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Major League Rugby will be well represented when New Zealand’s National Provincial Championship kicks off next weekend. An impressive 45 players who took part in the 2023 season will be suiting in the competition that runs through October, with another 17 former MLR players involved.
The largest contingent, perhaps predictably, comes from the newly-crowned champions New England. One third of the current players come from that squad, with four former Free Jacks among the 14 teams taking part. Manawatu feature a remarkable 12 current MLR players and two who have previously experienced professional rugby in North America. The new Turbos Head Coach is Mike Rogers, who was Free Jacks Head Coach Scott Mathie’s right-hand man in the title-winning campaign.
Free Jacks prop Cole Keith holds the distinction of being both the only Canadian international and the only fully-capped North American player of the 45. Former Canada XV hooker Jordan Olsen has returned to Northland though he has never played in MLR.
US-eligible players include former New England prop Alex Johnston, San Diego hooker Shilo Klein, ATL hooker Ben Strang, and Old Glory flanker Niko Jones. Klein was recently named in the Eagles squad set to tour Europe next month.
Canterbury and Wellington are the only sides that will have no players with MLR experience among them. Klein previously suited up for the Cantabrians but will play for North Harbour this time around. Former New York prop Wilton Rebolo is both the only Brazilian player and only South American in the NPC.
AUCKLAND
| FL | Niko Jones | Old Glory DC |
| N8 | Terrell Peita | New England Free Jacks (2022) |
| SH | Pele Cowley | Austin Gilgronis (2022) |
BAY OF PLENTY STEAMERS
| LH | Alex Johnston | New England Free Jacks (2022) |
| LO | Semisi Paea | New England Free Jacks |
| SH | Richard Judd | San Diego Legion |
COUNTIES MANUKAU STEELERS
| LO | Sam Slade | Colorado Raptors (2020) |
| FH/CE | AJ Alatimu | Seattle Seawolves |
HAWKE’S BAY MAGPIES
| HO | Kianu Kereru-Symes | New England Free Jacks |
| TH | Joel Hintz | New England Free Jacks |
| TH | Isaac Salmon | Toronto Arrows |
| SH | Connor McLeod | Utah Warriors |
| FH/FB | Caleb Makene | Utah Warriors |
| WI | Paula Balekana | New England Free Jacks |
MANAWATU TURBOS
| TH | Cole Keith | New England Free Jacks |
| TH | Sean Paranihi | NOLA Gold |
| LO | Johan Momsen | Rugby ATL |
| LO | Micaiah Torrance-Read | Toronto Arrows |
| LO | Stan van den Hoven | New England Free Jacks (2022) |
| FL | Slade McDowall | New England Free Jacks |
| SH | Luke Campbell | NOLA Gold |
| SH | John Poland | New England Free Jacks |
| FH/FB | Beaudein Waaka | New England Free Jacks |
| CE | Jason Emery | New York Ironworkers |
| WI | Taniela Filimone | New England Free Jacks |
| WI | Te Rangatira Waitokia | Rugby ATL |
| FB | Nehe Milner-Skudder | Rugby New York (2022) |
| FB | Drew Wild | Houston SaberCats |
NORTH HARBOUR HEAT
| LH | Tevita Langi | New York Ironworkers |
| HO | Shilo Klein | San Diego Legion |
| TH | Sam Davies | New York Ironworkers |
| TH | Nic Mayhew | New York Ironworkers |
| LO | Ben Grant | San Diego Legion |
| FH | Jack Heighton | New York Ironworkers |
NORTHLAND TANIWHA
| LH | Jarred Adams | NOLA Gold |
| HO | Matt Moulds | San Diego Legion (2022) |
| TH | Wilton Rebolo | Rugby New York (2022) |
| LO | Liam Hallam-Eames | NOLA Gold |
| CE | Blake Hohaia | Utah Warriors (2020) |
| CE | Rene Ranger | Colorado Raptors (2020) |
| FB | Jordan Trainor | NOLA Gold |
OTAGO RAZORBACKS
| HO | Henry Bell | Utah Warriors |
| LO | Will Tucker | Rugby New York (2022) |
| FL | Sam Fischli | New England Free Jacks |
| SH | Kieran McClea | New England Free Jacks |
| WI | Waisake Naholo | Rugby New York (2022) |
SOUTHLAND STAGS
| LH | Joe Walsh | San Diego Legion (2022) |
| HO | Ben Strang | Rugby ATL |
| TH | Morgan Mitchell | Houston SaberCats |
| FH | Dan Hollinshead | Rugby United New York (2021) |
| FB | Rory van Vugt | Rugby ATL (2021) |
TARANAKI BULLS
| HO | Mills Sanerivi | New England Free Jacks |
| TH | Donald Brighouse | New England Free Jacks (2020) |
| TH | Kyle Stewart | Old Glory DC |
| LO | Jesse Parete | New England Free Jacks |
| FL/N8 | Tom Florence | NOLA Gold |
| FH | Jayson Potroz | New England Free Jacks |
| CE | Teihorangi Walden | New York Ironworkers |
| WI | Vereniki Tikoisolomone | Houston SaberCats |
TASMAN MAKO
| TH | Sam Matenga | Seattle Seawolves |
| FH/CE | Tim O’Malley | Utah Warriors (2019) |
WAIKATO MOOLOOS
| FL | Mitch Jacobson | New England Free Jacks |
