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The Seattle Seawolves have added more European influence to their backline for the 2020 Major League Rugby season. Having already signed David Busby from Ulster and Harry Davies from Cardiff, they will now welcome Ross Neal from Wasps of the English Premiership.
It’s a significant acquisition for the two-time defending champions. Neal is currently under contract at Wasps and has agreed an early release in December in order to get more game time. Soon to celebrate his 24th birthday, he has opted against a potential loan to an RFU Championship club to join the American professional league.
Neal is a product of the London Irish academy program, graduating to the senior side for 2016-17 but moving to London Scottish later that season. At Scottish he started 21 of 22 games in 2017-18 and scored nine tries. He was snapped up by Wasps the following year and started three games in each of the Premiership and Champions Cup.
A physical specimen at 6’5″ (1.96m) and 240lbs (108kg), Neal is a known as a strike runner who prefers outside center but can also play wing. He can use a combination of power, speed, and footwork to break the line and uses his long reach to fend or offload from a tackle.
Neal could be a replacement for Willy Rasileka, who missed the second half of the 2019 campaign with injury and at the very least will have a reduced role should he return. Strength in the midfield has been a key factor in Seattle’s success and should be again in 2020 with incumbent captain Shalom Suniula and Canadian powerhouse George Barton already signed on.
