Piers Von Dadelszen Bio
Piers Von Dadelszen (born March 25, 2000) is a Canadian professional rugby union player who plays as a back-row forward and lock. He represents the New England Free Jacks in Major League Rugby and has earned caps for the Canada national rugby union team. A two-time MLR champion, he is also noted for his academic background in engineering and business, having studied at the University of Oxford.
Standing 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) and weighing 243 lb (110 kg), Von Dadelszen combines the physical presence of a modern lock with the mobility expected of a back-row player. His career has bridged two continents, moving from youth rugby in British Columbia to elite university rugby in England and into professional play in North America.
Early Life and Background
Piers Von Dadelszen was born on March 25, 2000, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He was raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, where he first encountered organized rugby. He began his playing career at Meraloma Rugby Club and continued developing his game while attending St. George’s School in Vancouver, a program known for producing Canadian rugby talent.
During his school years, Von Dadelszen represented British Columbia at the provincial level and earned selection to Canadian national under-age teams. His early progress on the field led his family to pursue additional schooling in England, where he enrolled at Whitgift School in Croydon, a school with a strong rugby tradition. The move to England broadened his tactical understanding and exposed him to a more structured, forward-oriented style of play.
Beyond sport, Von Dadelszen showed an early interest in engineering and entrepreneurship. These academic interests would later shape his university path and his professional mindset as he transitioned into senior rugby.
Path to Rugby
Von Dadelszen’s progression to the senior game ran through Canada’s junior representative system and the British schoolboy rugby circuit. His time at Whitgift School sharpened his set-piece work and physical conditioning, two traits that would become central to his identity as a forward.
He later accepted a place at the University of Oxford, where he played for Oxford University RFC. Over three varsity seasons, he earned three Blues, the traditional award given to Oxford athletes who compete in a Varsity Match against Cambridge. Operating primarily as a back-row forward and lock, he contributed to one of the most demanding amateur rugby environments in the world.
While at Oxford, Von Dadelszen completed studies that included a master’s degree in engineering. His ability to combine high-level sport with postgraduate study drew attention from professional scouts, particularly those in Major League Rugby, where several Oxford and Cambridge graduates have found a home in recent seasons.
Piers Von Dadelszen Career
Early Career (2022–2023)
Von Dadelszen’s senior international career began in 2022, when he was capped by Canada in test matches against Spain and Namibia. Those appearances marked his entry into the senior national team environment and confirmed his standing as one of the country’s promising young forwards.
He added two further caps in 2023, including a test against Tonga in Nukuʻalofa. These early international matches allowed him to adjust to the pace and physical demands of test rugby, while he continued to play university rugby at Oxford during the same period.
Major League Rugby Breakthrough (2024–2025)
After completing his master’s degree in engineering, Von Dadelszen signed with the New England Free Jacks ahead of the 2024 Major League Rugby season. He quickly established himself in the squad and became a regular contributor in the forward pack, offering lineout presence and strong ball-carrying ability around the contact area.
Between the 2024 and 2025 seasons, Von Dadelszen made 33 appearances for the Free Jacks and scored 2 tries. His first season ended with an MLR Championship in 2024, the franchise’s continued rise as one of the league’s leading teams. The 2025 campaign produced a second consecutive title, making him a two-time MLR champion in his first two professional seasons.
Canada National Team Era (2022–Present)
Von Dadelszen has remained a regular in the Canadian national team setup since his debut in 2022. In 2025, he started a string of high-profile tests for Canada, including matches against Belgium, Spain, the United States, Japan, Fiji, Tonga, Romania, Georgia, and Portugal. He was named Man of the Match in the test against Belgium and scored a try against Romania.
His most significant international moment came during the 2025 summer window, when Canada’s victory over the United States secured qualification for the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup. As a starting forward in that match, he played a direct role in one of the most important results in recent Canadian rugby history.
Driving Style and Strengths
Versatility defines Piers Von Dadelszen’s game. Equally comfortable at lock or in the back row, he offers coaches a forward who can carry in tight traffic, contest the lineout, and contribute at the breakdown. His combination of height, conditioning, and mobility, refined at Oxford and in the MLR, allows him to adapt to different game plans and pack structures.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his defining moments are his MLR Championship wins with the New England Free Jacks in 2024 and 2025, his three Blues at Oxford, and his role in Canada’s 2025 victory over the United States that clinched qualification for the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup. His Man of the Match performance against Belgium and his try against Romania in 2025 further highlight his growing influence at the international level.
Piers Von Dadelszen Career Wins
Piers Von Dadelszen has built a winning record across both club and international rugby. Within two seasons of his professional debut, he captured consecutive Major League Rugby Championships with the New England Free Jacks, joining a select group of Canadian forwards to win a professional North American title.
Major League Rugby Highlights
Von Dadelszen won back-to-back MLR Championships with the New England Free Jacks in 2024 and 2025. He debuted for the club in 2024 and quickly became a fixture in the forward pack, finishing his first two professional seasons with 33 appearances and 2 tries.
His form in 2025 reflected the consistency of his rookie season. The Free Jacks retained their status as one of Major League Rugby’s leading sides, and Von Dadelszen played a steady role in their championship run.
Other Wins & Performances
On the international stage, Von Dadelszen contributed to Canada’s qualification for the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup after the 2025 victory over the United States. He was also a key forward in test wins over Belgium, Spain, Japan, Fiji, Tonga, Romania, Georgia, and Portugal during the same international window.
| Series | Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major League Rugby | 2 | — | — |
Piers Von Dadelszen Family
Family Background and Rugby Lineage
Piers Von Dadelszen was raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, after being born in Toronto, Ontario. He attended St. George’s School in Vancouver and later Whitgift School in England, both institutions with strong sporting traditions.
Personal Life
Piers Von Dadelszen is known publicly for his academic and athletic pursuits, including a master’s degree in engineering completed at the University of Oxford. Further verified personal details are not publicly available at this time.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has cemented Piers Von Dadelszen’s reputation as one of Canada’s most reliable young forwards. With the New England Free Jacks, he was part of the squad that captured a second consecutive Major League Rugby Championship, confirming the club’s place at the top of the North American game.
Internationally, 2025 was his busiest year in a Canada shirt. He started tests against Belgium, Spain, the United States, Japan, Fiji, Tonga, Romania, Georgia, and Portugal, earning Man of the Match honours against Belgium and scoring a try against Romania. His consistent selection reflected both his set-piece reliability and his work rate around the breakdown.
The high point of the year was Canada’s win over the United States, which secured qualification for the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup. With another MLR title and a World Cup cycle ahead, Von Dadelszen enters the next phase of his career as a two-time champion and a frontline member of the Canadian forward pack.