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HERRIMAN — At 34 years old, Liam Coltman admits he's probably reached the peak of his professional rugby career.
A decorated New Zealand international who helped the All Blacks to the world junior championship in 2010 before making his senior provincial debut the same year, Coltman went on to more than 100 Super Rugby appearances with Highlanders from 2012 through 2022 before becoming one of the top hookers in France with French Top 14 club Lyon the past two years.
In the new age of his career, he admits he has a different objective now — an objective that played a direct role to him coming stateside to sign with Utah Warriors in Major League Rugby.
"I just enjoy playing the game now, no worries about any advancement or anything like that," Coltman told KSL.com. "I know I'm past that. So for me, it's all about giving back.
"Rugby in America is quite a niche sport at the moment, but I think it's going to grow," he added of the country that will host the Rugby World Cup in 2031 and the Women's Rugby World Cup in 2033. "I look at the USA Sevens program; it wasn't really getting on, and then you got the right people behind it and it just took off. I think that MLR is getting really close to just taking off. For me, it will be a great opportunity to push myself, to help the young guys to grow their game, and take my experience from France and back home with Otago to provide a little experience and help out the others."
Coltman was one of four senior international signees to join the Warriors this week, part of a group that will replace 17 departures recently confirmed by the club. The group includes three New Zealand internationals with fly half/center D'Angelo Leuila and prop Aki Seiuli, as well as Irish lock Gavin Thornbury.
"The addition of these four high-quality players to the Utah Warriors 2025 team in Liam, Gavin, D'Angelo and Aki is a significant boost to our campaign aspirations," said coach Greg Cooper, who will enter his fourth year with the Herriman-based club in 2025 after finishing 5-11 in Major League Rugby this past season . "They are all proven talent and just as importantly they are quality people.
"We have put together an outstanding roster, but we are fully aware that we have a lot of hard work ahead of us to achieve our goals. The professional mentality that these 4 players bring to the Warriors, will provide the momentum needed to take our game to a far higher standard."
Here are the four international standouts who signed with the Warriors this week ahead of the 2025 Major League Rugby season, in addition to the five homegrown rugby products signed a week ago.
Liam Coltman, Hooker, New Plymouth, New Zealand
"The Bearded Behemoth" earned a reputation as one of New Zealand rugby's most durable hookers when he made eight appearances for the All Blacks from 2016-19.
After beginning his career with 90 appearances for his boyhood club Otago and 138 more with Highlanders, the 6-foot-1, 240-pound bruiser comes to MLR after spending the past two years in France, where the 34-year-old Coltman played in 38 matches for Lyon.
D'Angelo Leuila, Fly half/center, Auckland, New Zealand
One of the top scoring options in the National Provincial Championship, Leuila tied a league record for the most points by an individual in a single match with 35 points with Waikato.
Gavin Thornbury, Lock, Dublin, Ireland
An experienced player of the last decade in Europe and England's Premiership with Northampton Saints, the 6-foot-8, 256-pound lock scored 20 points in 75 appearances with Connacht coming off the Irish club's Pro14 championship in 2017.
A former Ireland U20 international, the 30-year-old Thornbury broke into the Ireland Wolfhounds — considered the country's second team in international play — two years ago.
Aki Seiuli, Prop, Christchurch, New Zealand
A Samoan international who played in his native New Zealand with Otago and Highlanders, Seiuli scored 10 points in 29 appearances over three seasons with Glasgow Warriors from 2019-21 before signing with Dragons RFC in Wales since 2021.
Internationall, the 6-foot, 260-pound Seiuli featured nine times for Samoa since 2021 and earned a reputation as a top professional with positive character for club and the community.
