Nick Boyer Bio
Nicklas Swain Boyer (born July 17, 1993) is an American rugby union player recognized for his work as a scrum-half in Major League Rugby (MLR) and as a representative of the United States men’s national team. Standing 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) and competing at 220 lb (100 kg), Boyer has combined the distribution skills of a modern scrum-half with the physical presence often associated with bigger forwards, allowing him to play multiple positions across both fifteens and sevens formats. In addition to his club career with the San Diego Legion, Colorado Raptors, LA Giltinis, and Houston SaberCats, he has represented the United States through the USA Selects, multiple age-grade sides, the USA Falcons, and the senior national sevens program.
A Sacramento native, Boyer developed his game in Northern California before advancing to the University of California, where he became part of a competitive collegiate rugby program. Since turning professional in 2018, he has been a steady presence in the American professional ranks, contributing to one of Major League Rugby’s founding franchises while also earning caps for his country at several levels.
Early Life and Background
Nicklas Swain Boyer was born on July 17, 1993, in Sacramento, California, and raised in the same region. He grew up in a city with a strong rugby culture in Northern California, where the sport is played widely at the youth and high school levels. From an early age, Boyer gravitated toward contact sports, eventually finding his athletic home on the rugby pitch.
Boyer attended Jesuit High School in Carmichael, a Sacramento-area school known for its athletic programs. At Jesuit, he played football and wrestled in addition to rugby, experiences that helped him build the physicality and competitive toughness that would later define his professional career. The combination of football, wrestling, and rugby gave him a broad athletic foundation heading into college.
Following high school, Boyer enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley, where he studied from 2011 to 2016. He joined the university’s rugby teams in both the XVs and sevens formats, becoming part of one of the most storied programs in American collegiate rugby. During his time in Berkeley, the team won Varsity Cup and Collegiate Rugby Championship titles, marking Boyer’s first exposure to high-level team success on a national stage.
Path to Rugby
Boyer’s progression through the American rugby system was steady and well-supported. He earned his first international cap with the United States men’s under-20 team, the Junior All-Americans, in 2012, contributing to the squad that won the 2012 Junior World Rugby Trophy. The experience introduced him to international competition and provided a clear view of the standards required at higher levels of the game.
While still competing for the University of California, Boyer traveled abroad in September 2015 to join Bedford Athletic in England, where he played in the Midlands 1 East league. The stint in England broadened his rugby education, exposing him to the structured, set-piece-heavy style of English club rugby. He returned to California and, by approximately 2018, had linked up with the Glendale Merlins, a respected American club side, further sharpening his senior-level game before the launch of Major League Rugby.
In 2016, his growing reputation was confirmed when he was named to the Men’s Collegiate All-Americans roster for their August tour of Australia, making his debut against Darling Downs. A year later, in September 2017, he played for the same select side against Oxford University at Talen Energy Stadium. These appearances cemented his status as one of the top American scrum-halves of his generation and positioned him for a professional opportunity in the newly formed MLR.
Nick Boyer Career
Early Career (2011–2017)
Boyer’s senior career began in the collegiate ranks with the University of California, where he represented the program from 2011 to 2016. Across five seasons, he contributed to Varsity Cup and Collegiate Rugby Championship title-winning campaigns, building a reputation as a composed distributor and reliable tackler. The combination of high-level competition and frequent training alongside experienced student-athletes helped him refine the skills needed for professional play.
His early resume was further strengthened by a season with Bedford Athletic in England during the 2015 fall campaign, as well as developmental opportunities with the Glendale Merlins heading into 2018. International recognition followed quickly, including selection for the Junior All-Americans in 2012, the Men’s Collegiate All-Americans in 2016 and 2017, and the USA Selects for the inaugural Americas Pacific Challenge later in 2016. By the time Major League Rugby launched, Boyer was viewed as a ready-made professional scrum-half.
San Diego Legion (2018–2019)
Boyer joined the San Diego Legion as one of the club’s original players ahead of Major League Rugby’s inaugural 2018 season. He made his professional debut on April 22, 2018, starting at scrum-half in a 39–23 defeat to the Seattle Seawolves. Although the result did not go Boyer’s way, his selection in the run-on side underscored the trust the coaching staff placed in his game management and kicking duties from the very first match.
He returned to the Legion for the 2019 season, continuing as a dependable option in the half-back combination. San Diego’s early MLR years were marked by a growing rivalry with the Seawolves and a push toward playoff contention, and Boyer was part of a squad that helped establish the Legion as one of the league’s flagship franchises. His performances in San Diego provided a springboard to opportunities elsewhere in the league.
Colorado Raptors (2020)
After the 2019 Major League Rugby season, Boyer decided to join the Colorado Raptors. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 crisis cut the 2020 season short, and Boyer made only five appearances in a Raptors jersey. The abbreviated campaign limited his chances to make a sustained impression in Colorado, and the franchise’s subsequent dissolution left him searching for a new home.
LA Giltinis (2021)
Following the disappearance of the Colorado Raptors, Boyer signed with the newly formed LA Giltinis franchise for the 2021 season. The Giltinis, backed by significant resources and a deep roster, were an attractive landing spot. However, after only a few weeks of competition, Boyer departed the squad without making a senior appearance, opening the door to another quick move within the league.
Houston SaberCats (2021–Present)
Boyer quickly resurfaced with the Houston SaberCats later in 2021, joining a club looking to establish itself as a playoff contender in Major League Rugby. The SaberCats have provided Boyer with a stable environment in which to continue his professional career, and he has remained with the franchise since his arrival. In addition to his MLR duties with Houston, Boyer has been seen wearing a Headliners jersey in the newly formed PR Sevens league, where he has featured at scrum-half and center.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Boyer’s career came in 2012, when he helped the United States under-20 side win the Junior World Rugby Trophy. His selection to the Men’s Collegiate All-Americans for tours of Australia in 2016 and a match against Oxford University in 2017 further highlighted his standing in the American game. In 2018, he debuted for the senior USA Eagles during a 31–5 victory over Romania in the end-of-year tests, marking the highest level of his international career to date.
Nick Boyer Career Wins
Boyer’s career victories span the collegiate, age-grade, and professional levels of American rugby. At the University of California, he was part of Varsity Cup and Collegiate Rugby Championship title-winning squads, and in 2012 he celebrated a Junior World Rugby Trophy success with the USA Junior All-Americans. Across his Major League Rugby career with the San Diego Legion, Colorado Raptors, LA Giltinis, and Houston SaberCats, he has contributed to team efforts in a league that crowned its first champion in 2018 and has continued to expand its footprint across North America.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his collegiate and Major League Rugby commitments, Boyer has represented the United States in several non-Test fixtures, including appearances for the USA Selects at the Americas Pacific Challenge in 2016 and 2018, where he scored his first try for the side against Canada. He has also featured for the USA Falcons at the 2018 Sudamérica Rugby Sevens and for the senior national sevens program at the 2018 New Zealand Sevens in Hamilton and the 2018 Canada Sevens in Vancouver. These performances underline his versatility across fifteens and sevens rugby.
Nick Boyer Family
Family Background and Rugby Lineage
Publicly available information about Boyer’s immediate family is limited. He was raised in Sacramento, California, and attended Jesuit High School, a school with a strong tradition in multiple sports. Details about parents, siblings, or extended family members involved in rugby have not been widely reported.
Personal Life
Boyer’s personal life is largely kept private. He has not publicly disclosed details about a spouse, partner, or children, and he is primarily known through his rugby career and Sacramento roots. His public profile remains focused on his performances at scrum-half for his clubs and country.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 Major League Rugby season, Boyer continues to feature for the Houston SaberCats, a franchise aiming to climb the standings and secure a stronger postseason position. His experience as a former MLR founding player with the San Diego Legion brings veteran leadership to a SaberCats squad that has invested in both local talent and international signings. The 2025 campaign offers Boyer an opportunity to extend his influence within a competitive Western Conference.
Across the season, Boyer’s role as a senior scrum-half is expected to center on game management, kicking accuracy, and communication at the breakdown. His ability to cover hooker and center in sevens competitions has given the SaberCats additional flexibility when rotating squad members during busy stretches of the schedule. Consistency at the set piece and sharper attacking distribution are likely to be the benchmarks by which his season is judged.
With the United States continuing to build depth at scrum-half ahead of future international cycles, strong MLR form in 2025 could also keep Boyer in the conversation for senior national team selection. Whether pushing for a playoff return with the SaberCats or adding to his international caps, the 2025 season represents another important chapter in his professional career.