American Raptor Samuel Phillips Signs with Dallas

The Dallas Jackals are pleased to announce Samuel Phillips has signed on for the 2022 Inaugural Season! Phillips currently is with the American Raptors and looks forward to continuing his career in the MLR. 

Phillips, a relatively local kid who grew up in Longview, TX, played football at Southern Oklahoma before transferring to Louisiana College to finish off his college football career. He went on to get as invite to the New Orleans Saints mini-camp, which was sadly later cancelled due to COVID-19. 

Wanting to continue playing competitive sports, Phillips’ friend convinced him to play rugby. He joined the then Colorado XO’s now American Raptors, a club composed of crossover athletes with the goal of converting elite American athletes to rugby players. Phillips quickly fell in love with rugby and looks forward to continuing his rugby career in Dallas. 

Phillips said, “Being able to come to Dallas, close to home, and be able to help build the Jackals program from the very beginning is very exciting to me.” He continued, “To get to help grow rugby in the very area I grew up in, which is very heavy into football, is going to be an amazing opportunity.”

Although Phillips has only played rugby for a short time, he says, “It’s exciting getting to make my mark in the most premier rugby league in North America. I’m ready to make a statement with my play, and prove that I belong in this league. I’m very excited to be able to play in front of my friends and family back home in Texas!”

Jackals GM Elaine Vassie said, “Samuel’s a real athlete with a strong football pedigree, who despite only converting to rugby very recently, shows a real impact. As a former tight end, the blend of his physicality and handling along with his work ethic will serve him well. I can’t wait to welcome him home to Texas and into the league!”

Welcome to the Pack Samuel!

Join the Pack today with Season Tickets! Learn more here

Gear up for the upcoming season at The Jackals Shop

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About Dallas Jackals —

The Dallas Jackals are a professional rugby team of Major League Rugby (MLR), the highest level of rugby competition in North America. The Jackals were named as an expansion team in 2020 and will play their inaugural season in 2022. The team’s central mission is to develop domestic talent to a world-class level of play and professionalism while strengthening the high- performance pathway in DFW by supporting the local clubs. Through proactive Community Outreach, the Jackals will exemplify and spread the passion of rugby by inspiring tradition, respect, family, and character on and off the pitch.

About MLR —

Major League Rugby is a professional sports league entering its fifth season and represents the highest level of rugby competition in North America. The League evolved from seven teams in 2018, to 13 teams in 2022, featuring 12 from the United States and one from Canada. Matches are televised on CBS Sports Network, Fox Sports 2, and ESPN+, among other national and local market platforms. All matches are available on Facebook Live for international fans. MLR prides itself in fostering intense and high-stakes competition, while bringing together a passionate community built on the values of Respect, Inclusivity, and Tradition. For more information about MLR, visit MajorLeague.Rugby.