NEWS

MLR Game Changers

The upcoming MLR Collegiate Draft is a crucial step in the pathway to professional rugby, but there are many steps that come before it as well. Ahead of the Collegiate Draft, MLR and Rhino Rugby USA are recognizing 15 players across the League that go above and beyond to build rugby pathways for future generations. These players are the Game Changers for growing rugby in North America.⁣

First up is Alex MacDonald from Rugby United New York. As a two-time Collegiate All-American, Alex understands the pathway to professional rugby in North America better than most, “I always say I wish someone had come to my school as a kid to teach me the importance of sport and camaraderie through rugby.” In his role as Community Outreach Director for RUNY, Alex visits schools and youth groups several times every week. His mission is to use the platform of rugby and the core values it instills to promote personal development into better teammates, students, leaders and people.

MLR Game Changers would be incomplete without including Shalom Suniula from the Seattle Seawolves, who has put in work for close to a decade. “Over the last 8 years I have been relentlessly driven to help change the profile of rugby in North America. A large portion of that passion was inspired by realizing how fortunate I was growing up in New Zealand understanding the resources & opportunities we had available compared to the U.S.” Shalom has built coach development workshops, player development camps, residential summer camps, and club consultation. has had a lasting impact for rugby in the Pacific Northwest. “As MLR and women’s rugby continues to grow, our development pathways will continue to become more critical as we look to compete with Tier one nations on a global scale.”

Sam Windsor has been a longtime advocate for growing the game in Houston, and across all of the US. “Having access to all levels of rugby through my career is what drove me to want to be the best I could and play at the highest level. It helped me achieve what I thought impossible, and that was doing what I love all over the world.” Windsor helps support the growth of rugby by coaching in Houston at highschools, helping out the collegiate women’s 7s team, and is heavily involved in the SaberCats Academy, “From mini rugby to middle school and high school rugby and from collegiate rugby to the club game; each level here in North America plays an integral part in forming pathways to MLR and the men’s and women’s national 7s and 15s programs.”

Tadhg Leader has been helping lead the growth of the game of rugby across New England, “My hope is to see USA Rugby consistently competing at the top tier of World Rugby and I believe through the actions of all the great volunteer coaches across the country laying the foundations, it will soon become a reality.” Together with Tony Purpura, the pair have visited over 50 clubs and colleges working with aspiring rugby players. He has also been the head coach of Beantown rugby, Boston’s Premier Women’s Rugby Team. During this period of social distancing, Tadhg has been growing the game through virtual coaching sessions with the Free Jacks IDP and learn to play programs.

Iscaro is an American born rugby player that continues to support future generations. “I’ve been fortunate enough to begin playing rugby at 10 years old and come up through the ranks of both age-grade national teams as well as youth, high school, college, and professional teams all within North American rugby pathways. This exposure has afforded me invaluable opportunities to travel and play domestically & worldwide while growing as an athlete and more importantly a young man. North American rugby’s growth and success over the years is largely a testament to the dedicated coaches and supporters’ investment in domestic players.”

Nate Augspurger has been playing rugby in the US since he was 11-years-old, and has been coaching youth rugby for six years. “Growing up as an ‘undersized athlete’, I felt like rugby is sport where this didn’t matter. If you can run, kick, tackle and throw, there is a spot on the team for you. While playing rugby in college, I realized my potential had no ceiling. For my entire career, I’ve been able to combine my love for the game with my ambition to surprise people with my abilities. It is important to me that I share my rugby knowledge and skills with younger players. I’m working with local rugby academies to create online classes and workouts for their players to utilize. Additionally, I recently started a rugby podcast. By telling stories, introducing players, and talking about the rugby basics, I want to convert some new fans into the sport I love.”

Marcello Wainwright is a player ambassador for the Toronto Inner-City Rugby Foundation (TIRF), a local nonprofit that builds community through rugby and offers free summer leagues to elementary and high school students across the city. A graduate of TIRF’s programming himself, Marcello regularly participates in TIRF festivals, practices, and events held year-round, introducing the sport to thousands of young Torontonians and teaching them about the values of rugby. “We are in such an advantageous position to do this kind of thing, and it’s an opportunity I don’t want to waste. To lend a couple of hours of my time here and there, I’m hopeful it can leave a big impact. I want to be a role model, and to see young athletes develop a love of the game right in front of your eyes is a special feeling.”

The Kansas born scrum half, Michael Baska, has gone through the US rugby pathways himself, and is now devoted to giving back. “Creating pathways and opportunities for rugby players to be successful on and off the field has been my goal for the past three years. In Utah we have created the “Jr. Warriors Rugby Program”. The Jr Warriors Program consists of a rugby league, skills clinics, local SLC Parks and Recreational rugby league, players and coaches visiting schools, players and coaches working with SLC Juvenile Detention Centers and much more. Engaging with youth players and growing the game of rugby at the grass roots level is imperative if we want the MLR to continue its success and develop into a top tier rugby league world wide. “

One of the ultimate rugby Game Changers, Mike Petri started a youth rugby program in Brooklyn and wrote a children’s book titled ‘R is for Rugby.’ “In my community I visit schools to read my rugby children’s book [R is for Rugby] and play rugby with the students, introducing as many young kids to the sport as I can. I also started my own youth rugby program in Brooklyn to encourage kids to be active through rugby and to pass on and celebrate the core values of our game. Creating pathways like this gives young kids an opportunity to have fun with their friends by learning something new, which helps them build confidence. They can share the game and create their own experiences making friends and having fun, which is ultimately why we all play the game.”

Holden Yungert was born in California and has played rugby for 13 years. “Over the last three seasons with the Gold I have taken the opportunity to be apart of a few local coaching roles. Most recently I have been involved with Jesuit Highschool’s rugby program, as well as a local men’s club, the Crescent City Blues RFC. I like how both are a chance to help develop important skills and values, while also developing players and people.” Yungert grew up playing rugby in the U.S. himself, so he understands the importance of giving back to the programs that gave him so much, “Through coaching and playing for the Gold, I have enjoyed becoming a role model, while passing on some of the useful tips that I’ve learned from some the great coaches throughout my career.”

Neethling Gericke has been a coach in the Atlanta community for over five years. His experience includes coaching Life University to D1A Men’s Collegiate National Championship in 2018 & 2019, working as a student-athlete academic advisor and volunteering with Atlanta Youth Rugby to grow the game. He is also producing a Rugby 101 series to explain the laws, fundamentals and share general knowledge of the sport for young players and new fans. “I strongly believe that this game can lead you to meet some truly remarkable people who can provide you with lessons and opportunities that will change your life….The rugby community in America is truly a family and I am happy to be a part of it. ”

Meyer has played rugby for 22 years and gives back to the community by coaching with the NOLA Gold Youth Rugby League for ages six to twelve. “Through the rugby pathway we strive to help players be the best possible versions of themselves on and off the field. It’s my hope that I can pass down the knowledge and lessons I’ve learned that will help inspire others to go after their dreams.” Meyer is passionate about giving back to the rugby community, and growing the game in New Orleans.

Ryan Matyas developed through American rugby himself, and now is a dedicated leader in giving back and improving the pathways. “I started playing rugby when I was 12. Since then, I did everything I possibly could to get my hands on rugby advancement programs in order to increase my knowledge of the game—even if that meant catching a Greyhound Bus from Tucson, AZ to Seattle, WA. My dream was to become a professional rugby player.” Ryan Matyas demonstrates his passion for rugby by mentoring youth athletes and developing their performance techniques through clinics. He is dedicated to amplifying the rugby grassroots movement in North America – in a way that will have an immense impact for future generations. He is also committed to informing and guiding young players on the importance of having good mental and nutritional health. “Even if I played a minor role in their development, I feel like I am helping make rugby more accessible in the U.S.”

As a Massachusetts native himself, Tony has been a leader in growing the game of rugby in New England. In 2013 he co-founded Boston Rugby Camps, a free camp for local rugby players. Since joining the Free Jacks, Tony has connected and worked with over 50 clubs, colleges, and programs coaching young athletes. After the 2020 season was postponed, Tony helped launch the Free Jacks coach-the-coaches webinar series that invited coaches to connect nightly and learn from the Free Jacks players and staff. “It’s been amazing to see the evolution of the game on and off the pitch over the last 15 years I have been involved, and it comes with no coincidence. There has been an overwhelming effort from so many pioneers to get us to this stage, relaying the values the sport has given them.”

Will Magie has progressed through all American rugby pathways, from youth rugby, to national team age grades, to a USA Eagle. “I was very fortunate enough to play age grade rugby for the USA from U17s all the way up to U20s and remember looking up at the current Eagle players at that time and idolizing them hoping to one day become them. My hope is to inspire the next generation of young rugby talent who may be watching us on a weekly basis in MLR. Whether it’s coaching clinics in local schools or chatting with young fans after the game you never know who you may inspire to play this great game we are fortunate enough to call our job. The more young people that are playing rugby in the US the better our national team will be for years to come which is a really exciting prospect. I’ve traveled to amazing cities and countries, made livelong friends and created lifelong memories through rugby and I hope that many young American rugby players get to have some of the same memorable experiences I’ve been lucky enough to have.”