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MLR veteran Pifeleti pens new deal four years after facing All Blacks
By Finn Morton
Fakaosifolau Pifeleti’s esteemed Major League Rugby career will continue next season, with the front-rower penning a new deal with the Chicago Hounds – four years on from his international debut for the USA Eagles against the All Blacks.
Pifeleti is a product of the Saracens Academy program, with the loosehead prop going on to enjoy a memorable career in North America. The 29-year-old is set for his eighth season in the League, re-signing with the Windy City-based franchise.
The USA international signed with the San Diego Legion ahead of the inaugural MLR season in 2018, spending multiple seasons in Southern California before taking up an opportunity with the Austin Gilgronis in 2022.
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Pifeleti returned to San Diego for the 2023 and 2024 campaigns before heading to Chicago, putting pen to paper on a deal with the Hounds. After starting in all 15 appearances for the Hounds in 2025, Pifeleti is primed for another campaign in the green and white stripes.
In 2025, Pifeleti played more than 760 minutes across those 15 appearances, including a season-high 64-minute shift away to the Seattle Seawolves in round 10. Pifeleti made personal history last season, making more than 100 tackles in a single MLR for the first time.
Over seven MLR seasons, Pifeleti has made 87 appearances for almost 4,000 minutes of playing time. In the Test arena, Pifeleti debuted for the USA Eagles against the All Blacks in October 2021.
Pifeleti’s brother Kapeli remains a regular for the USA national side to this day, including three appearances during the 2025 Pacific Nations Cup. Kapeli started at hooker against Canada, Japan and Samoa – scoring a double in a loss to Eddie Jones’ Brave Blossoms.
Fakaosifolau has penned a new deal with Chicago, bolstering the team’s front-row depth going into 2026. Australian-born USA Eagles prop Jake Turnbull has inked a deal, leaving the front-rower on the cusp of league history.
Turnbull has played 97 matches during a decorated MLR career to date. The Sydney-born talent has previously spent time with the Houston SaberCats, Old Glory DC, Austin Gilgronis, Seattle Seawolves and Anthen Rugby Carolina.
In 2024, Turnbull represented the USA in Test matches against Portugal and Tonga off the bench and was promoted to the run-on side to take on Spain. The front-rower played 52 minutes in that thrilling triumph over Spain.
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