By the Numbers: How MLR Rosters Reflect a Maturing American Rugby Ecosystem

There's been a continued evolution of the American rugby player pathway. Look no further than the 2026 roster composition data and development profile of the recently released Anthem Rugby Carolina 2026 roster.

Rather than representing a single route to the professional game, MLR’s current player pool demonstrates that multiple, proven American pathways are now feeding into Major League Rugby, from US high school and collegiate rugby to MLR Academies, the MLR Draft, and USA Rugby national age-grade programs.

By the Numbers: The American Player Pathway

Analysis of Anthem Rugby Carolina’s 2026 roster provides a clear snapshot of a purpose-built team that blends emerging domestic talent, capped USA national team players, and quality international experience, a sign of things to come perhaps across the whole of Major League Rugby:

• 84.38% of players are domestic U.S. players

• 31.25% are capped USA Eagles

• 37.5% are returning Anthem players from last season

• 15 players have participated in at least one USA Rugby High Performance Pathway team, including:

• 5x High School All-Americans / USA U18s

• 6x Junior All-Americans / USA U20s

• 10x Collegiate All-Americans / USA U23s

• 8x USA Academy or US Hawks/Falcons 

This density of high-performance pathway experience at the professional level reflects a system that is growing and operational.

Collegiate Rugby as a Core Development Engine

The data also reinforces the central role of U.S. collegiate rugby in the American pathway. Players progressing through nationally recognized programs — including Life University, Saint Mary’s College of California, Cal, Lindenwood University, UCLA, and others — are now consistently advancing into Major League Rugby and continue to impact USA national team environments as they have done for many years. 

Multiple Proven Routes to the Professional Game

The American player pathway is not a single lane. Instead, Major League Rugby continues to benefit from and support multiple, viable routes into the professional and international game, including:

• High school rugby → collegiate rugby → professional rugby (MLR)

• USA Rugby High Performance identification (U18, U20, U23) → MLR

• Elite collegiate rugby programs producing professional-ready players

• With MLR Draft selections transitioning immediately from college to pro competition

• MLR academies serving as direct entry points into the professional game

• Multi-sport crossover athletes converting from football, wrestling, and other disciplines

• International-to-American development pathways, where players developed overseas are building lives and young families in the US.

Together, these routes provide athletes, parents, and coaches with a clear line of sight from local participation to the highest levels of the game.

What This Signals for the Future

Major League Rugby’s evolving player profile sends a clear message:

• The American rugby pathway is gaining traction

• Development is happening domestically

• Professional opportunities are connected to youth, collegiate, and age-grade systems

• Players can now envision multiple legitimate routes to the professional and international game

This represents a meaningful step forward in building a sustainable, American-led rugby ecosystem.