| Born | Joshua Larsen 4 April 1994 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Height | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 113 kg (249 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | Otago University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Joshua Larsen (born 4 April 1994) is a Canadian rugby union player who played for the New England Free Jacks in Major League Rugby (MLR). He became an assistant coach from the team in 2025. His usual position is lock. He also represents Canada internationally.
While studying at Otago University getting a bachelor's degree in commerce. Larsen played at the amateur level for Taieri RFC. Then joining the Northland academy and eventually playing professionally for Northland from 2016-2018. He then finished out the 2018 season with Otago in New Zealand's the Mitre 10 Cup. [1] He also played for Austin Elite in MLR during the 2019 season making 13 appearances and scoring 2 tries.
He would then sign with the New England Free Jacks in 2020. Being a cornerstone of the team since its inception. Severing as the team's captain since his first year. During the shorted 2020 season he would appear in five matches scoring two tries. After playing two seasons with the club in 2021 and 2022. He would get injured after only playing three games during the 2023 season. However he would make a full come back the following year. [2] Helping lead the Free Jacks to back to back MLR championships in 2024 and 2025. He would get his 50th cap with the club on July 27, 2024. [3]
International career
Larsen previously play for Canadas U20 squad. Then getting to make his debut for the national team in November 2017 vs Georgia.
Larsen would make the 2019 World Cup squad and make headlines after getting red carded in a match vs South Africa for driving his shoulder into Thomas du Toit. Larsen would then show his sportsmanship after the match. When he went into the Springboks locker room after the game and apologized. [4]
Coaching career
On November 12, 2025 it was announced Larsen would remain with the New England Free Jacks however he would transition from a player role to an assistant coach. [5]
Larsen was born in Nanaimo to a New Zealand-born father and Canadian mother. He is the brother of Travis Larsen who also plays rugby. [6]
Since moving to the United States Larsen has become a fan of American sports such as football. He has also described himself as a coffee connoisseur. [7]
Larsen threw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Boston Red Sox game on August 31, 2025. [8]
| Season | Team | League | Games | Starts | Sub | Tries | Cons | Pens | Drops | Points | Yel | Red |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Austin Elite | MLR | 13 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | New England Free Jacks | MLR | 5 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| 2021 | New England Free Jacks | MLR | 12 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 2022 | New England Free Jacks | MLR | 17 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2023 | New England Free Jacks | MLR | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | New England Free Jacks | MLR | 14 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 | New England Free Jacks | MLR | 14 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 78 | 58 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 | 5 | 0 | ||
Otago