Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Rugby United New York have snapped up Collegiate All-American hooker Rob Irimescu from Penn State. The 23-year-old has signed on the dotted line for the 2020 Major League Rugby season. He follows PSU teammates Jack McLean and Mike Dabulas in signing professional deals, though they will suit up for expansion side Old Glory DC.
It’s a return home for Irimescu, a native of New York who attended renowned rugby nursery Xavier High. He split his time between hooker and No8 with the Nittany Lions, but it’s as a front rower where he earned All-American honors in both 2018 and 2019. He could find himself in either spot for RUNY with Eagles World Cup select Dylan Fawsitt set to return along with reserve hooker Mike Brown.
The first year of MLR was a reasonably successful one for RUNY. They finished in 4th place during the regular season and earned a spot in the Semi Final where they were narrowly defeated by San Diego. RUNY will have a new Head Coach in 2020 with Greg McWilliams confirmed recently while Irimescu joins French star Mathieu Bastareaud as confirmed player signings thus far.
