1
Nonu, Bastareaud, Mtawarira, Ioane, Ranger: The international stars set for Major League Rugby kick-off this weekend
With the Six Nations, Super Rugby and the Top League in full swing at this early stage of the year, it’s easy to forget that one of the world’s fastest growing domestic competitions is about to kick-off this weekend.
ADVERTISEMENT
Major League Rugby will enter its third season of existence on Saturday (local time) when six of the tournament’s 12 teams do battle against one another across North America.
The 2020 campaign brings with it an array of headline acts to provide the MLR, which has expanded from the nine teams that took part in 2019, with unprecedented star power compared to the talent on offer in seasons gone by.
Continue reading below…
Perhaps the most significant signing of all the new recruits this year is that of World Cup-winning Springboks prop Tendai Mtawarira.
The 34-year-old joins expansion club Old Glory DC – one of the three new teams alongside Rugby ATL and the New England Free Jacks – from the Sharks in Super Rugby to inject 117 tests worth of experience into the Washington DC-based side.
“I really want to thank the whole Old Glory organisation for making this happen,” Mtawarira said.
“I can’t wait to make an impact on and off the field and help to contribute to making Old Glory the best team in this league.”
Rivalling Mtawarira as the biggest acquisition of the off-season is two-time World Cup-winning All Blacks midfielder Ma’a Nonu, who has linked up with last year’s runners-up, the San Diego Legion, from Super Rugby strugglers, the Blues.
ADVERTISEMENT
Renowned as one of the greatest second-fives to have ever graced the game, the 37-year-old arrives in southern California with 103 test caps to his name and will act as a leader in a Legion outfit eager to go one place better than last season.
“Ma’a is a huge addition for us,” San Diego coach Rob Hoadley said.
“It’s undeniable that he will have a major impact on the MLR this season. He is a world class player who has proven himself to be one of the greats of the game.”
"Your Fodens and all these other players…They kind of disappear into the background whereas this guy absolutely does not.”
– @rugbyunitedny founder talks about the impact of @BastaOfficiel with @heagneyl #FRAvENG #MLRugby ???? https://t.co/asNSLRjYI3
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 2, 2020
Nonu isn’t the only former All Black who has shifted stateside in the last few months.
One-cap wing Frank Halai has been signed by a re-branded Austin Gilgronis side from Top 14 club Pau, while blockbusting utility back Rene Ranger has re-located to Glendale to suit up for the Colorado Raptors after plying his trade for the Sunwolves last year.
ADVERTISEMENT
Ranger will partner up with former Wallabies speedster Digby Ioane, who has been lured to the Raptors after spending three years with the Panasonic Wild Knights in Japan.
Likewise, Halai will also play alongside a Wallabies veteran as 35-year-old Adam Ashley-Cooper has signed on with Austin after turning out for the Waratahs in last year’s edition of Super Rugby.
Star French midfielder Mathieu Bastareaud, meanwhile, made headlines last June when he announced his move from Toulon to Rugby United New York to play alongside ex-England fullback Ben Foden.
WATCH: Stateside – A RugbyPass Original documentary
Back-to-back reigning champions, the Seattle Seawolves, have added depth to their roster by signing experienced Argentine loose forward Juan Manuel Leguizamon from the Jaguares.
Adding to the influx of foreign talent is 78-test Japanese prop Kensuke Hatakeyama, who was part of Japan’s 2011 and 2015 World Cup sides and started in the Brave Blossoms’ famous upset against South Africa.
He has joined the Boston-based Free Jacks, and could debut in the franchise’s inaugural competition match against Rugby United New York as part of an opening weekend clash in Las Vegas.
Elsewhere, the New Orleans Gold will host Mtawarira and OldGlory DC on Saturday, and the Raptors will travel to Texas to face the Houston SaberCats.
Rugby ATL will open their MLR account against the Utah Warriors in Atlanta, which will be followed by a replay of last season’s final between the Legion and Seawolves at San Diego’s Torero Stadium.
Round one will be signed off in a cross-conference battle between the Gilgronis and the Canadian-based Toronto Arrows in Austin.
After 17 weeks of action, the top three sides in the eastern and western conferences qualify for the play-offs, with the MLR final expected to take place in June.
2020 Major League Rugby round one:
Houston SaberCats vs Colorado Raptors at Aveva Stadium, Houston. KO: Saturday 12pm ET
New Orleans Gold vs Old Glory DC at Shrine on Airline, New Orleans. KO: Saturday 4pm ET
Rugby ATL vs Utah Warriors at Life University, Atlanta. KO: Sunday 3pm ET
New England Free Jacks vs Rugby United New York at Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas. KO: Sunday 4pm ET
San Diego Legion vs Seattle Seawolves at Torero Stadium, San Diego. KO: Sunday 5pm ET
Austin Golgronis vs Toronto Arrows at Circuit of the Americas, Austin. KO: Sunday 8pm ET
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
Super rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
16 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
16 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
10 Go to comments