A Look at Canadian Players in the MLR Rosters for 2024
This year according to our calculations there are 47 Canadian players in the MLR rosters. There are 24 in the Western Conference and 23 in the Eastern Conference. The largest number of Canadian players are on the New England Free Jacks (12), there are 3 teams with 7 players LA, Dallas and Utah. There’s one team with no Canadians, Houston Sabercats.
Looking at the stats from last year, and you can view in more detail in our June 2023 article, there were 72 Canadian players in MLR 2023 by the end of the season. Players were added throughout the season and the 2024 numbers will likely rise as well. Of course, the collapse of the Toronto Arrows franchise was a big reason for the number decline. In 2023 on average 19 Canadians started each week and 14 were in the Reserves, so 33 were in the rosters every week, on average 39 of the 72 didn’t play. It will be interesting to track the stats this year.
So who are the Canadians that have dropped out of MLR and who have gone in?
Out are Lindsey Stevens, Ethan Hager (7s), Kainoa Lloyd (JBAA), Eric Howard, Quinn Ngawati, Doug Fraser (Lomas), George Barton, Michael Smith (CW), Nakai Penny, Reid Watkins (Burnaby/Highlanders), Sam Wegert, Corey Thomas, Travis Larsen, Ross Braude, Cole Davis, Ciaran Breen (7s), Jack McRogers, Mike Sheppard, Adrian Wadden, Cole Brown, David Scollon, Denver Fatt (CW), Nik Hildebrand (CW), Hank Stevenson, James O’Neill, Owain Ruttan, Tom Artmann, Jacob Ince, Kobe Faust, Dawson Fatoric, Will Grant, Peter Nelson, Marc Antoine Ouellet, Liam Bowman (7s), Matt Fish.
In are Reid Davis, Sam Reimer, Noah Bain, Karl Hunger, Brock Gallagher, Guiseppe du Toit, Piers von Dadelszen, Callum Botchar, Logan Weidner.
[note: a reader mentioned we initially missed Logan Weidner, he’s both Canada/USA qualified and is now on the Anthem Carolina squad which is the USA Development team so seems to be leaning to the USA pathway but we’ll see who caps him first. We’ve updated the article accordingly.]
[note: more updates from a reader. Nic Benn is in Dallas, Connor Grindal is in LA. David Scollon, Jacob Ince, Thomas Artman were not on MLR contracts, Denver Fatt and Sam Wegert were drafted but were not on MLR contracts.]
[note: Bryan Ray pointed out that San Diego’s Blair Cowan is also Canada eligible, we’ve again updated the article.]
[note: Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti has been identified as Canada eligible, a scrum-half born in Fiji and raised in the UK. He’s signed by New England.]
[note: Ben Keith added to Utah in March]
WESTERN CONFERENCE (24)
Seattle Seawolves (1)
Reid Davis – Flanker
Utah Warriors (7)
Tyler Wong – Hooker
Emerson Prior – Prop
Sam Reimer – Scrum Half
Rob Povey – Fly Half
Noah Bain – Wing
Spencer Jones – Fullback
Ben Keith – Flanker
San Diego Legion (2)
Djustice Sears-Duru – Prop
Blair Cowan – Flanker
Los Angeles (7)
Conor Young – Prop
Connor Grindal – Prop
Reegan O’Gorman – Lock
Matt Heaton – Flanker
Seth Purdey – Centre
Jack Shaw – Wing
Andrew Coe – Wing
Houston Sabercats (0)
None
Dallas Jackals (7)
Dewald Kotze – Hooker
Kyle Steeves – Prop
Liam Murray – Prop
Karl Hunger – Lock
Brock Gallagher – Scrum Half
Mitch Richardson – Centre
Nic Benn – Wing
EASTERN CONFERENCE (23)
Anthem Rugby Carolina (1)
Logan Weidner – Flanker
Chicago Hounds (3)
Mason Flesch – Flanker
Lucas Rumball – Flanker
Jason Higgins – Scrum Half
Miami Sharks (3)
Shane O’Leary – Fly Half
Guiseppe du Toit – Centre
Avery Oitomen – Wing
New England Free Jacks (12)
Andrew Quattrin – Hooker
Foster Dewitt – Prop
Cole Keith – Prop
Kyle Baillie – Lock
Conor Keys – Lock
Josh Larsen – Lock
Ethan Fryer – Flanker
Piers von Dadelszen – Flanker
Gabe Casey – Centre
Ben Lesage – Centre
Isaac Olson – Centre
Cameron Nordli-Kelemeti – scrum half
New Orleans Gold (1)
Callum Botchar – Lock
Old Glory DC (3)
Cali Martinez – Prop
Tyler Rowland – Prop
Gradyn Bowd – Fly Half