Nine MLR players injured in walkway collapse

Nine Major League Rugby (MLR) players received significant but non-life-threatening injuries after they were involved in a walkway collapse.

The players from the Dallas Jackals fell from a height of around seven feet last Sunday, March 20th, management have confirmed.

A number of the injured players involved are said to be seeking legal advice following the incident.

Chris Ashton | Rugby Roots

Chris Ashton | Rugby Roots

It has forced the Dallas Jackals to sign four players on short notice, including Charlie Hola and Jack Webster from NOLA, Carson Shoemaker from Utah and Augusto Bohme from Seattle.

A statement from the side read: “Dallas Jackals Rugby can confirm on the afternoon of Sunday, March 20th an off-field incident occurred which involved a number of players. With this, the Jackals have begun working with teams on a series of short-term loans and trades to cover the injuries incurred.”

General Manager Elaine Vassie said “First and foremost, we are extremely grateful the injuries to our players, while serious in terms of the impact on their seasons, were not life threatening. Looking at the height of the walkway that collapsed resulting in 9 players falling around 7 feet to the ground, without diminishing the injuries sustained nor the shock to all players involved, the outcome could have been much much worse.”

“We appreciate the ongoing effort of other teams and the league to work with us on short term loans and trades,” Vassie told the club website. “This ensures the cumulative effect of this volume of injuries, on top of normal one’s at this stage of the season, does not impact our ability to continue playing fixtures.”

“In a week where other top tier leagues have had to cancel matches due to injury and illness, it’s certainly an example of the value of MLR being a single entity and teams being invested in the success of the league and the experience for fans as a whole.”

“Due to players seeking individual legal advice for related injuries, no further comments will be made about the off-field incident,” concluded the statement.

The Jackals were named as an MLR expansion team in 2020 and are playing their inaugural season this year at Choctaw Stadium. The side list former England and Ireland head coach Brian Ashton as a consultant.