Anthem Rugby Carolina

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Anthem Rugby Carolina
Anthem rugby carolina logo.png
FoundedFebruary 5, 2024;23 months ago (2024-02-05)
Location Charlotte, North Carolina
Ground American Legion Memorial Stadium (Capacity: 10,500)
CoachAgustín Cavalieri
CaptainTBA
Most caps Dan Hanson (31)
Top scorer Cliven Loubser (57)
Most tries Te Rangatira Waitokia (7)
League Major League Rugby
2025 Eastern Conference: 6th
Playoffs: DNQ
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Team kit

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 Men's Rugby World Cup, and be competitive for the US-hosted 2031 Rugby World Cup. [2]

Contents

History

Anthem RC finished the 2024 season 0-16, the third winless season in MLR history after the 2019 Austin Elite and 2022 Dallas Jackals. Despite the team's struggle, Anthem back Junior Gafa was named MLR Rookie of the Year, [3] with scrum-half Siaosi Nai and left wing Cael Hodgson earning First XV honors. [4]

Anthem RC announced the appointment of Patrick Stack as its first team president on January 14, 2025. [5] On March 31, 2025, Anthem RC became the first team in MLR history to field a roster entirely composed of domestic players in 25-17 loss to the Seattle Seawolves. [6]

Players and personnel

Current squad

The Anthem Rugby Carolina squad for the 2026 Major League Rugby season is: [7]

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

PlayerPositionUnion
Ramiro Gurovich Hooker Flag of Argentina.svg Argentina
Campbell Robb* Hooker Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand
Seth Smith Hooker Flag of the United States.svg United States
Elias Garza Prop Flag of the United States.svg United States
Alessandro Heaney* Prop IRFU flag.svg Ireland
Alex Hernandez Prop Flag of the United States.svg United States
Oliver Kane Prop Flag of the United States.svg United States
Alex Maughan Prop Flag of the United States.svg United States
Payton Telea-Ilalio Prop Flag of the United States.svg United States
Sam Golla Lock Flag of the United States.svg United States
Johan Momsen Lock Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa
James Scott Lock Flag of England.svg England
Will Sherman Lock Flag of the United States.svg United States
Makeen Alikhan Back row Flag of the United States.svg United States
Marques Fuala'au Back row Flag of the United States.svg United States
Baden Godfrey Back row Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia
Alejandro Martinez Tapia Back row Flag of the United States.svg United States
Moni Tongaʻuiha Back row Flag of the United States.svg United States
PlayerPositionUnion
Zion Going* Scrum-half Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand
Karl Keane* Scrum-half IRFU flag.svg Ireland
Ishma-eel Safodien* Scrum-half Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa
Luke Carty Fly-half Flag of the United States.svg United States
Tom Pittman Fly-half Flag of the United States.svg United States
EJ Freeman Centre Flag of the United States.svg United States
Junior Gafa* Centre Flag of Samoa.svg Samoa
Will Leonard* Centre IRFU flag.svg Ireland
Erich Storti Centre Flag of the United States.svg United States
Malacchi Esdale Wing Flag of the United States.svg United States
Conner Mooneyham Wing Flag of the United States.svg United States
Julian Roberts Wing Flag of the United States.svg United States
Jeron Pantor** Fullback Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg Trinidad and Tobago
Jordan Trainor Fullback Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand

Head coach

Technical staff

The team's technical staff as of 2024 is as follows: [8]

Records

Season standings

SeasonConferenceRegular seasonPostseason
PosPldWDLFA+/−BPPtsPldWLFA+/−Result
2024 Eastern6th160016323676-35377------Did not qualify
2025 Eastern6th160016282570-28855------Did not qualify
Totals3200326051,246-6411212------0 postseason appearances

2024 season

Anthem Rugby Carolina played 16 games in the 2024 regular season. They did not make the playoffs.

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

2025 season

Anthem Rugby Carolina played 16 games in the 2025 regular season.

DateOpponentHome/AwayLocationResult
February 15 NOLA Gold Away Gold Mine on Airline Lost, 35-14
February 21 San Diego Legion Home American Legion Memorial Stadium Lost, 52-5
February 28 Miami Sharks Home Mecklenburg County Sportsplex Lost, 32-31
March 8 Old Glory DC AwayMaryland SoccerPlexLost, 26-22
March 22 Houston SaberCats HomeAmerican Legion Memorial StadiumLost, 46-45
March 29 Seattle Seawolves Away Starfire Stadium Lost, 25-17
April 5NOLA GoldHomeAmerican Legion Memorial StadiumLost, 33-19
April 13 Chicago Hounds Away SeatGeek Stadium Lost, 28-20
April 18 New England Free Jacks HomeAmerican Legion Memorial StadiumLost, 26-6
April 23Seattle SeawolvesHomeMecklenburg County SportsplexLost, 60-19
April 27Miami SharksAway Baptist Health Community Field Lost, 31-5
May 10 RFCLA Away Wallis Annenberg Stadium Lost, 45-17
May 18Old Glory DCHomeAmerican Legion Memorial StadiumLost, 41-19
May 24Chicago HoundsHomeAmerican Legion Memorial StadiumLost, 33-19
May 30 Utah Warriors Away Zions Bank Stadium Lost, 31-10
June 8Houston SaberCatsAway SaberCats Stadium Lost, 26-14

See also

Anthem Inc

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. ↑ https://www.majorleague.rugby/news/major-league-rugby-rookie-of-the-year/
  4. ↑ https://www.majorleague.rugby/news/first-xv-wk14-2024/
  5. ↑ https://www.majorleague.rugby/news/anthem-rugby-carolina-names-patrick-stack-as-first-team-president/
  6. ↑ https://www.majorleague.rugby/news/major-league-rugby-week-7-recap/
  7. ↑ "Anthem RC". North American Rugby Database. Retrieved December 27, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Anthem RC Technical Staff".
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