The flanker/hooker, selected 4th overall by the Chicago Hounds in the 2026 MLR Draft, grew up immersed in one of the sport's great rugby cultures. It's a background that shaped how he plays the game and how he talks about it, with the kind of grounded confidence that comes from learning rugby where it's a way of life rather than a hobby.

Will Hooley sat down with McKay to talk about that journey, from New Zealand to Mount St. Mary's to the USA U20s, and now to the professional ranks with the reigning MLR champions.

From New Zealand to Mount St. Mary's

McKay's path to Major League Rugby doesn't follow the typical American route. Raised on New Zealand rugby, he developed his game in an environment where the sport is scrutinized and celebrated at every level. That foundation carried him to Mount St. Mary's, where he built the resume that eventually earned him a USA U20s cap and a first-round selection in the MLR Draft.

Asked to compare the two systems, McKay doesn't dodge the question. He's direct about the differences between US college rugby and the game he grew up around in New Zealand, offering an honest, first-hand perspective that few American-based players can match. It's not a knock on either system so much as a clear-eyed read on what each one does well, and where the gaps still are.

Joining the Champions

Landing with the Hounds as the 4th overall pick puts McKay in a strong position to start his professional career. He's set to work under head coach Chris Latham, and McKay speaks about that opportunity with genuine excitement. Learning from Latham, and doing it inside a locker room that just won an MLR championship, is the kind of environment most young players only get to imagine.

For a flanker/hooker still early in his development, that mix of high-level coaching and a winning culture is exactly the setup he needs.

Eyes on 2031

McKay isn't just thinking about his rookie season. He's already looking ahead to the USA Eagles, and specifically to the 2031 Rugby World Cup on home soil. It's an ambitious target, but one that fits a player who has spent his whole career around high standards, first in New Zealand, then at the U20 level, and now in MLR.

He's also candid about the bigger dream sitting behind that goal: one day lining up against the All Blacks or the Springboks. For a player raised on New Zealand rugby, that's not just a professional milestone. It's personal.

What's Next

McKay is one of a growing wave of young Americans entering MLR with real international pedigree, and his story, part Los Angeles, part New Zealand, part Mount St. Mary's, is exactly the kind of background the league is counting on to build depth in the American player pool.

The Hounds now get the job of developing him. If his early ambition is any indication, Chicago won't have to wait long to see why he went 4th overall.