | 0 | 10 |
| Setu Vole | Prop | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Shane O’Leary | Fly-half | 5 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 127 | 23 | 3 | 11 |
| Stan van den Hoven | Lock | 14 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 95 | 165 | 0 | 0 |
| Tahukiha’amea Koloamatangi | Prop | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 101 | 18 | 0 | 0 |
| Tevita Sole | Prop | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 98 | 45 | 0 | 0 |
| Tomas Casares | Flanker, Number 8 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 371 | 72 | 0 | 12 |
| Tomás Bekerman | Hooker, Prop | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tomás Cubelli | Scrum-half | 11 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 188 | 44 | 0 | 0 |
| Tomás Cubilla | Centre | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tomás Inciarte | Centre, Scrum-half | 15 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 476 | 146 | 0 | 15 |
| Tomás Malanos | Centre | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Zach Bastres | Wing | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |