12 Targets for Major League Rugby

The inaugural season of Major League Rugby has come and gone and the new professional competition will soon enter uncharted territory as far as the Americas are concerned – a second season. Along with the excitement are said to be two new teams. One will be Rugby United New York, which has been confirmed for several months now. The second is set to be revealed soon and all expectations are that it will be the Ontario Arrows, potentially Canada’s first ever professional rugby union team.

It’s fair to say that most expectations have now been met if not surpassed. The bar, however, is raised ever higher. Seven established teams have come through their first season with a clear view of what is required and where their shortcomings are. Recruitment has already begun and announcements are now starting to trickle through. New York have brought in Cathal Marsh and Ben Foden. As far as new names go, that’s about all that have been revealed publicly.

More overseas players are certain to follow and speculation should be hitting high gear soon enough with most training camps set to formally begin in just a few weeks. Just who might join the party we don’t know, but here are some ideas of players that we think would fit nicely into MLR this season.

Of note is that none of them are American Collegiate players for a good reason – we have no idea who is leaving school or who might be returning for a 5th year. Instead we’ll focus on the players we do know are available, unless of course behind closed doors they have already put pen to paper!

 

HULUHOLO MO’UNGALOA – LOOSEHEAD PROP

It’s fair to say that the tight five is the biggest area of concern league-wide in terms of quality, and decent props proved very hard to find for some teams. For that reason it seems foolhardy if not completely self-defeating for any Eagles hopeful not to participate in MLR. This time last year Mo’ungaloa was on the up-and-up, named to the Americas Pacific Challenge and then to the November tour and subsequently earning three starts in the Americas Rugby Championship. Since then his stock has dropped like a rock after skipping the inaugural season and he is now on the outside looking in. If Mo’ungaloa has any intention on making a case for the World Cup he must play in 2019.

Best fit: Just about every team would welcome a decent prop. San Diego look in better shape now that Pifeleti Faka’osi has arrived and Sione Tu’ihalamaka is coming to grips with his new position. Utah is desperate for props and his arrival would allow Maka Tameilau to concentrate on tighthead and give them a pair of Eagles in the front row with Angus MacLellan at tighthead. New Orleans could also use another loosehead as Hubert Buydens is heading towards the victory laps of his storied career.

 

NOAH BARKER – LOOSEHEAD PROP / HOOKER

Finally getting a shot in the Canadian test side this year is Barker, a versatile player who regularly plays across the front row in the CDI Premier League for his club side James Bay. He is seen primarily as a loosehead prop at international level but in MLR his ability to fill in where needed, and do so at a high standard, is invaluable. With Canadians reportedly no longer considered imports it would be a serious mistake for MLR to overlook some of the talent up north. Barker is just 26 and only now hitting his prime. A stout build and solid scrummager, he is in the picture for the World Cup and would be a very good signing for just about every team.

Best fit: His best position is loosehead and one team that was desperately short in that department this past year was Austin. They had Chris Schade, a hooker, deputising after Tim Fitzgerald was injured and while the Australian looks to be returning, adding an international who can also cover hooker and tighthead would be a good bit of business for the Elite. The Arrows might be a Canadian option but with DJ Sears-Duru and Rob Brouwer already on their books, a move south is probably the best option.

 

MARIO SAGARIO – TIGHTHEAD PROP

South American representation in MLR is very thin at the moment, with Chilean lock Nikola Bursic the only senior international from a continent bursting with talent. The language barrier and visa acquisition are obstacles but there are some who would pass the checks and balances. Sagario remains the best tighthead for Uruguay and has his sights set on a second World Cup next year. The 32-year-old has more than 70 caps to his name and doesn’t just bring traditional South American scrum technique – he spent five years in France and one with Munster. Sagario is also speaks English fluently. If MLR wants to get serious about scrummaging it needs to bring in some people who know how.

Best fit: San Diego now have a lineout specialist on staff in Scott Murray, they could do with someone to work on the scrum. Both Sione Tu’ihalamaka and young Nathan Sylvia would benefit enormously from training daily alongside a player with Sagario’s expertise.

 

CHRIS BAUMANN – TIGHTHEAD PROP

One of the most obvious free agents that should have multiple offers to choose from. Baumann followed the Premiership dream with Leicester for a year but was little used by the Tigers and his standing with the Eagles has suffered in the process. Once the consensus best tighthead available for the USA, he now has competition from the likes of Paul Mullen, Dino Waldren, and Paddy Ryan. Getting back on the pitch and in the MLR shop window is his best shot at nailing down his ticket to Japan for 2019.

Best fit: Houston have a hole on the roster with Mullen departing, though they do have Adam Macklin and a few others set to fill the gap. NOLA could use someone to put pressure on Ben Tarr and allow Cam Falcon to focus on hooker. A logical move would be Glendale in his home state of Colorado, where he would find numerous familiar faces both from Eagles duty and his time with the Denver Stampede.

 

PIERRE COURPRON – LOCK

Second row might be even more concerning league-wide than prop. Sure, there are lots of guys who can slot in and do a job, but players with the requisite size and athleticism to compete at a truly professional level have proven a difficult task. Canada might be of some help here but most of their best big men are already situated overseas. Courpron is French, as his name suggests, but is US-eligible and captained UCLA before spending a year in the Toulouse Academy. He was a key cog in the Santa Monica pack during the Pacific Rugby Premiership. Not quite a giant at 6’5″ (1.96m), he has the athleticism and rugby brain to be a major contributor in MLR.

Best fit: San Diego, sans doubt. The Legion tried nine different people at lock last season, a ridiculous situation that was no help to their scrum woes. Courpron is just 130-odd miles up the coast and if he needs convincing, his forwards coach at Santa Monica – Scott Murray – just happens to be a new addition to San Diego’s staff.

 

KYLE BAILLIE – LOCK / BACK ROW

Baillie rarely fails to impress wearing the Maple Leaf and has repeatedly proven himself one of the best forwards at the country’s highest domestic levels. Despite this he doesn’t currently have a professional deal anywhere. The lock or blindside flanker – who can also cover No8 if needed – was a standout with the Ohio Aviators and nearly earned a contract with Saracens before an untimely shoulder injury while on trial. It was the shoulder again that ended his campaign early with London Scottish and the Championship club opted to look elsewhere. Baillie is back to full power and looked in fine form both on Canada’s recent tour to France and the Canadian Rugby Championship.

Best fit: The Arrows could yet be on the cards but having had a taste of professional rugby south of the border already there’s every chance he could do the same again. Two teams in Texas could use a man of his talents. Austin have lost at least two loose forwards and Baillie would make their already dominant lineout virtually untouchable. Houston are looking for a starter after losing captain Kyle Sumsion.

 

PSALM WOOCHING – FLANKER

A case study in the art of hype suppression. The former gridiron star has been Mr. Invisible since the ARC and his pro deal with Viadana has now been cancelled. It was a surprise to see him on the APC roster just released on account of his absenteeism. That downward trajectory can just as quickly turn around, however, with MLR extending its golden hand and with it a shot at the World Cup. Getting game time in his new loose forward role is the most important thing for his career right now, and a few teams will be lining up to give it to him.

Best fit: If Wooching wants to fast-track his development he needs to surround himself with quality and and an environment that will not accept anything less than his best. Look no further than Glendale. It just so happens the Raptors are in need of a player with his characteristics. Sam Figg has returned to Australia and while Wooching cannot come close to his experience, he is a like-for-like replacement as an explosive athlete. It’s also worth noting that Wooching’s agent is none other than San Diego’s Tadhg Leader, and of course the Seawolves are always an option though it appears his eyes are looking elsewhere.

 

GUY MERCER – FLANKER

How things have changed for Mercer over the past 18 months. He’s gone from Premiership regular and club captain at Bath to unwanted and unsigned. After a season with Ospreys on loan, the 28-year-old is in limbo. With the best part of a decade’s worth of top flight professional experience and an age-grade international for England, Mercer could be a standout in the Championship but a complete change of scenery and a new purpose would be best. He might not be a star like Ben Foden but players of his stature are the sort that will raise standards in a fledgling competition. A move to MLR would be a win-win for both him and the league.

Best fit: As the saying goes, ‘go big or go home’. It doesn’t get any bigger than New York. Mike Tolkin has Kees Lensing on staff to deal with the scrum but could use a player like Mercer to provide leadership on and off the pitch, with Mercer’s knowledge of modern defensive practices highly valuable. He would also be an ideal Academy coach.

 

AKAPUSI QERA – BACK ROW

Another professional without a contract at the moment, Qera is an even bigger name. His price tag would be higher but he has played at the highest levels of professional rugby in the Premiership, Top 14, and Champions cup for more than 10 years. The Fijian captain will have no international commitments between November and the season’s end, and a move to the USA might be highly desirable for the 34-year-old as he prepares to call time on his glittering test career after his fourth World Cup in 2019. Qera has the knowledge and temperament to make an excellent coach in the future, and MLR might be just the place to get started.

Best fit: The Warriors could use a big ball carrier after losing David Tameilau to Glasgow. Qera would also feel right at home with the large Polynesian population. He would also be a perfect fit for Houston who need some leadership and a loose forward to replace Kyle Sumsion.

 

DEVEREAUX FERRIS – SCRUMHALF

Part of the training squad for the ARC and now set to make his representative debut for the USA in the APC, Ferris is a high quality halfback who needs to find a new home. He appeared on the Legion’s roster list last season but did not see any action, instead suiting up for Life West in the PRP. With Nick Boyer and Nate Augspurger both San Diego residents he’ll be looking elsewhere for playing time. Ferris already tasted professional rugby life with the San Francisco Rush and the New Zealander is surely set to make the jump to MLR this season.

Best fit: The most obvious team in need of a starting No9 is Utah who never really looked settled at that position this year. If he’d prefer to stay closer to the coast, Seattle could be interested where he could rotate with player-coach Phil Mack.

 

THRETTON PALAMO – CENTER

The big midfielder was due to arrive in MLR this past season but a persistent foot injury held him back. He’ll need to get back to full fitness first. If he is good to go, there will be a number of teams chasing the former Eagles standout. At his best Palamo is a brutal ball carrier but saying on the pitch has proved difficult during his time in Europe, where he has had spells with Saracens, London Welsh, Bristol, and the Dragons. Just days away from his 30th birthday, it’s now or never if he is to contend for a spot in next year’s World Cup.

Best fit: Palamo was spotted in a New Orleans shirt last season with speculation heavy that he would join the Gold. That remains a possibility for a team who lacked a heavyweight in their back division. He would also suit the Warriors as a replacement for Paul Lasike.

 

MOSE FUALA’AU – CENTER

After three seasons in Clermont’s Academy system the Life West product is a free agent and should attract the attention of several MLR clubs. An aggressive attacker who prefers outside center but can also play on the wing, Fuala’au was called up to the senior Eagles squad for the European tour in November but has yet to win his first test cap. At 22 he is entering his peak athletic years and could be one of the breakthrough players of the 2019 season if he finds a home.

Best fit: With San Diego all stocked up California is out, but he could head to Seattle with both William Rasileka and Mozac Samson now well into their 30s. There is an immediate opening in New Orleans for a starting 13 while Austin could also be on the lookout with the Suniula brothers also getting on in age.