Anthem Rugby Carolina

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Anthem Rugby Carolina
Anthem Rugby Carolina.png
FoundedFebruary 5, 2024;12 months ago (2024-02-05)
Location Charlotte, North Carolina
Ground(s) American Legion Memorial Stadium (Capacity: 10,500)
Coach(es) Alama Ieremia
Captain(s) Jake Turnbull
League(s) Major League Rugby

Anthem Rugby Carolina, shortened to Anthem RC, is an American professional rugby union team based in Charlotte, North Carolina, that competes in Major League Rugby (MLR). The team was founded in 2024, and began to play during the 2024 season. Unlike other MLR teams, Anthem RC is funded by governing bodies, USA Rugby and World Rugby, [1] in the aim to improve the USA Eagles so they may qualify for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, and be competitive for the US-hosted 2031 Rugby World Cup. [2]

Contents

Players and personnel

Current squad

The Anthem Rugby Carolina squad for the 2025 Major League Rugby season is: [3]

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

PlayerPositionUnion
Ethan Howard Hooker Flag of the United States.svg United States
Declan Moore Hooker Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia
Connor Robinson Hooker Flag of the United States.svg United States
Neil Trainor Hooker Flag of the United States.svg United States
Joe Apikotoa Prop Flag of Tonga.svg Tonga
Stephan Bernal-Wendt Prop Flag of the United States.svg United States
Dan Hanson Prop Flag of the United States.svg United States
Alex Maughan Prop Flag of the United States.svg United States
Quinton Tindel Prop Flag of the United States.svg United States
Jake Turnbull (c) Prop Flag of the United States.svg United States
Shawn Clark Lock Flag of the United States.svg United States
Sam Golla Lock Flag of the United States.svg United States
Mikey Grandy Lock Flag of the United States.svg United States
Le’Donn Mathis Lock Flag of the United States.svg United States
Rhys Mitchell* Lock Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa
Puna Vuli Lock Flag of Fiji.svg Fiji
Makeen Alikhan Back row Flag of the United States.svg United States
Dylan Fortune Back row Flag of the United States.svg United States
Alejandro Martinez Tapia Back row Flag of the United States.svg United States
Michael Ma'afu* Back row Flag of Tonga.svg Tonga
Albert O'Shannessey* Back row Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand
Graeme Pedegana Back row Flag of the United States.svg United States
Colin Turner Back row Flag of the United States.svg United States
PlayerPositionUnion
Carlo de Nysschen* Scrum-half Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa
Karl Keane Scrum-half Flag of the United States.svg United States
Conor McManus Scrum-half Flag of the United States.svg United States
Ishy Safodien Scrum-half Flag of the United States.svg United States
Line Latu Fly-half Flag of the United States.svg United States
Cliven Loubser Fly-half Flag of Namibia.svg Namibia
Watson Filikitonga* Centre Flag of Tonga.svg Tonga
Junior Gafa* Centre Flag of Samoa.svg Samoa
EJ Freeman Centre Flag of the United States.svg United States
Mateo Gadsden Centre Flag of the United States.svg United States
Erich Storti Centre Flag of the United States.svg United States
Tyren Al-Jiboori Wing Flag of the United States.svg United States
Cael Hodgson Wing Flag of the United States.svg United States
Conner Mooneyham Wing Flag of the United States.svg United States
Ashawnty Staples Wing Flag of the United States.svg United States
Jason Tidwell Wing Flag of the United States.svg United States
Jeron Pantor Fullback Flag of the United States.svg United States
Mitch Wilson Fullback Flag of the United States.svg United States

Head coach

Technical staff

The team's technical staff as of 2024 is as follows: [4]

Records

2024 season results

Anthem Rugby Carolina played 16 games in the 2024 regular season. All eight home games were played at the American Legion Memorial Stadium.

DateOpponentHome/AwayLocationResult
March 3 New England Free Jacks Home American Legion Memorial Satdium Lost, 13-46
March 9 New Orleans Gold Away Gold Mine on Airline Lost, 34-19
March 17 Dallas Jackals Home American Legion Memorial Stadium Lost, 28-68
March 23 Miami Sharks AwayAutoNation Sports FieldLost, 50-21
March 30 Old Glory DC Home American Legion Memorial Stadium Lost, 32-46
April 5 Utah Warriors Away Zions Bank Stadium Lost, 44-19
April 14 Chicago Hounds Away SeatGeek Stadium Lost, 59-26
April 27 New Orleans Gold Home American Legion Memorial Stadium Lost, 5-40
May 3 Seattle Seawolves Away Starfire Stadium Lost, 29-13
May 10 Houston SaberCats Home American Legion Memorial Stadium Lost, 15-38
May 18 RFC Los Angeles Home American Legion Memorial Stadium Lost, 29-33
June 1 Old Glory DC Away Maryland SoccerPlex Lost, 47-29
June 9 San Diego Legion Away Snapdragon Stadium Lost, 34-24
June 16 Miami Sharks Home American Legion Memorial Stadium Lost, 14-30
June 22 Chicago Hounds Home American Legion Memorial Stadium Lost, 29-38
June 29 New England Free Jacks Away Veterans Memorial Stadium Lost, 40-7

Season standings

SeasonConferenceRegular seasonPostseason
PosPldWDLFA+/−BPPtsPldWLFA+/−Result
2024 Eastern6th160016323676-35377------Did not qualify
Totals160016323676-35377------0 postseason appearances

References

  1. ↑ Pengelly, Martin (January 19, 2024). "World Rugby backs North Carolina team in US MLR with eye on 2031 World Cup". The Guardian. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  2. ↑ "MLR, World Rugby, USA Rugby forge historic partnership". Anthem RC. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Anthem Carolina". Americas Rugby News. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Anthem RC Technical Staff".
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