LOS ANGELES, Calif. — UCLA Men's Rugby is proud to announce the appointment of Josh Larsen as the program's new Forwards Coach for the upcoming 2026 National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) Fall season.
Larsen joins the Bruins on loan from the New England Free Jacks, where he has spent the past season as an assistant coach. One of the most respected leaders in North American rugby, Larsen brings a championship pedigree, international experience, and a wealth of professional knowledge to Westwood as UCLA prepares for an exciting new era.
Widely regarded as one of Major League Rugby's most decorated players, Larsen captained the Free Jacks through one of the league's greatest dynasties, leading the club to multiple MLR Championships while helping establish New England as the benchmark franchise in professional rugby. As the organization's inaugural captain and one of its foundational figures, his leadership and professionalism became synonymous with the club's sustained success.
On the international stage, Larsen earned more than 30 test caps for Canada following his debut in 2017. He represented his country at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, competed throughout multiple Rugby World Cup qualification campaigns, and was a consistent selection for Canada's senior national team. Before reaching the senior level, he also represented Canada at the World Rugby U20 Trophy, highlighting a distinguished international career that has spanned every level of the game.
Now transitioning into coaching, Larsen has quickly established himself as one of the sport's brightest young coaching prospects. Working alongside the Free Jacks coaching staff over the past season, he has continued to develop his expertise in forward play, set piece, leadership development, and high-performance environments.
Larsen's appointment also represents an exciting collaboration between two of North America's premier rugby organizations. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to developing players and coaches while strengthening the connection between the collegiate and professional games.
"We're incredibly excited to welcome Josh to Westwood," said UCLA Head Coach Harry Bennett. "His experience speaks for itself. He has competed at the highest levels of professional and international rugby, captained championship teams, and has already begun building an outstanding coaching résumé with one of the premier organizations in Major League Rugby.
"What excites me most is the person behind the résumé. Josh is an exceptional leader, a brilliant rugby mind, and someone who genuinely cares about developing young men. Our forwards will benefit enormously from his knowledge, standards, and professionalism. We're also incredibly grateful to the Free Jacks organization for making this opportunity possible. It speaks volumes about the strength of the relationships within our sport and what can be achieved when organizations work together to grow the game."
Todd Thornley, General Manager of the New England Free Jacks and formerly with UCLA Men's Rugby as Assistant Coach, believes the collaboration is an example of rugby's unique ability to connect people and programs across every level of the sport.
"One of the greatest strengths of the rugby community is its willingness to collaborate, and this partnership is a perfect example of that. We're proud to support Josh's opportunity to contribute to one of the sport's most historic collegiate programs while continuing his development as a coach within the Free Jacks organization. Having previously coached at UCLA, it's especially meaningful to help strengthen the connection between these two organizations. Partnerships like this bridge the professional and collegiate games, stretch from coast to coast, and ultimately help grow rugby in North America by investing in outstanding people and creating opportunities for the next generation of players and coaches."
Larsen said the opportunity to join the Bruins was one he immediately embraced.
"UCLA is one of the most recognizable rugby programs in the United States, with an incredible history and enormous potential," Larsen said. "I'm grateful to the Free Jacks for supporting this opportunity and excited to work with this talented group of student-athletes. The standards and ambitions at UCLA are clear, and I'm looking forward to helping our forwards develop while contributing to what promises to be an exciting season for the program."
Larsen's arrival further strengthens a UCLA coaching staff entering its inaugural NCR campaign. The Bruins have also appointed Conor McGill as Assistant Forwards Coach, where he will work alongside Larsen throughout the season while supporting the technical and fundamental development of UCLA's emerging forwards and development squad.
Having recently relocated to Los Angeles, McGill joins the Bruins following an impressive playing career that has spanned both collegiate and professional rugby. A former Seattle Seawolves player in Major League Rugby, McGill previously starred at the University of Minnesota before continuing his rugby journey at Trinity College Dublin, where he further developed his game in one of the sport's traditional heartlands. His experience across elite collegiate and professional environments makes him an outstanding addition to the Bruins' coaching staff and reinforces UCLA's commitment to developing forwards across every level of the program.
Together, the appointments of Larsen and McGill underscore UCLA Rugby's continued investment in high-performance coaching and player development. The partnership with the New England Free Jacks further highlights a shared vision for advancing the game by creating meaningful pathways between the collegiate, professional, and international levels of rugby.
The Bruins open the 2026 season on Saturday, September 26, when they host Michigan at Westwood in the first home match of UCLA's new era in National Collegiate Rugby. With one of the nation's most challenging schedules awaiting, including fixtures against Brown, Notre Dame, Dartmouth and Texas A&M, the Bruins enter the fall with renewed ambition and one of the strongest coaching staffs in collegiate rugby.
