Jackals Add Two More Developmental Players

Jackals Development Players are key to building rugby domestically. Training full time with the Jackals and placement with local clubs to gain game experience, the Developmental Players will have the opportunity to improve to MLR level of play as part of our high performance pathway. 

Henry Hall

Growing up in Tacoma, Washington, Henry was introduced to rugby by his father, Ric “Zippy” Hall – a founding father of the Valley Kangaroos RFC in Seattle. Henry started his rugby career at the age of 13, playing first for Tacoma Tsunami, then Chuckanut Bay and the PNRFU Loggers Representative Side. 

Henry’s dedication to the sport earned him a scholarship to St. George’s School in Vancouver, Canada, where he pursued his junior and senior years of high school while representing St. George’s on the pitch. He was selected to the High School All American Team in 2010 and captained the team’s tour to South Africa in 2011. 

In 2011, Henry moved to Auckland, New Zealand, and played for Auckland University’s U-20 Side. In 2012, he was again selected to U20 USA Eagles and helped his team win the Junior World Trophy.

Henry attended college at Saint Mary’s College of California, where he proudly played for the Gaels from 2012 to 2017 and gained his B.A. in Integral Studies and M.S. in Business Management along the way. 

The Saint Mary’s rugby program was very influential for Hall; he and his team won 3 D1A National Championships in 15s and 1 National Championship in 7s. After his time at college, Henry played in San Francisco with the Olympic Club and Golden Gate Club in the Pacific Coast Championship. Most recently he played with Seattle Rugby Club in the British Columbia Premiership. 

Henry’s love for rugby is deeply rooted and has been fueled by his teammates, coaches, mentors, and travels. He says “on the field it’s a fluid game that liberates the players to make their own decisions, while demanding an abundance of courage and chemistry to succeed as a team. Off the field there is a global community composed of all walks of life looking after one another.”

Henry is looking forward to the Texan Barbecue and exploring the Dallas Arts District. He says, “I’m most excited to represent the Jackals and be part of Dallas’ inaugural professional rugby team. It’ll be a great opportunity to continue to improve as a player.” Henry is eager to contribute to the growth of rugby in the United States and looks forward to sharing his passion with Dallas. Welcome to the pack Henry!

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Adonnis Lee-Johnson

Adonnis is from Los Angeles but his rugby journey started at Humboldt State University (HSU) in Arcata, California. Adonnis originally went to Humboldt to play D2 football, but the season he arrived his position was eliminated and there was no longer a fullback position open. 

Later on, Adonis happened to walk past the Vice President and President of the Humboldt Rugby Football Club. One thing led to the next and he ended up having a breakout season. Adonis scored 23 tries between just three 7s tournaments and seven 15s matches. 

Adonis said, “I found my love for the game.” To gain experience, the Humboldt Head Coach sent Adonnis to Aspen, Colorado for two summers. Adonnis joined the Gentlemen of Aspen RFC, which is the same club USA Eagle and Glasgow Warrior Carlin Isles played for. 

Under Cameron McIntyre’s wing, Adonnis perfected countless fundamentals from the run game to defense. After his second summer in Aspen, Adonnis transferred to Santa Rosa Junior College for one season. 

Adonnis fought his way back to Humboldt State. He went on to play his final season at HSU and earn a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design. Adonnis also found his number one supporter and love of his life at HSU. He went on to compete for the Los Angeles Mongrels in a California Rugby League match. 

Adonnis commented that he is excited to be a Jackal to not only further add to his rugby toolbox, but also learn from great rugby talent. “I love friendly competition and it fuels my fire to play alongside great players.” Adonnis is looking forward to the sports heavy Texas lifestyle and exposing Dallas to a new sport. Welcome to the pack Adonnis!

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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 2021. 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 fourth season and represents the highest level of rugby competition in North America. The League evolved from seven teams in 2018, to 13 teams in 2021, 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.