Welcome to Seawolves Legends, a series dedicated to honoring the individuals who have left an indelible mark on the Seattle Seawolves. From standout players to behind-the-scenes heroes, these stories highlight the passion, dedication, and heart that make the Seawolves family extraordinary.
This weekend, we honored Adrian Balfour, Seawolves co-owner and one of the founding owners of Major League Rugby. Adrian’s efforts have helped build not only the Seawolves, but the foundation of professional rugby in North America. His impact on the sport and the Seattle community is unmatched.
Founding the Franchise
Before the Seawolves became Seattle’s team, there was Adrian Balfour’s vision. Adrian was a lifelong rugby player who picked up the sport at age eight in Northern Ireland. He played competitively for 16 years, but it was his vision off the pitch that brought about the club we now call home!
In 2017, Adrian co-founded Major League Rugby with six other rugby believers from all across the U.S. Then, knowing the Pacific Northwest had the culture and heart for something special, Adrian founded the Seattle Seawolves from the ground up.
“Neither the team nor league existed before we founded them,” he said. “We built it all from scratch, organically growing both over the last eight years.”
That leap of faith gave birth to everything that followed: two championship titles, a fiercely loyal fan base, and a rugby culture that now stretches beyond the try line.
The idea for the league came after Adrian sold his company Pcubed and found himself unexpectedly restless in early retirement. While reconnecting with the rugby community through an over-40s league, he began wondering why there professional rugby hadn’t yet taken off in the U.S. He and eight others met across cities like Houston and Denver, modeled their structure after Major League Soccer’s agreement, and pushed forward with what would become Major League Rugby. Adrian’s contribution: the creation of the Seattle Seawolves (X).
Rugby Comes to America
As we know, rugby is still relatively new in the U.S. Adrian knew that local passion for rugby would have to be cultivated over time. “Here in the U.S.,” Adrian explained, “Rugby is a greenfield project. That intrinsic love for the game has to be built, not inherited. And that includes everything from culture to playing and training facilities.”
The Seawolves weren’t handed down through generations. They were created from scratch, with love - and because of that, they’re ours.
“Happily, the culture of rugby here is similar to that in Europe,” says Adrian. “It focuses on fun, family, friends, community, loyalty, and openness.”
That culture came to life quickly. Seattle began selling out stadiums, drawing 5,000 fans per game, and building a model for success that other MLR teams began to follow. From marketing to ticket sales, Adrian and the Seawolves led the way.
The Seawolves also led on the field, winning championships in both 2018 and 2019. In 2020, when COVID shut the season down, the club made a decision to pay all its players in full. That choice helped build loyalty that still echoes throughout the league.
If Adrian’s rugby background isn’t impressive enough, his career outside the sport is just as remarkable. He started out as an electronic engineer at France Telecom’s research center, then moved to Ford in London, where he worked on manufacturing systems and customer workflows. That drive to solve big problems led him to start Pcubed, a project management company that grew to over 1,000 consultants around the world. He led the business for 19 years before selling it in 2013.
Today, Adrian is the founder and chairman of Envorso, a Seattle-based consulting firm that helps major companies like Ford, Cummins, Bose, and BMW improve through AI. He’s also invested in more than a dozen startups, including some others focused on artificial intelligence like Empwr.AI.
And on top of it all, he runs two regenerative sheep farms in Pennsylvania and Ireland that make wool clothing, one of which played an unexpected role in bringing Seawolves fans even closer to their team. In partnership with Seawolves scrum-half JP Smith, Adrian transformed a historic former golf course in Pennsylvania into a working Merino wool sheep farm. What began as a lighthearted offseason idea quickly turned into a full-fledged regenerative agriculture project.
Together, they built something unique: a farm rooted in sustainable practices like rotational grazing, with wool processed into merchandise including Seawolves beanies. The project is a continuation of the values Adrian brings to everything he builds: the highest standard of quality and strong care for the community you’re working in.
“Is there anything you can’t do?” we asked him. He responded: “sit still.”
From Global Ventures to Local Heroes
After decades of building companies across cybersecurity, consulting, and AI, Adrian brought that same entrepreneurial mindset to rugby. Running a team, he says, demands a wide range of skills, from operations and logistics to marketing and commercial strategy, but ultimately, it comes down to people. “Talent development. Resilience. That’s the heart of it.”
“It’s the people that make you smile,” he said. “...amazing fans from the 100 club, past-and-present players like Ricky, JP, Phill, Eric, Metch, Shalom, and all the legends. Learning their backstories and getting to work with them off the pitch to help fuel their passions outside of the game.”
Adrian’s leadership style is built on trust. He believes that when you give people clear direction and a goal that matters, they’ll step up. Instead of micromanaging, he focuses on hiring the right people, setting up strong systems, and letting them do their work. That approach has shaped both his businesses and the Seawolves.
Ask Adrian what makes the Seawolves special, and he’s confident of his answer: the people, the grit and the humility.
He recalls the come-from-behind wins, the nail-biters, and the moments when the team dug deep to surprise everyone, including themselves. Those are the stories he tells with the most pride, not because of the outcome, but the spirit that carried the team there.
“The Seawolves’ ability to dig deep and work hard for each other, even when it looks grim, is amazing,” said Adrian. “Smart, brotherhood, hard work, and keeping our head when others wilt, has delivered silverware four times: two MLR championships and two west coast titles. It inspires the best in each of us and the many people the club touches.”
More than the wins, Adrian values the ripple effect. He’s seen Seawolves players move into coaching, mentoring, and leadership positions across Seattle and beyond, spreading their love of the game to the next generation.
“The Seawolves continue to inspire long after their playing careers are over,” he said. “They take those experiences and leadership skills, and use them for good to generate the love of the game for kids in our community.”
When asked what it means to be named a Seawolves Legend, Adrian turns the spotlight elsewhere.
“It’s humbling,” he said. “The players - every single one of them past and present - are the real legends. I dedicate this to them.”
But to everyone else, Adrian’s influence is undeniable. Without his leadership, Major League Rugby may never have launched. Without his dedication, the Seawolves might never have taken the field. And without his focus on people, the team wouldn’t have the identity it holds today.
So while he may stand on the sidelines, make no mistake: Adrian Balfour is the reason the Seawolves have a stage to stand on. A legend, not just for what he’s accomplished, but for what he’s made possible.
And because of him, this team, this city, and this sport all have a future worth cheering for.
