Angus MacLellan Bio
Hugh Angus MacLellan II, known professionally as Angus MacLellan, is an American rugby union player born on August 24, 1992, in Traverse City, Michigan. He plays the prop position and currently represents the Utah Warriors in Major League Rugby (MLR), the top professional rugby competition in the United States. MacLellan has also represented the United States national rugby union team, debuting for the senior side during the 2016 Americas Rugby Championship. Standing 6 ft 1 in tall and weighing around 245 lb, he brings a powerful physical presence to the front row.
Early Life and Background
MacLellan was born and raised in Michigan, growing up in the Traverse City area in the northern part of the state. He attended St. Francis High School, where he first developed his love for contact sports and team competition. During his high school years, he played club rugby with the Traverse City Alliance team, an early experience that helped him build the foundational skills needed for a career in the sport.
His family background and the outdoor sporting culture of northern Michigan helped shape his path toward rugby. The region, better known for hockey and outdoor recreation, provided MacLellan with a strong athletic base. These formative years laid the groundwork for the discipline and toughness that would later define his professional career as a prop.
Path to Rugby
After high school, MacLellan continued his rugby development at Davenport University in Michigan, where he played for the Davenport University Panthers. At Davenport, he served as captain of the rugby team and led the program to a national D1-AA title, a significant achievement at the collegiate level. His leadership on the field earned him selection as captain of the USA Collegiate All-American Team, one of the highest honors for a young American rugby player.
MacLellan also broadened his rugby education abroad, playing for Trinity University in Dublin, Ireland, and Linwood Rugby Club in Christchurch, New Zealand. These international stints exposed him to different styles of forward play and helped refine the scrummaging and physical techniques that would later become his trademarks. By the time he finished his college career, he had earned a reputation as one of the top emerging props in American rugby.
Angus MacLellan Career
Early Career (2011–2015)
MacLellan began his representative rugby journey with the United States under-20 national team, playing two years with the U.S. U20s between 2011 and 2012. In the fall of 2014, he joined the USA Selects, a development pathway for players aiming at the senior national team. His performances with the Selects put him on the radar of senior national team selectors.
In 2015, MacLellan was named as part of the wider training group for the U.S. national team ahead of the 2015 Rugby World Cup. However, a torn ACL injury ended his hopes of making the final World Cup roster. The setback, while disappointing, did not derail his career and he returned to the field determined to make his mark at the professional level.
Ohio Aviators Era (2016)
MacLellan signed with the Ohio Aviators of PRO Rugby in the spring of 2016, marking his entry into professional rugby in the United States. PRO Rugby was the country’s first professional rugby competition, and the Aviators were one of its founding franchises. At the time, MacLellan was described as an emerging young player to watch, with strong scrummaging skills and a high work rate around the field.
His time with Ohio also coincided with his senior international debut on April 12, 2016, during the Americas Rugby Championship. Later that year, he represented the United States during the 2016 mid-year internationals, balancing his club duties with national team responsibilities. The 2016 season established MacLellan as a legitimate professional prop with both club and international credentials.
Utah Warriors Era (2018–Present)
Following the conclusion of PRO Rugby, MacLellan joined the Utah Warriors ahead of the launch of Major League Rugby in 2018. The Warriors, based in Salt Lake City, gave him a stable platform to continue his professional career in a new and growing league. He quickly became a fixture in the team’s front row and a key figure in the club’s development.
Over the years with the Warriors, MacLellan has built a reputation as a durable, dependable, and technically sound prop. In 2025, he became the third player and the first American-born player to reach 100 Major League Rugby appearances, a milestone that highlights both his longevity and his consistency at the highest level of American professional rugby.
Driving Style and Strengths
As a prop, MacLellan is known for his strong scrummaging technique, physicality in contact, and work rate around the breakdown. His time playing in Ireland and New Zealand gave him a well-rounded set-piece foundation, and his college captaincy experience translates into strong leadership on the field. His combination of size, athleticism, and rugby IQ makes him a reliable presence in the tight phases of the game.
Notable Events and Milestones
MacLellan’s career is defined by several standout moments, including leading Davenport University to a national D1-AA title, captaining the USA Collegiate All-American Team, and earning senior caps for the United States. His 2025 milestone of 100 Major League Rugby appearances, as the first American-born player to reach that mark, stands as the signature achievement of his professional career so far.
Angus MacLellan Career Wins
MacLellan’s competitive résumé includes a collegiate national championship with Davenport University and a captaincy of the USA Collegiate All-American Team. His professional record features seasons with the Ohio Aviators in PRO Rugby and a long-running tenure with the Utah Warriors in Major League Rugby.
MLR and Collegiate Highlights
MacLellan has been a long-serving member of the Utah Warriors since Major League Rugby’s launch in 2018, with his 100th MLR appearance coming in 2025. Earlier in his career, he captained Davenport University to a D1-AA national title, one of the most significant achievements of his playing journey.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his collegiate and MLR accomplishments, MacLellan represented the United States at multiple age-grade and senior levels, including two years with the U.S. U20s and senior international caps during the 2016 Americas Rugby Championship and mid-year internationals.
Angus MacLellan Family
Family Background and Rugby Lineage
MacLellan was raised in Michigan and developed his early rugby in the Traverse City area before moving on to Davenport University. His commitment to the sport at a young age, alongside his international playing stints in Ireland and New Zealand, suggests a strong personal drive shaped by his upbringing in northern Michigan.
Personal Life
MacLellan resides in the United States and continues his professional rugby career with the Utah Warriors. He is widely recognized by his given name, Hugh, though he plays under the name Angus MacLellan.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 Major League Rugby season marks a landmark year for MacLellan, as he became the third player and the first American-born player in league history to reach 100 MLR appearances. The milestone reflects years of consistent performance with the Utah Warriors, where he has remained a steady presence in the front row since the league’s founding era.
Throughout the 2025 campaign, MacLellan has continued to anchor the Warriors’ set piece, contributing his experience and leadership to a developing squad. His veteran presence has been a valuable asset for the team as it competes in the MLR standings. Reaching 100 appearances places him among the most enduring figures in the league’s short history.
Looking ahead, MacLellan remains an important figure for the Utah Warriors as Major League Rugby continues to grow. His journey from Traverse City, through Davenport University and overseas rugby stints, to becoming the first American-born centurion in MLR highlights the kind of career path the league was built to support. His continued form suggests he will remain a key part of the Warriors’ plans going forward.