PRO Rugby – Facts & Figures

The new season is upon us, so it’s time to have a little fun and pull out little bits of trivia about the players set to thrill the North American audience in the coming weeks. The oldest, the youngest, the shortest, the tallest. Here are some facts and figures to peak your interest.

INTERNATIONAL FLAVORS

Make no mistake, while a large number of players are eligible to represent the USA, this is a truly international rugby league. Players from all over the world are present. Countries with players involved include Australia, Canada, England, Fiji, Ireland, New Zealand, Samoa, South Africa, and Tonga. There are two Italians and two Chileans. Josh Inong has played for the Philippines, and Maximo de Achaval is flying the flag for Argentina.

Some 49 players capped at senior international level – including 17 World Cup veterans – will take part, with more expected as the season progresses. Ben Landry will play for Denver if his Seattle Seahawks trials don’t quite pan out, while Tai Tuisamoa has been mentioned in dispatches for San Diego. Look for more to show up once the European season comes to a close in the coming weeks.

Leading the most-capped sweepstakes is former New Zealand All Black star Mils Muliaina, who ended his test career with a cool 100 caps. Italy’s Mirco Bergamasco, with 89, is the only other player with more than 50. Denver and San Diego each have 14 capped players at the moment, not counting Landry or Tuisamoa.

PASS THE BEEF

There are some serious heavyweights taking part. San Francisco loose forward Sam Finau tips the scales at a whopping 421 lbs (191 kg)… well actually no, that’s a typo. What isn’t is that there are four players who are pushing the 300 lbs mark. Who exactly is the heaviest likely depends on what they had for breakfast, but on paper Denver tighthead Soane Leger is a fair-sized anchor in the scrum at 340 lbs (155 kg). San Francisco prop pair Fancy Namulau’ulu and Maka Tameilau are in the three-bill club, as is Sacramento’s English giant James Reddey.

Big fellas aren’t confined to the forwards. The average weight of the eight starting centers on Sunday is about 218 lbs (99 kg). Ohio’s outside backs are each about 6’4” (1.93m) with fullback Ahmad Harajly the lightest at 225 lbs (102 kg). At the other end of the spectrum are Sacramento speedsters Josh Holland and Rashad Harbor, who are each ½ Legers – 165 lbs (75 kg).

Genuine international height among the forwards, on the other hand, is a bit of a rarity. Only three players exceed the 2m mark. Eagles caps Brodie Orth and Brian Doyle are each 6’7” (2.01m) while San Francisco’s gargantuan teenager Siaosi Mahoni is 6’8” (2.03m). There might have been a couple other lighthouses but both Justin Allen (6’11” / 2.11m) and Nick Civetta (6’8” / 2.03m) were late withdrawals from the Ohio roster.

The shortest? Harbor wins that race again, measuring up at just 5’6” (1.68m). Former New Zealand 7s star Orene Ai’i is an inch taller at 5’7” (1.70m).

GOLDEN OLDIES

There seems to be a perception that this is a new retirement home for old pros past their best. While the likes of Pedrie Wannenburg, Timana Tahu, and Orene Ai’i probably support that thesis, the majority of the rosters are made up of young athletes in their prime, with most landing between 22-28 years old. Former Eagles scrumhalf Mose Timoteo is the oldest man on show at 39 years young, but he seems to be drinking from the same fountain as the great Waisale Serevi. The youngest? Why, the tallest player in the league, of course. Man-child Siaosi Mahoni has just turned 19 in January. Could he still be growing?

FAMILY TIES

Three sets of brothers will be taking part. San Francisco have David and Maka Tameilau in their forward pack. Just imagine their food bill growing up. Probably not far off would be Denver duo Zac and Justin Pauga, both crash ball specialists. Lastly there are the are two Suniulas, Roland and Andrew. Both have won multiple Eagles caps and in fact started five tests together between 2011 and 2012. This time they could well find themselves head-to-head, as Roland will play for Ohio and Andrew for San Diego. A third Suniula, Shalom, traveled to the World Cup but is currently training with the Eagles 7s squad as they prepare for the Olympics.

RAPTOR CITY

There are hordes of clubs represented but by far the one with the most players involved are the Glendale Raptors, who contribute 15 players to the Denver franchise and one to Sacramento. Make it 17 if you count Ben Tarr, who plays for the club when not in Australia. Raptors coach Andre Snyman is also employed as a Technical Advisor to the league, and they’re even allowing Denver to use their home pitch at Infinity Park. That’s one club who is fully behind the idea of professional rugby in America.