The Mtawarira MLR move has sparked an intriguing online debate
The United States’ Major League Rugby (MLR) has welcomed another superstar of the game to the league after it was announced on Wednesday that South Africa’s Tendai Mtawarira has joined Old Glory DC.
The 117-cap loosehead prop is a huge name in world rugby, but this has created a debate amongst members of the rugby community in the States about how beneficial signing players of this magnitude is for the league.
‘The Beast’ joins Ma’a Nonu and Mathieu Bastareaud as just some of the high-profile signings set to play in 2020 MLR season. He’s maybe the biggest name of the three. Nonu is a titan of the game, but has not played international rugby in four years. Similarly, Bastareaud was not picked for France’s Rugby World Cup squad. On the other hand, Mtawarira was not only part of the Springboks’ RWC triumph in Japan, he was at his devastating best in the final against England, tearing through their scrum.
In terms of players that are still in the limelight, the 34-year-old is the biggest name to join the league, and he said on Twitter that he hopes to “grow the game in America”.
2/2… and help (in my small way) to grow the game in the America
I’d like to thank the owners Paul Sheehy and Chris Dunlavey, Coach Andrew and the whole Old Glory D.C organization for making this process easy for my family and I. #GloryAwaits
— Tendai Mtawarira (@Beast_TM) December 18, 2019
However, this created an interesting debate between podcaster Pat Clifton and former USA women’s coach Pete Steinberg. In essence, the discussion on Twitter revolved around whether these big names actually create an increase in stadium attendance or viewership in the US, particularly amongst those that don’t know the players, or whether it is simply to generate interest from abroad. While players of Mtawarira’s calibre will improve the standard of the league, it can sometimes come at a price.
This was the thread on Twitter:
We generally agree. My issue with big names is people confuse it with progress. Foreigners on the back end of their career taking a pay cut to play in empty stadiums in America is neither shocking nor progress. It’s a neat reality.
— apatclifton (@ThePatClifton) December 19, 2019
While these signings are often viewed as beneficial for the globalisation of rugby and growth of the game in North America, this is the other side of the coin. MLR clearly wants to grow as a product, but there is not necessarily an agreement about the best methods to achieve that.
It is less than two months until these players begin another chapter in their careers, with the new season starting in February 2020.
Comments on RugbyPass
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
18 Go to comments