Dan Hollinshead Bio
Daniel Colin Hollinshead, known professionally as Dan Hollinshead, is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays fly-half for the New England Free Jacks of Major League Rugby (MLR). Standing 186 cm and weighing 93 kg, he combines the distribution skills of a classic first five-eighth with the physical presence expected of a modern international-caliber playmaker. Across more than a decade in the professional game, Hollinshead has represented provincial teams in New Zealand, top-tier clubs in France and the United States, and a Super Rugby franchise.
After spells with multiple teams on both sides of the world, he joined the New England Free Jacks, where a strong run of form in 2025 helped deliver a championship. He later returned to New Zealand to rejoin Rugby Southland for the 2025 NPC season, continuing a career defined by adaptability and consistency at first receiver.
Early Life and Background
Daniel Colin Hollinshead was born on 7 June 1995 in Tauranga, a coastal city in the Bay of Plenty region on the North Island of New Zealand. Growing up in a country where rugby is woven into community life, he was introduced to the sport at a young age and developed through local youth programs that feed into the Bay of Plenty rugby pipeline.
He attended Tauranga Boys’ College, one of New Zealand’s well-known rugby schools, where he sharpened his skills as a playmaker and earned selection into representative age-grade sides. The school’s strong rugby tradition provided an environment that balanced academic study with high-level competitive play, helping shape his tactical understanding of the fly-half role.
Path to Professional Rugby
Hollinshead’s pathway to the professional ranks followed the traditional New Zealand route, beginning with selection for Bay of Plenty in the country’s provincial competition. He made his senior debut for Bay of Plenty in 2014, the same year he finished his secondary schooling, immediately stepping into a senior dressing room as a teenager.
Over the next several years, he balanced provincial duties with stints abroad, including a short-term move to French club Agen in 2017 and a season with Japan’s Coca-Cola Red Sparks in 2018. These experiences broadened his tactical approach and exposed him to contrasting styles of play, qualities that would later define his mature career at fly-half.
Dan Hollinshead Career
Early Career (2014–2018)
Hollinshead’s early professional years were spent primarily with Bay of Plenty, where he developed from a promising young playmaker into a dependable first five-eighth. Between 2014 and 2020, he represented the province consistently, building a reputation for accurate goal-kicking and composed game management.
In 2017, he took up a short-term opportunity with French Top 14 side Agen, gaining exposure to European rugby before returning to New Zealand. The following year, he joined Japan’s Coca-Cola Red Sparks for the 2018 season, adding a stint in a high-tempo, skill-focused competition to his resume.
Super Rugby and International Club Rugby (2019–2023)
In 2019, Hollinshead earned selection to the Highlanders squad in Super Rugby, the highest level of southern hemisphere club competition. He was named in the Highlanders squad for week 13 of that season, marking the pinnacle of his early career in New Zealand’s top flight.
From 2021 onward, he embarked on an extended period of international club rugby, joining Rugby United New York in Major League Rugby for the 2021 season. He then moved to France, spending two seasons with Rugby Club Vannes from 2021 to 2023, where he continued to refine his craft in a physically demanding league. In 2023, he returned to New Zealand for a brief stint with Rugby Southland.
New England Free Jacks Era (2024–Present)
Hollinshead joined the New England Free Jacks ahead of the 2024 Major League Rugby season after playing the 2024 campaign with RFC Los Angeles. He quickly established himself as a key figure in the Free Jacks’ backline, stepping into the starting fly-half role after an injury to Jayson Potroz.
During his time with the Free Jacks, he appeared in 8 games and scored 62 points, including a 13-point performance in the 2025 MLR championship game that helped New England defeat Houston 28–22 and lift the title. Following the championship, he rejoined Rugby Southland for the 2025 NPC season, linking his club career back to New Zealand’s domestic competition.
Driving Style and Strengths
As a first five-eighth, Hollinshead is recognized for his composed decision-making, accurate passing, and reliable goal-kicking. His 186 cm frame allows him to compete physically at the breakdown and in contact, while his experience across Super Rugby, the French second tier, and Major League Rugby gives him a broad tactical vocabulary to read opposing defenses.
Notable Events and Milestones
His most significant career milestone came in 2025, when he helped the New England Free Jacks win the Major League Rugby championship with a 28–22 victory over Houston, contributing 13 points in the final. Earlier, his 2019 selection to the Highlanders Super Rugby squad marked his breakthrough onto New Zealand’s biggest domestic stage.
Dan Hollinshead Career Wins
Dan Hollinshead’s most celebrated victory is the 2025 Major League Rugby championship with the New England Free Jacks, a title he helped secure with a standout 13-point performance in the final. Across his career, he has been part of winning efforts at Bay of Plenty, the Highlanders, and several international clubs, though comprehensive team-by-team win totals are not publicly consolidated.
Major League Rugby Highlights
In Major League Rugby, Hollinshead has played for Rugby United New York in 2021, RFC Los Angeles in 2024, and the New England Free Jacks from 2024 onward. His clearest individual highlight came during the 2025 MLR championship run, where he scored 62 points across 8 appearances, including 13 in the title match against Houston.
Other Wins and Performances
At the provincial level, Hollinshead has represented Bay of Plenty (2014–2020) and Rugby Southland across multiple stints, contributing to winning efforts in New Zealand’s domestic competitions. His overseas spells with Agen, Coca-Cola Red Sparks, and Rugby Club Vannes added international experience, though specific silverware from those clubs is not detailed in available records.
Dan Hollinshead Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Dan Hollinshead’s parents and immediate family is limited. He was raised in Tauranga, New Zealand, and attended Tauranga Boys’ College, where his rugby development took shape.
Personal Life
Hollinshead maintains a relatively private personal life, with no publicly confirmed details regarding a spouse, partner, or children. He has spent much of his professional career traveling between New Zealand, France, Japan, and the United States, building a lifestyle shaped by international rugby commitments.
2025 Season Performance
Dan Hollinshead’s 2025 season has been the most decorated of his career to date. With the New England Free Jacks, he stepped into the starting fly-half role and helped guide the team to the Major League Rugby championship, defeating Houston 28–22 in the final. His 13-point contribution in the title match underlined his value as both a distributor and a reliable goal-kicker under pressure.
Following the MLR triumph, Hollinshead rejoined Rugby Southland for the 2025 NPC season, returning to New Zealand’s domestic provincial competition. The move allowed him to link back with a familiar environment while continuing to perform at a high level.
Looking ahead, Hollinshead’s blend of Super Rugby pedigree, overseas experience, and championship-winning form positions him as a valuable asset for both the Free Jacks and any future New Zealand provincial or national setups. His trajectory through 2025 suggests continued relevance in Major League Rugby and beyond.