NEWS

22 Major League Rugby players in action for USA Eagles and Canada in opening round of Americas Rugby Championship
Salt Lake City, UT; Feb 4, 2019: Twenty-two Major League Rugby players represented the USA Eagles and Canada national teams in the opening fixtures of the 2019 Americas Rugby Championship this weekend, with the USA routing Chile 71-8 and Canada falling to a last-gasp Uruguay try, 20-18.
Ten MLR players made it into the the Eagles’ matchday 23, with Cam Dolan (NOLA Gold), Hanco Germishuys and Shaun Davies (both Glendale Raptors) all scoring tries. Tadhg Leader of the New England Free Jacks – a new addition for MLR Season 3 in 2020 – earned his first cap from the bench in the second half, registering his debut try in the process.
Seventeen of the USA Eagles’ 35-man roster for the opening ARC matches away to Chile and Argentina XV are drawn from MLR squads, including four each from San Diego Legion and Glendale Raptors. MLR’s Cam Dolan, Luke Hume and John Quill (Rugby United New York), and Mike Te’o (San Diego Legion) all boast over 20 caps, while San Diego’s Kipeli Pifeleti will hope to join Leader in making his test debut during the Championship.
Canada’s squad for the Uruguay game had a distinct Toronto Arrows flavor, with six of the matchday 23 plying their trade with the MLR newcomers, including the precocious club captain, 23-year-old Lucas Rumball, who skippered the national side on Saturday. In all, 15 of Canada’s 28-man ARC roster plays in the MLR, with NOLA Gold, Austin Elite Rugby, Seattle Seawolves and Utah Warriors all contributing players.
The Canadians came up against a Uruguay side including eight MLR players from Houston SaberCats, Austin Elite Rugby, and NOLA Gold try-scorer Ignacio Dotti. The ARC – now in its fourth season – could feature upwards of 40 MLR players. As well as the Uruguayan contingent, Brazil named the Utah Warriors’ New Zealand-born fly-half Joshua Reeves at 10 for their defeat to Argentina XV.
Many of the league’s overseas internationals were recruited following the successful MLR combine in October 2018. Players from Brazil, Chile, Canada and Uruguay attended a week-long selection camp at Infinity Park, CO, home of the Glendale Raptors, culminating in a trial match between the hosts and a Rugby Americas XV.
“At MLR, we’re proud to be a proving ground and a showcase for the very best North American rugby talent,” said MLR Commissioner Dean Howes. “The number of Eagles and Canadians from MLR shows the recruitment and development work our clubs are doing is already bearing fruit. At the league and club level, we’ve built excellent collaborative relationships with all the national unions competing in the Americas Rugby Championship. MLR is committed to seeing rugby thrive across the Americas.”
“Major League Rugby has assembled some of the top rugby talent in the Americas,” said Rugby Americas CEO Dan Payne. “Now, the strong alignment between North America’s professional club game and the international sides will drive player development, fan engagement and commercial growth. The Americas Rugby Championship 2019 is going to be the most competitive yet, and we expect to see a real impact from the MLR pros across all of the ARC member unions. With MLR and the Americas Rugby Championship working together, rugby’s future across the continent is very bright.”
MLR and its clubs actively encourage players to strive for international recognition. The league has established a constructive dialog with USA Rugby and Rugby Canada to help maximize the opportunities available to the athletes. Every MLR player continues to be paid while on duty with their national side.
MLR call-ups for Americas Rugby Championship 2019
USA EAGLES | Canada |
Malon Al-Jiboori, Glendale Raptors |
Kyle Baillie, NOLA Gold |
Dylan Audsley, San Diego Legion | Noah Barker, Glendale Raptors |
Nick Boyer, San Diego Legion | Hubert Buydens, NOLA Gold |
Nate Brakeley, Rugby United New York | Guiseppe du Toit, Toronto Arrows |
Shaun Davies, Glendale Raptors | Doug Fraser, Austin Elite Rugby |
Cam Dolan, NOLA Gold | Eric Howard, NOLA Gold |
Dylan Fawsitt, Rugby United New York | Cole Keith, Toronto Arrows |
Hanco Germishuys, Glendale Raptors | Josh Larsen, Austin Elite Rugby |
Luke Hume, Rugby United New York | Kainoa Lloyd, Toronto Arrows |
Tadhg Leader, New England Free Jacks | Jamie Mackenzie, Toronto Arrows |
Will Magie, Glendale Raptors | Nakai Penny, Seattle Seawolves |
Peter Malcolm, Austin Elite Rugby | Lucas Rumball, Toronto Arrows |
Gannon Moore, Utah Warriors | Theo Sauder, Toronto Arrows |
Paul Mullen, Houston SaberCats | Djustice Sears-Duru, Seattle Seawolves |
Kapeli Pifeleti, San Diego Legion | Mike Sheppard, Toronto Arrows |
John Quill, Rugby United New York | |
Mike Te’o, San Diego Legion |
ABOUT MLR
MLR is a professional rugby league launched in April of 2018. It’s an initiative of the North American rugby community, in partnership with private investors, who believe that North American rugby can thrive at the highest levels: as a commercial enterprise; as an influential player on the international scene; and as a participation sport at the youth and senior level. MLR will be the pinnacle of North American rugby, and provide a rallying point for local communities, a focal point for North American rugby fans, and an aspirational destination for young athletes.
The teams competing in MLR Season 2 are Austin Elite, Glendale Raptors, Houston SaberCats, New Orleans Gold, San Diego Legion, Seattle Seawolves, Utah Warriors plus new additions Rugby United New York and Toronto Arrows. Agreements are already in place to add at least a further four teams from major North American markets for Season 3.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Major League Rugby: Press Office, 323-476-0016, press@usmlr.com

Recent Posts

How To Watch: February 15 – 16
Find information on how to watch every MLR match this weekend. For

‘We Are Here To Win The Competition’ – Lee Ahead Of Maiden Season With The Nola Gold
Written by Joe Harvey | Photos Provided By NOLA Gold Danny Lee

ESPN and Major League Rugby Announce Multiyear Media Rights Agreement
Live Coverage Begins with the 2025 Season on Feb. 15 All Matches

‘I Want Everybody To Be Proud Of The SaberCats’ – Pote Human Ahead Of 2025 Season
Written by Joe Harvey | Photos by Oscar Hernandez In 2024, the

‘They Will Work Harder’ – John Manenti’s Plan To Turn San Diego Legion Into Shield Winners
Written by Joe Harvey | Photos by Griff Lacey For the past
Categories
- Anthem RC
- Chicago Hounds
- Dallas Jackals
- Expansion
- Headlines
- Highlights
- Houston SaberCats
- In the News
- League Announcements
- Matches
- Miami Sharks
- MLR Collegiate Draft
- MLR News
- New England Free Jacks
- New York Ironworkers
- NOLA Gold
- Old Glory DC
- Playoffs
- Press Releases
- Rugby ATL
- Rugby FC Los Angeles
- San Diego Legion
- Seattle Seawolves
- Team News
- Toronto Arrows
- Trades
- Utah Warriors
- Videos
Archives
- February 2025 (4)
- January 2025 (12)
- December 2024 (3)
- November 2024 (10)
- October 2024 (3)
- September 2024 (7)
- August 2024 (14)
- July 2024 (22)
- June 2024 (42)
- May 2024 (29)
- April 2024 (39)
- March 2024 (37)
- February 2024 (5)
- January 2024 (6)
- December 2023 (5)
- November 2023 (4)
- October 2023 (5)
- September 2023 (5)
- August 2023 (7)
- July 2023 (19)
- June 2023 (43)
- May 2023 (41)
- April 2023 (46)
- March 2023 (27)
- February 2023 (17)
- January 2023 (4)
- December 2022 (4)
- November 2022 (7)
- October 2022 (7)
- September 2022 (4)
- August 2022 (3)
- July 2022 (8)
- June 2022 (46)
- May 2022 (71)
- April 2022 (56)
- March 2022 (58)
- February 2022 (55)
- January 2022 (13)
- December 2021 (8)
- November 2021 (10)
- October 2021 (14)
- September 2021 (10)
- August 2021 (17)
- July 2021 (60)
- June 2021 (63)
- May 2021 (64)
- April 2021 (49)
- March 2021 (35)
- February 2021 (14)
- January 2021 (15)
- November 2020 (1)
- September 2020 (4)
- August 2020 (6)
- July 2020 (10)
- June 2020 (3)
- May 2020 (4)
- March 2020 (16)
- February 2020 (19)
- September 2019 (1)
- August 2019 (1)
- June 2019 (17)
- May 2019 (32)
- April 2019 (39)
- March 2019 (28)
- February 2019 (54)
- January 2019 (31)
- May 2018 (2)
- April 2018 (1)