Samuel Golla Bio
Samuel Golla (born May 7, 1999) is an American international rugby union player who competes as a forward. Standing 6 feet 6 inches tall, he plays the lock and flanker positions and represents the Dallas Jackals in Major League Rugby. In 2023, Golla was named Major League Rugby Rookie of the Year and earned his first cap for the United States national rugby union team.
Early Life and Background
Samuel Golla was born on May 7, 1999, in Arlington, Texas, in the United States. He grew up in Denver, Colorado, where he attended East High School and developed into a standout young rugby prospect. The Colorado capital offered him early access to competitive club and school rugby, and he became one of the most talked-about forwards in the region during his teenage years.
At East High School, Golla won two Colorado state championships with the school’s rugby program, establishing himself as a leader in the forward pack. He served as captain of the team during his senior season, helping guide East to one of those state titles. Those high school years gave him the platform to attract attention from college recruiters on the West Coast.
Path to Rugby
After graduating from East High School, Golla took his game to the University of California, Berkeley, where he played varsity rugby for the California Golden Bears. Competing in one of the strongest college rugby environments in the country helped him refine the physical, technical, and tactical skills required at the next level. His performances for Cal quickly marked him as one of the top college forwards in his class.
In 2022, Golla was selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the Major League Rugby college draft by the Dallas Jackals. That selection made him the face of his draft class and gave him a clear professional pathway in the United States’ top-tier rugby competition. The draft result confirmed his status as a prospect ready for the professional stage.
Samuel Golla Career
Early Career (2022–2023)
Samuel Golla’s professional career began in earnest when he signed with the Dallas Jackals ahead of the 2023 Major League Rugby season. As the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 MLR college draft, expectations were high for the young forward out of UC Berkeley. He transitioned quickly from the college game to the professional ranks, showing the work rate and athleticism that had defined his reputation in Denver and Berkeley.
During his first Major League Rugby campaign with the Jackals, Golla established himself as a reliable contributor in the forward pack. His ability to play both lock and flanker gave the Dallas coaching staff valuable versatility in selection and game-day tactics. By the end of his debut season, his impact had been formally recognized by the league.
Dallas Jackals Era (2023–Present)
Golla has spent his entire professional career to date with the Dallas Jackals, joining the franchise as its marquee college signing. Wearing a forward jersey, he has been deployed in multiple roles across the pack, including set-piece duties and breakdown work typical of a modern lock-flanker hybrid. His development has tracked alongside the Jackals’ own growth as a relatively young Major League Rugby franchise.
Across his time in Dallas, Golla has built a reputation as a hard-working forward with a strong aerial game and the engine to cover large portions of the field. The Jackals have relied on him as part of a long-term project centered on developing American talent through the college draft pipeline. His continued presence in the squad has made him one of the recognizable young faces of the Dallas roster.
Driving Style and Strengths
Golla’s game is built around his physical stature, lineout presence, and mobility around the park. Comfortable operating at both lock and flanker, he offers his team flexibility at the selection table and the ability to adapt mid-match when tactical shifts are required. His background in a competitive college environment at UC Berkeley has helped him blend set-piece reliability with the work rate expected of a modern professional forward.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Samuel Golla’s early career came in 2023, when he was named Major League Rugby Rookie of the Year after his debut season with the Dallas Jackals. The same year, he made his international debut for the United States in a Test match against Romania in Bucharest, a game the U.S. won by 14 points. Those twin achievements placed him firmly on the radar of both club and national-team observers.
Samuel Golla Career Wins
Samuel Golla’s professional win portfolio is still in its early chapters, but he has already added meaningful pieces of silverware and individual recognition. His most prominent team successes came at the high school level, where he won two Colorado state championships with East High School, including one as a senior-year captain. At the professional level, his standout individual award is the 2023 Major League Rugby Rookie of the Year honor, awarded after a strong debut season with the Dallas Jackals.
Dallas Jackals Highlights
Since joining the Dallas Jackals in 2023, Golla has been a regular in the forward rotation and a key part of the team’s long-term project. His Rookie of the Year award in 2023 stands as the headline individual highlight of his time in Dallas to date, reflecting the trust placed in him by the Jackals’ coaching staff. Continued selection across multiple seasons has underlined his importance to the franchise’s forward depth.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond his club career, Golla’s biggest early international highlight came on debut for the United States against Romania in Bucharest, a match the U.S. won by 14 points. That victory served as a strong opening chapter to his test-match career and offered an early indication of his readiness for senior international rugby. High school state titles with East round out a resume that continues to grow at the professional level.
Samuel Golla Family
Family Background and Rugby Lineage
Public information about Samuel Golla’s family background is limited, with no widely available verified details about his parents or siblings. What is clear is that his upbringing in Denver and his time at East High School placed him inside a strong youth rugby culture that helped launch his career. The state-championship environment at East played a formative role in shaping him as a forward.
Personal Life
Samuel Golla has kept most of his personal life out of the public eye, and no verified details about a spouse, partner, or children are publicly available. He has been based in the United States throughout his playing life, with his professional commitments tied to the Dallas Jackals in Major League Rugby. Off the field, he maintains a public presence through social media, where fans can follow updates on his career.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into 2025, Samuel Golla remains a member of the Dallas Jackals and continues to be a key part of the franchise’s forward group. As a player who can cover both lock and flanker, he offers the coaching staff tactical flexibility across the season and within individual matches. The Jackals are expected to lean on his experience and athletic profile as they look to climb the Major League Rugby standings.
Golla’s international career with the United States is also likely to be a storyline to watch in 2025, following his 2023 test debut against Romania in Bucharest. Strong domestic form with Dallas could place him firmly in the conversation for further national-team selection. The combination of club rugby and potential test opportunities gives him a busy and important year ahead.
With several seasons of professional rugby now under his belt, Golla enters 2025 aiming to build on his early-career Rookie of the Year recognition. Consistency in performance, durability through a long MLR season, and continued growth in set-piece dominance will all be markers of his progress. Both the Jackals and the U.S. setup have reason to track his development closely.