Austin re-signs five Front Rowers

The Austin Herd have announced new contracts for five returning front row players for the 2020 Major League Rugby season. World Cup select Juan Echeverría is joined by fellow props LaRome White and Mason Pedersen, with hookers Tiaan Erasmus and Chris Schade also continuing in Austin.

Echeverría was a popular figure with the side in 2019. The Uruguayan tighthead played in 13 games with 10 starts. He then traveled to Japan with Los Teros for his first World Cup, playing in three of Uruguay’s four games. The 28-year-old is one of two Teros returning to Austin, with utility back Rodrigo Silva expected to be confirmed shortly.

Despite being just 23 years old, Pedersen is already entering his fourth professional campaign having previously represented the San Diego Breakers in the now-defunct PRO Rugby. His two seasons with Austin have been injury disrupted, but the tighthead specialist will be looking to stake his claim for Eagles honors in 2020.

White enjoyed a breakthrough season with Austin after making the move from the Seattle Seawolves. The 25-year-old began 2019 as a reserve but stepped up following the departure of Simon Courcoul to New England and wore the No1 shirt in 7 of the last 9 games of the season. He enters 2020 as the incumbent starter at loosehead.

The starting hooker role is up for grabs following Peter Malcolm’s off-season move to San Diego. One of the contenders is Tiaan Erasmus, also 25, who filled in for Malcolm to start the season and acted as understudy to close out the year. The South African appeared in all but one match for Austin in 2019.

Schade, 29, showed his versatility by splitting his time between loosehead prop and hooker, as he did in 2018. A knee injury ended his 2019 campaign early. He will be concentrating on hooker this coming season with Phil Hanson and new arrival Skyler Adams covering loosehead.

Austin are understood to be in negotiations with at least one more player, a Brazilian international, to round out their front row contingent.