Ngwenya in PRO Rugby roster reveal

PRO Rugby has revealed their player rosters for the inaugural season – sort of. A list of five squads has been released, with a total of 98 players spread between teams comprised of between 15 and 22 each. Of course that means there are numerous players still to join up, with an assortment of names sifting into the media now from various sources.

Included are 18 Eagles from the Americas Rugby Championship squad and one each from Canada and Chile – Phil Mackenzie and Nikola Bursic respectively. Previously announced foreign internationals Mirco Bergamasco and Pedrie Wannenburg are there, as is former New Zealand sevens star Orene Ai’i. The most notable inclusion, however, comes in the form of star winger Takudzwa Ngwenya, who will leave Pro D2 club Biarritz Olympique to play for San Diego before returning to France in the Top 14 for a new team, strongly suggested to be Brive.

A few notable names both confirmed and rumored are absent, presumably to avoid complications with visa applications. Canadian hooker Ray Barkwill is not on the Sacramento roster, where he will be headed in a couple weeks time, and former Eagles winger Colin Hawley is strangely absent from the San Francisco sheet despite confirming the move himself a month ago.

Ohio are expected to add Lindenwood’s Chilean no8 Sebastián Kalm and former New Zealand test prop Jamie Mackintosh in the coming days, while Ngwenya should be joined by old Biarritz teammate Kurt Morath in San Diego. The Tongan flyhalf has not featured in the professional rugby ranks since participating in the World Cup in October. Also reportedly set to be unveiled is Mils Muliaina, winner of 100 caps for the All Blacks. The 35-year-old fullback is set to be released early from his contract with Zebre to join San Francisco.

Another from Biarritz who could arrive in San Diego is former France sevens star Jean-Baptiste Gobelet, while Italy ‘A’ flanker Filippo Ferrarini has already left Zebre and is poised to sign with one of the new American franchises. Eagles captain Todd Clever could well be on his way to San Diego from Newcastle Falcons, and at least two more Canadians have been signed and will be unveiled shortly. Loosehead prop Hubert Buydens and centre Nick Blevins will take up the offer to head south to join San Diego and San Francisco respectively. While several Canucks had expressed interest, it appears visa complications may restrict their numbers for the first season.

Other Americans said to be joining up are Life West flyhalf Junior Helu and Glendale goal kicker Armandt Peens, the latter reportedly already spotted at practice with the Denver franchise. Several ARC Eagles remain to be named officially, including prop Demecus Beach, flanker Alec Gletzer, and fullback Jake Anderson. Lindenwood teenagers Lorenzo Thomas and Deion Mikesell have Junior All-American and school commitments, while Lemoto Filikitonga, Nick Edwards, and Matt Trouville are injured.

The absence of an East Coast side for season one could leave New York-based ARC trio Nate Brakeley, James Bird, and Luke Hume out in the cold, though Old Blue’s Ryan Matyas will move cross-country to San Diego. World Cup centre Seamus Kelly is another New Yorker thus far unsigned, and the status of flanker Al McFarland seems up in the air. Loose forwards Pat Blair and Aladdin Schirmer seem to be sticking to their Olympic sevens commitments, and there is no sign of big lock Brodie Orth as of yet. James Hilterbrand and James King could yet be added though their status is again unclear.

 

DENVER

The front row looks complete with four Eagles caps to choose from and Tonga ‘A’ rep Soane Ledger also in the mix. Ben Landry and towering Casey Rock should form an impressive second row, and there are imposing ball carriers in the back row with Zac Pauga, Junior All-American captain Hanco Germishuys, and former Springbok Pedrie Wannenburg all available.

Former national u20 star Will Magie returns from England to challenge veteran Ata Malifa for the chance to partner Niku Kruger at the halfbacks. A big midfield contingent, both in size and number, is a talking point in the backs. ARC duo Mike Garrity and Chad London look front runners, while versatile Kansas City standout Gannon Moore could find himself on the wing, or even in the back row.

NAME	POS	CLUB	COUNTRY	CAPS
Baumann, Chris	PR	Austin Blacks	USA	9
Ledger, Soane	PR	Denver Barbarians	Tonga	–
Tarr, Ben	PR	Glendale Raptors	USA	2
Turnbull, Jake	PR	Glendale Raptors	Australia	–
White, Luke	PR	Glendale Raptors	Australia	–
Fenoglio, Zach	HO	Glendale Raptors	USA	17
Rams, Brendan	HO	Austin Blacks	South Africa	–
Landry, Ben	LO	Seattle Saracens	USA	4
Rock, Casey	LO	Glendale Raptors	USA	–
Germishuys, Hanco	FL	Glendale Raptors	USA	1
Pauga, Zac	N8	Glendale Raptors	USA	–
Wannenburg, Pedrie	N8	Oyonnax (FR)	South Africa	20
Impson, Bobby	SH	Denver Barbarians	USA	–
Kruger, Niku	SH	Glendale Raptors	USA	6
Magie, Will	FH	Old Albanians (UK)	USA	–
Malifa, Ata	FH	Denver Barbarians	USA	4
Al-Jiboori, Michael	CE	Denver Barbarians	USA	–
Garrity, Mike	CE	Seattle Saracens	USA	2
London, Chad	CE	Glendale Raptors	USA	5
Pauga, Justin	CE	Glendale Raptors	USA	–
Peens, Armandt*	CE	Glendale Raptors	South Africa	–
Moore, Gannon	WI	Kansas City Blues	USA	–
Croy, Dustin	FB	Glendale Raptors	USA	–

 

OHIO

A decent front row should feature Cam Falcon at hooker between Mackintosh and ‘A’ international Angus MacLellan. The second row looks positively monstrous with 6’8″ Nick Civetta returning from Italy and 6’11” Justin Allen in from England. Pierce Dargan has come back from Ireland, and Aaron ‘Spike’ Davis is one of several sevens standouts whose final position seems a bit up in the air. Kalm was also left off the official release but should join the group soon.

The scrumhalf battle looks very tight with two full internationals in Robbie Shaw and Shaun Davies, while Chris Saint is an age grade standout and a former Eagles camp invitee. Ahmad Harajly and Matt Hughston have both played in the back row but look more like centres in this group with Roland Suniula to help in the experience department. JP Eloff will pull the strings from flyhalf, and Alex Elkins is a football standout and a physical specimen who looks set to play on the wing.

NAME	POS	CLUB	COUNTRY	CAPS
Mackintosh, Jamie*	PR	Montpellier (FR)	New Zealand	1
MacLellan, Angus	PR	Chicago Lions	USA	–
Falcon, Cameron	HO	New Orleans	USA	–
Fawsitt, Dylan	HO	Life	USA	–
Allen, Justin	LO	Chinnor (UK)	USA	–
Civetta, Nick	LO	Medicei (IT)	USA	–
Dargan, Pierce	FL	Clontarf (IR)	USA	–
Davis, Aaron	FL	Columbus	USA	–
Joseph, Chad	FL	Dallas RFC	Australia	–
Malcolm, Peter	FL	Wheeling Jesuit	USA	–
Kalm, Sebastián*	N8	Lindenwood	Chile	–
Davies, Shaun	SH	Life	USA	1
Saint, Chris	SH	Potomac Exiles	USA	–
Shaw, Robbie	SH	Hartpury (UK)	USA	12
Eloff, JP	FH	Chicago Lions	USA	4
Howden, Taylor	FH	Columbus	USA	–
Kunkel, Chris	FH	Richmond (UK)	USA	–
Harajly, Ahmad	CE	Detroit Tradesmen	USA	–
Hughston, Matt	CE	Charlotte	USA	–
Suniula, Roland	CE	Chalon (FR)	USA	17
Elkins, Alex	WI	Columbus	USA	–
Hanson, Allan	FB	Wheeling Jesuit	USA	–
Mizell, Zac	FB	Austin Blacks	USA	–

 

SACRAMENTO

Nothing shy-looking about the forward pack that contains ARC captaincy experience in both Olive Kilifi and Ray Barkwill. All-American prop Val Lee-Lo has a chance to take another step forward, and there is a lot of beef in the likes of Sione Sina and James Reddey, who both top 123kg (270lbs) on the scales. Former Eagles Kyle Sumsion and John Quill could prove a very strong combination on the flanks.

The halfbacks look a bit of a gamble with tricky Fijian scrumhalf Jope Motokana and tall Ireland-based flyhalf Garrett Brewer the most likely combination. There is a strong Pacific feel to the backline aside from Bergamasco, winger Rashad Harbor, and Ryan Thompson, older brother of injured winger Brett.

NAME	POS	CLUB	COUNTRY	CAPS
Kefu, Toke	PR	Sacramento Blackhawks	USA	–
Kilifi, Olive	PR	Seattle Saracens	USA	19
Lee-Lo, Valdemar	PR	Seattle Saracens	USA	–
Barkwill, Ray	HO	Castaway Wanderers (CA)	Canada	30
Inong, Josh	HO	Santa Rosa	Philippines	?
Meeson, Robert	LO	Santa Rosa	USA	–
Reddey, James	LO	Sacramento Blackhawks	England	–
Sina, Sione	LO	UCal Golden Bears	USA	–
Quill, John	FL	Dolphin (IR)	USA	17
Sumsion, Kyle	FL	Brigham Young	USA	5
Koewler, Ryan	N8	Sacramento Capitals	USA	–
Holland, Josh	SH	SFGG	USA	–
Motokana, Jope	SH	Seattle Saracens	USA	–
Brewer, Garrett	FH	St. Mary’s (IR)	USA	–
Takiveikata, Pate	FH	Metropolis	USA	–
Bergamasco, Mirco	CE	Zebre (IT)	Italy	89
Qoro, Nemia	CE	Life West	USA	–
Tavake, Kali	CE	Sacramento Blackhawks	USA	–
Thompson, Ryan	CE	Tempe	USA	–
Harbor, Rashad	WI	Dallas Reds	USA	–
Tikoisuva, Joeli	WI	Metropolis	USA	–
Vailala, Fatai	WI	East Palo Alto Razorbacks	USA	–
Bennett, Harry	FB	Santa Monica	Australia	–

 

SAN DIEGO

There’s a long way to go in the forward pack, though they will have three ARC front rowers in Hubert Buydens, Mike Sosene-Feagai, and Joe Taufete’e. Big Chilean lock or no8 Nikola Bursic will give them some go-forward, and if rumours are true Clever will be a big help in the back row.

On paper the backs look the best in the competition. Morath and Tom Bliss are a quality halfback pairing for this level, and the outside backs are all internationals. Ryne ‘Pono’ Haitsuka is the only one without a test cap, but he has international sevens experience and great footwork. Ngwenya and Tim Stanfill provide lethal speed on the wings. Expect Mackenzie to play in the midfield, possibly outside Mike Te’o with Matyas at fullback.

NAME	POS	CLUB	COUNTRY	CAPS
Buydens, Hubert*	PR	Castaway Wanderers (CA)	Canada	43
Kalemani, Jeffrey	PR	Santa Monica	Tonga	–
Taungakava, Sam	PR	Seattle Saracens	USA	–
Sosene-Feagai, Mike	HO	Belmont Shore	USA	4
Taufete’e, Joseph	HO	Belmont Shore	USA	5
Bursic, Nikola	N8	Craighouse Old Boys (CL)	Chile	8
Zuberi, Jabari	N8	Santa Monica	USA	–
Bliss, Tom	SH	Ealing Trailfinders (UK)	USA	1
Purdon, Charlie	SH	Santa Monica	South Africa	–
Konrad, Kalei	FH	OMBAC	USA	–
Morath, Kurt*	FH	Biarritz (FR)	Tonga	30
Haitsuka, Ryne	CE	Mystic River	USA	–
Mackenzie, Phil	CE	Sale Sharks (UK)	Canada	32
Te’o, Mike	CE	Belmont Shore	USA	4
Ngwenya, Takudzwa	WI	Biarritz (FR)	USA	35
Stanfill, Tim	WI	Seattle Saracens	USA	6
Matyas, Ryan	FB	Old Blue	USA	2

 

SAN FRANCISCO

This group looks a bit of a mixed bag so far. Tom Coolican is back state-side with former u20 rake Codi Jones a solid backup, and youngster Siaosi Mahoni looks a very big prospect – figuratively and literally – in the second row. The brothers Tameilau – prop Maka and no8 David – should provide a lot of go-forward.

US-eligible Michael Reid is a good pickup at scrumhalf and should have one of the Kiwis outside him, with either Orene Ai’i and Martini Talapusi both capable at flyhalf or fullback. If the rumours are true Muliaina can be a great addition at the back, while Blevins will play a leading role in the midfield and the wings are strong with Hawley and Kingsley McGowan most likely.

NAME	POS	CLUB	COUNTRY	CAPS
Latu, Patrick	PR	SFGG	USA	–
Lolohea, Niko	PR	Life West	USA	–
Tameilau, Maka	PR	Life West	USA	–
Coolican, Tom	HO	Sydney Stars (AU)	USA	8
Finau, Jacob	HO	Life West	USA	–
Jones, Codi	HO	Cal Maritime	USA	–
Colvill, John	LO	Life West	USA	–
Mahoni, Siaosi	LO	East Palo Alto Bulldogs	USA	–
Finau, Sam	N8	Auckland University (NZ)	Tonga	–
Tameilau, David	N8	Life West	USA	4
Ferris, Devereaux	SH	Life West	New Zealand	–
Reid, Michael	SH	Spotswood United (NZ)	USA	–
Ai’i, Orene	FH	Life West	New Zealand	–
Talapusi, Martini	FH	Belfast (NZ)	Samoa	–
Blevins, Nick*	CE	Calgary Hornets (CA)	Canada	32
Haley, Michael	CE	Olympic	USA	–
Hawley, Colin*	WI	Olympic	USA	7
McGowan, Kingsley	WI	Trinity College (IR)	USA	2
O’Hara, Jack	WI	Santa Clara	USA	–
Muliaina, Mils*	FB	Zebre (IT)	New Zealand	100

 

*player not named in the official release