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Rugby United New York have been dealt a significant blow with serious injuries to forwards Alex MacDonald and Trevor Cassidy. The pair are set for long spells on the sidelines leaving the team short on numbers ahead of this weekend’s match against the Austin Gilgronis.
MacDonald tore his right pectoral tendon during last week’s preseason match against the New York Barbarians. He was due to undergo surgical repair this morning and is expected to miss most if not all of the regular season.
The 26-year-old has been an important member of the squad since arriving from a stint with Trinity College in Ireland. Primarily a blindside flanker, he also provided cover at lock last season. During the 2019 campaign MacDonald played in 15 of 17 games including 8 starts.
Cassidy left the field in the 40th minute of Sunday’s loss to the Free Jacks. He has now confirmed on social media that he has two broken ribs and a collapsed lung. Forced off only minutes earlier during the match was Eagles prop Paddy Ryan with a leg injury.
It’s particularly bad news given the ongoing visa delays that have kept incoming forwards Cormac Daly, Kara Pryor, and Evan Mintern from joining the team. RUNY are now down to only two fit second rows – Nate Brakeley and Matt Wirken – for this weekend’s match in Las Vegas.
The team has already promoted Colombian flanker Julio Giraldo to the senior squad while Rob Irimescu provided backup at loose forward on Sunday. The Collegiate All-American was signed as a hooker but has experience in the back row with Penn State and NYAC.
Among the second rows on last year’s extended roster were NYAC pair Myles McQuone and Kyle White. The latter played opposite RUNY in the Barbarians match. If a specialist is not summoned, the team could opt to use Kyle Sumsion as emergency lock cover with Mathieu Bastareaud able to fill in at No8.
