The 2019 Americas Rugby Championship is now complete, which means all players have now returned to their professional clubs. For Major League Rugby this is significant as it will see the return of more than 30 players to the competition, including some who have yet to make their MLR debut.

Four nations selected players attached to MLR clubs. Only the Argentina XV and Chile did not. The latter has two representatives currently signed to MLR clubs but neither – NOLA utility forward Nikola Bursic and Austin Elite scrumhalf Marcelo Torrealba – made an appearance during the competition.

In total 44 players took part in the ARC who have or will play for MLR sides this season. Canada and the USA each had 16, with Uruguay 10, and Brazil 2. Weekly representation can be seen below. Uruguay, notably, did not select their MLR players for the non-test match against the Argentina XV.

For the purpose of these numbers Tadhg Leader was included though the New England Free Jacks will ultimately not join regular season play until the 2020 MLR season.

ROUND	TOTAL	BY TEAM
1	32	BRA: 2 CAN: 12 URU: 8 USA: 10
2	30	BRA: 2 CAN: 10 URU: 7 USA: 11
3	24	BRA: 2 CAN: 12 URU: 0 USA: 10
4	32	BRA: 2 CAN: 11 URU: 8 USA: 11
5	30	BRA: 2 CAN: 11 URU: 5 USA: 12

 

The effect international commitments had across the league was considerable. Every club had at least three players involved though actual games missed varied significantly. As expected the Toronto Arrows were hit the most due to their number of Canadian internationals.

Club vs country conflicts are prevalent in professional rugby across the globe but plans are in motion to change this moving forward. The Americas Rugby Championship is set to move to August for 2020 and 2021, with its fate beyond tied to the outcome of ongoing World League discussions that would come into effect in 2022.

Below is a team-by team look at who was missed and for how long.

 

TORONTO ARROWS (9)

Record during ARC: 3-2 (H 0-0, A 3-2)
ARC match selections: 31
MLR games missed: 40

The Arrows were far and away the most affected in terms of players and actual games missed. They provided seven players to Canada and two to Uruguay. Both player contributions and games missed were nearly double that of the next in line.

Given both the list of absentees and the fact that all of their matches thus far have come on the road, Toronto have coped exceptionally well. Their 3-2 record without the likes of club captain Lucas Rumball and star fullback Theo Sauder is a reflection of unparalleled depth on the Arrows roster.

Notes: Leandro Leivas played only one match for Los Teros during the tournament but was in camp for the entirety dealing with a minor injury. Theo Sauder, Jamie Mackenzie, and Guiseppe du Toit were held back by Canada for the season opener against NOLA, with Lucas Rumball limited to just 40 minutes of game time. Sauder was injured for Canada’s second match of the ARC, while du Toit stayed in camp for three matches where he was not named to the 23.

POS	NAME	TEAM	ROUNDS
TH	Cole Keith	Canada	1,2,3,4,5
LO	Mike Sheppard	Canada	1,3
FL	Lucas Rumball	Canada	1,2,3,4,5
SH	Jamie Mackenzie	Canada	1,2,3,4,5
CE	Guiseppe du Toit	Canada	2
WI	Leandro Leivas	Uruguay	2
WI	Kainoa Lloyd	Canada	1,2,3,4,5
FB	Gastón Mieres	Uruguay	2,4,5
FB	Theo Sauder	Canada	1,3,4,5

 

AUSTIN ELITE (5)

Record during ARC: 0-5 (H 0-4, A 0-1)
ARC match selections: 15
MLR games missed: 16

It’s been a rough start to the season to say the least for the Elite. Injuries and visa delays have not helped, while sending six players at various stages of the ARC stretched their playing roster thin. This week they welcome back three players who missed the Glendale game.

Notes: A sixth player, Travis Larsen, was called into the Canada camp for the Argentina XV game but was not named in the match day roster. Rodrigo Silva stayed in Uruguay and missed the opening week of the season, missing another match with injury. Canadian center Doug Fraser has yet to be officially confirmed by the club due to a visa delay. Peter Malcolm was named in the original Eagles squad for the ARC but was not actually called up to the training squad.

POS	NAME	TEAM	ROUNDS
TH	Juan Echeverría	Uruguay	1,2,4
LO	Josh Larsen	Canada	1,2,4,5
CE	Doug Fraser	Canada	3,4,5
CE	Andrés Vilaseca	Uruguay	1,2,4,5
FB	Rodrigo Silva	Uruguay	1

 

GLENDALE RAPTORS (5)

Record during ARC: 3-1-1 (H 2-0, A 1-1-1)
ARC match selections: 20
MLR games missed: 24

The Raptors had the benefit of knowing that star players Hanco Germishuys, Shaun Davies, and Will Magie would be absent for the entirety of the ARC. Their performance reflects their preparation. With their form already on the rise, the return of their internationals vaults them back into the post-season conversation.

Notes: Malon Al-Jiboori was in camp with the USA for three weeks but did not make the match day 23 in two of them. Canada prop Noah Barker has yet to be officially confirmed by the club but should arrive in the coming days.

POS	NAME	TEAM	ROUNDS
LH	Noah Barker	Canada	1,2,3,4,5
FL	Hanco Germishuys	USA	1,2,3,4,5
N8	Malon Al-Jiboori	USA	5
SH	Shaun Davies	USA	1,2,3,5
FH	Will Magie	USA	1,2,3,4,5

 

HOUSTON SABERCATS (5)

Record during ARC: 0-4 (H 0-2, A 0-2)
ARC match selections: 18
MLR games missed: 19

Houston snapped up a quartet of Uruguay’s best in the off-season and their impact has not yet been felt. Their return, along with that of USA tighthead prop Paul Mullen, is a significant boost though there remain questions of depth in key positions. The SaberCats did not win any matches during the ARC window.

Notes: Santiago Arata served a three-week suspension for a dangerous tackle against Canada in the middle of the ARC. Mateo Sanguinetti, Diego Magno, and Alejandro Nieto stayed in Uruguay and missed the opening match of the MLR season. Paul Mullen was also absent for the season opener.

POS	NAME	TEAM	ROUNDS
LH	Mateo Sanguinetti	Uruguay	1,2,4,5
TH	Paul Mullen	USA	1,2,3,4,5
LO	Diego Magno	Uruguay	1,2,4
N8	Alejandro Nieto	Uruguay	1,2,4
SH	Santiago Arata	Uruguay	1,4,5

 

NEW ORLEANS GOLD (5)

Record during ARC: 3-1 (H 2-1, A 1-0)
ARC match selections: 19
MLR games missed: 13

That NOLA sits at top of the MLR table despite missing five key forwards for large parts of the ARC is a testament to their off-season recruitment. Their stand-ins delivered in spades during that time and the Gold now have a larger pool of tried and tested players to draw from for the remainder of the season.

Notes: Ignacio Dotti stayed in Uruguay during the opening match of the MLR season.

POS	NAME	TEAM	ROUNDS
LH	Hubert Buydens	Canada	3,4,5
HO	Eric Howard	Canada	1,2,3
LO	Ignacio Dotti	Uruguay	1,4,5
FL	Kyle Baillie	Canada	1,2,3,4,5
N8	Cam Dolan	USA	1,2,3,4,5

 

SAN DIEGO LEGION (4)

Record during ARC: 4-1 (H 3-1, A 1-0)
ARC match selections: 9
MLR games missed: 7

The Legion were expected to be hit much more significantly during the ARC but in the end had the least number of actual games missed. Psalm Wooching, Nate Augspurger, and Ryan Matyas missed out on Eagles selection due to injury with the latter a late scratch this past weekend against the Arrows.

Notes: Kapeli Pifeleti was a replacement against Toronto despite playing for the USA two days before against Canada. Mike Te’o missed the opening game of the regular season due to injury.

POS	NAME	TEAM	ROUNDS
HO	Kapeli Pifeleti	USA	3,4,5
SH	Nick Boyer	USA	4
CE	Dylan Audsley	USA	1,2,4
WI	Mike Te’o	USA	3,5

 

SEATTLE SEAWOLVES (4)

Record during ARC: 3-2 (H 3-0, A 0-2)
ARC match selections: 9
MLR games missed: 11

The defending champions were not affected much by international call-ups during the window. In fact only one established player missed significant time. Despite Seattle’s success only one player appeared for the Eagles while fan favorites Cam Polson, George Barton, and Brock Staller were ignored completely by the Canadian selectors. Vili Toluta’u was left out of the initial USA squad and then broke his ankle playing against San Diego.

Notes: Olive Kilifi missed no games, playing against Uruguay in Seattle’s bye week and coming off the bench on Sunday after subbing for the USA against Canada on Friday. Djustice Sears-Duru was left out of the Canada squad after Round 2 but has yet to receive visa clearance to join his new club. He has instead been playing for Castaway Wanderers in the CDI Premier League.

POS	NAME	TEAM	ROUNDS
LH	Olive Kilifi	USA	4,5
LH	Djustice Sears-Duru	Canada	1,2
FL	Nakai Penny	Canada	1,2,3,4
SH	Phil Mack	Canada	5

 

RUGBY UNITED NEW YORK (3)

Record during ARC: 3-1 (H 0-0, A 3-1)
ARC match selections: 11
MLR games missed: 7

New York’s strong form has come without two of their best players in Nate Brakeley and John Quill. Vice-captain Dylan Fawsitt missed only a couple games, and Luke Hume was ruled out of Eagles contention due to injury.

POS	NAME	TEAM	ROUNDS
HO	Dylan Fawsitt	USA	2,3
LO	Nate Brakeley	USA	1,2,3,4
FL	John Quill	USA	1,2,3,4,5

 

UTAH WARRIORS (3)

Record during ARC: 1-3-1 (H 0-2-1, A 1-1)
ARC match selections: 14
MLR games missed: 12

Utah will welcome back Josh Reeves this week and the Brazil flyhalf brings a friend in back row Arthur Bergo. Gannon Moore was the only call-up for the Eagles. The Warriors were able to cover adequately with James Semple and Jeremy Misailegalu though their results were disappointing.

Notes: Arthur Bergo was not confirmed by the team until after the ARC was completed.

POS	NAME	TEAM	ROUNDS
FL	Arthur Bergo	Brazil	1,2,3,4,5
FH	Josh Reeves	Brazil	1,2,3,4,5
CE	Gannon Moore	USA	1,2,4,5

 

NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS (1)

Boston’s future MLR franchise doesn’t actually begin regular season play until the 2020 season but already have their first international. Tadhg Leader made his Eagles debut after qualifying on residency and will now lead the Free Jacks against the Irish provincial development sides in the Cara Cup.

POS	NAME	TEAM	ROUNDS
FH	Tadhg Leader	USA	1,2,5