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The Glendale Raptors have confirmed 31 players for the 2020 Major League Rugby season, among them 13 who were not part of the squad in 2019. Former Wallabies star Digby Ioane is officially unveiled along with Eagles pair Aladdin Schirmer and Nick Boyer, and former Manu Samoa prop Zak Taulafo.
Schirmer makes the move from Seattle, where he spent the past two seasons but saw only limited game time in 2019. The 26-year-old loose forward will hope that a change of scenery turns his fortunes around. He won two caps for the Eagles in 2016 but has fallen out of contention over the past couple years.
In similar fashion, Boyer will look to put himself back in the shop window after missing out on World Cup selection. Primarily a scrumhalf, he saw the starting role in San Diego handed to Nate Augspurger this past season and was instead confined to the wing. It’s a return to Glendale for the Boyer, also 26, who played for the Raptors before moving back to his home state of California.
The Boyer signing comes as a surprise with a move to Austin heavily tipped in recent weeks. He is a direct replacement for outgoing Eagles scrumhalf Shaun Davies, whose new home is yet to be confirmed. Also adding depth at scrumhalf is All-American signing Sean Yacoubian. The native of Scotland and St. Mary’s Gaels starter will compete for time with Boyer and the retained Carlo de Nysschen.
Taulafo won 44 caps for Samoa between 2009 and 2016. He was the starting loosehead prop at both the 2011 and 2015 World Cups. Now approaching his 37th birthday, Taulafo will add vital experience to the front row having spent several years with top European clubs Wasps and Stade Français. He joins from French Fédérale 1 club Céret.
A pair of hookers further bolster the front row. Life West standout Jay Finau joins having previously impressed with the San Francisco Rush during the 2016 PRO season. Xendy Tatibouët hails from France but has recently been playing for the Arkansas Gryphons, where he has also lined up at loosehead prop on occasion.
Second row has been an area of weakness for the Raptors and while Michael Stewart and Mike Curry are not specialists, the 6’5″ (1.95m) duo boast Mitre 10 Cup experience in the engine room. Stewart, 28, has spent the past two seasons with Romanian club Timisoara where he has spent much of his time at No8. He is a former New Zealand Schools international who is also eligible to represent Samoa.
Curry is Samoan-born and played for Tasman in 2018. This past year the 25-year-old was named in the World XV squad selected by Robbie Deans that kicked off Global Rapid Rugby’s showcase series. Among his teammates were Ioane and a number of international stars such as Andy Ellis, Leonardo Senatore, and Gio Aplon. Like Stewart, Curry is capable of playing lock or loose forward and he looks to be a replacement for the departed Will Munro.
Former Ireland u20 flyhalf Tomás Quinlan joins from Narbonne in France. A left-footed goal kicker, he was previously in the Munster academy system but was overlooked for a senior contract. Due to celebrate his 25th birthday in January, Quinlan could prove a key addition if he fulfills the early promise showed when he led Cork Constitution to an All-Ireland League title in 2017.
With Ioane set to see time at outside center, there are three outside backs added to the playing squad. Two are returning players. Seth Halliman impressed in the 2018 MLR season but missed out on the entirety of 2019. He is set to make his comeback with highly-rated u20 cap Ryan James opting to move back to Glendale after spending last season training with the San Diego Legion. Another Junior All-American flyer – Mateo Gadsden – should see time in the senior squad next year after turning out for the academy in 2019.
An interesting newcomer is Hawke’s Bay starter Mason Emerson. The lightning-quick left winger has been unable to secure a Super Rugby deal despite impressing at provincial level. At 5’9″ (1.75m) his size may have been a deterrent, but he should prove a more than capable replacement for Harley Davidson, who is now on the books with Rugby ATL. Emerson is 23 years old and just three years removed from scoring two tries for New Zealand u20 against Australia.
While the backs division now looks fully stocked, further additions may yet be announced up front with prop and lock still low in numbers. There are some key departures but on paper the new-look Raptors squad looks to be a competitive group. Preseason training officially begins on December 2, with the 2020 regular season campaign kicking off on February 8.
2020 GLENDALE RAPTORS SQUAD
LH PROP: Blake Rogers, Zak Taulafo
HOOKER: Jay Finau, Chad Gough, Xendy Tatibouët
TH PROP: Marco Fepulea’i, Kelepi Fifita
LOCK: Brendan Daly, Kody O’Neil, Luke White
BACK ROW: Connor Cook, Mike Curry, Hanco Germishuys, Aladdin Schirmer, Michael Stewart
SCRUMHALF: Nick Boyer, Carlo de Nysschen, Sean Yacoubian
FLYHALF: Ata Malifa, Robbie Petzer, Tomás Quinlan
CENTER: Digby Ioane, Campbell Johnstone, Mika Kruse, Chad London
WING: Mason Emerson, Mateo Gadsden, Nick Johnson, John Ryberg
FULLBACK: Seth Halliman, Ryan James
