MLR Off-Season Update – Houston SaberCats

Houston gave their fans a much-needed glimpse of hope at the end of this past season and with a new-look team on several fronts, the SaberCats will have a first ever playoff appearance on their list of goals. Achieving that will not be easy in a challenging West Division but a busy off-season has seen some key personnel changes that should reinvigorate the struggling franchise.

Some of the players have now checked in to pick up their gear for the 2020 Major League Rugby season. With training camp to begin this week, it’s time to see where things stand.

2019 CAMPAIGN

The beginning of 2019 started where 2018 ended – with considerable disappointment. A 2-9 run combined with a 1-7 record in the inaugural season culminated in the dismissal of Justin Fitzpatrick as Head Coach at the beginning of May. Paul Emerick stepped up in an interim capacity for the remainder of the season.

Fortunes changed dramatically after the change. A shutout loss in New York was hard to swallow, but the team rattled off four straight wins to end the season on a high and build optimism for Season Three. Several players have since moved on though a core group remains to keep some continuity.

HOME VENUE

After spending the early part of the season at Constellation Field in Sugar Land, at long last came the grand opening of the new AVEVA Stadium. Its maiden voyage was wrought with difficulty – the pitch hadn’t settled necessitating unopposed scrums for nearly the entire contest against Seattle. They were then forced to host San Diego at Dyer Stadium in a woeful picture for the league. Six weeks later two games were played at the AVEVA in a span of four days that went without incident.

To have their shiny new facility available full-time from the start of the season in 2020 will be a significant boost to morale. It is one of just two purpose-built stadiums in MLR, the other Glendale’s Infinity Park, and its hoped the permanent venue will help attendance figures which struggled somewhat during their nomadic tenures in 2018 and 2019.

COACHING STAFF

Emerick will remain with the team but the lead role as Head Coach and Director of Rugby has gone to Paul Healy. The Australian has an extensive coaching resume that includes stints in South America and Europe, with both clubs and national sides. He will bring further stability and a fresh approach.

Matt Trouville and Sam Windsor were player-coaches in the past. Windsor is still at the club but Trouville has left his role as Academy Director and returned to Seattle. Taylor Howden filled a similar position for NOLA and he may may now take up a leadership spot with the academy.

2020 ROSTER

There has been significant turnover in the off-season with some big names departed. Connor Murphy has surprisingly followed Trouville into retirement, as has Alejandro Nieto who will become a coach for the new Uruguayan professional side Peñarol. Santiago Arata has also opted to play in the South American competition though Mateo Sanguinetti and Diego Magno will return for Houston.

At least three front row regulars are gone with Paul Mullen’s destination still unknown. Starting hooker Pat O’Toole recently finished a short-term contract with Glasgow Warriors and could resurface in Houston. In the meantime New Zealand u20 caps Tim Cadwallader and Boyd Wiggins have been brought in to fill the gaps, while Valdemar Lee-Lo is back from the wilderness to add depth on both sides of the scrum.

Three tight forwards have been playing for Canterbury RFC in England’s National One during the off-season. Jamie Dever, Charlie Connolly, and Robert Meeson were getting some extra set piece work while second row Victor Comptat has been playing for Hyères in France. The latter could form a towering engine room with Charlie Hewitt, who will feel like a new recruit after missing the entire 2019 campaign with a serious knee injury.

Kyle Breytenbach is the only loose forward recruit revealed at the moment and though Nieto and Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz are gone, Ayron Schramm could return having worked with Healy before with the German national team. Schramm managed just five games last season before a wrist injury ended his campaign early. Cecil Garber is back on the openside flank with Luke Beauchamp a strong chance to captain the side on the blindside.

The backline says goodbye to starting midfield Thretton Palamo and Josua Vici with Tiaan Loots coming in to fill the No12 spot. Argentine import Matías Freyre could get a look at No13 though Malacchi Esdale is another option. Tim Stanfill will finally get to show what he can do in MLR and youngster Zack Godfrey is something of an unknown.

Filling the scrumhalf gap is De Wet Roos, a South African who has Super Rugby experience and years of quality rugby in Australia behind him. New signing Zachary Short looks to be the secondary option. California-born and New Zealand-raised, the 23-year-old can play both halfback positions but with Windsor and Kieran Farmer already on the roster it’s scrumhalf where he should be expected to play.

WHAT’S MISSING

The team looks a little light in the back row at the moment even if Schramm returns. Another strong ball carrier would be useful. Prop looks in good shape though the hooker situation depends on whether O’Toole is back. Gabe Romero was signed for 2019 but missed the entire season. He could be a strong third option if fit.

There is room for a third scrumhalf, otherwise the halfbacks look sorted. The backs division is full of versatile players who can slot in at multiple positions. A young center wouldn’t hurt though Howden looks most likely to fill the reserve role on the bench with his ability to play across the midfield.

IN (10):

Tim Cadwallader, HO, Kowloon (HK)
Boyd Wiggins, TH, Northland (NZ)
Kyle Breytenbach, FL, Austin Herd
De Wet Roos, SH, Southern Districts (AU)
Zachary Short, SH, Greerton Marist (NZ)
Taylor Howden, FH/CE, NOLA Gold
Tiaan Loots, CE, Dragons (UK)
Matías Freyre, CE/FB, Newman (AR)
Zack Godfrey, WI, Ealing Trailfinders (UK)
Tim Stanfill, WI, OMBAC

OUT (11):

Jake Turnbull, LH, Old Glory DC
Amro Gouda, HO, Rugby ATL
Paul Mullen, TH
Matt Trouville, LO, retired
Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz, N8, Old Glory DC
Alejandro Nieto, N8, retired (coach at Peñarol)
Santiago Arata, SH, Peñarol
Connor Murphy, SH, retired
Conor Mills, CE
Thretton Palamo, CE, Old Glory DC
Josua Vici, WI, Colomiers (FR)