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The idea of a Major League Rugby Sevens tournament continues to make the rounds. A short time ago we posted Jonny Craenen’s fantasy kit designs and the most recent edition of the Rugby Wrap-Up featured a detailed discussion of what the concept might look like.
We’re taking it one further today, selecting an entire fantasy roster for the 12 teams that took part in the 2020 MLR season. We’ve also borrowed the idea presented by Ramblin’ Jesters owner David Barry, incorporating an ‘Eagles draft’ to add an extra touch of class to the occasion.
Those selected had to be a part of the team in 2020 with two current Eagles added to each roster. The Eagles were initially assigned based on geographical or other connections with the rest dispersed in an attempt to ensure parity. A handful of San Diego Legion caps were sent elsewhere as a result.
We’ve listed players in three loose positional categories – five forwards, three halfbacks, and four backs – recognizing that many can play multiple positions. Experience listed relates only to representative or invitational sevens, thus ‘Canada’ equates to the Canadian national sevens team.
Three Olympic champions, talent from across the globe, and the best of the USA’s domestic sevens players are featured. Given the names below – and some of the those left out – there can be no doubt that this would be a legitimate competition and a highly entertaining one at that!
AUSTIN GILGRONIS
Frank Halai headlines Austin’s entry. The former World Series star would form a potent front three with Lino Saunitoga and Eagles draftee Matai Leuta. Budding talent Dominic Akina is inexperienced but too explosive to leave out. Marcelo Torrealba is a major talent from a very good Cóndores Sevens unit and there is pace and power in the back options. Marcus Tupuola is the second draft pick. Unlucky to miss out are All-American selects Alex Faison-Donahoe and Reece Czarnecki.
| NAME | POS | EXPERIENCE |
| Dominic Akina | F | |
| Dom Bailey | F | USA MCAA |
| Frank Halai | F | New Zealand |
| *Matai Leuta | F | USA Eagles |
| Lino Saunitoga | F | Fiji Training Squad |
| Zinzan Elan-Puttick | H | USA MCAA |
| Rodrigo Silva | H | Uruguay |
| Marcelo Torrealba | H | Chile |
| Sione Fangaiuiha | B | USA MCAA |
| Corey Jones | B | USA Falcons |
| Peni Tagive | B | USA Training Squad |
| *Marcus Tupuola | B | USA Eagles |
COLORADO RAPTORS
Eagles vice-captain Ben Pinkelman gets to represent his home state with Naima Fuala’au the other current USA rep drafted in. Aladdin Schirmer, Nick Boyer, and Seth Halliman add further World Series experience as does former New Zealand star Rene Ranger. Chad Gough is a rare front rower who has the goods to excel in the shortened code. Youngsters Ryan James and Mateo Gadsden also get a chance to show their potential having already attended Eagles training camp.
| NAME | POS | EXPERIENCE |
| Nick Boyer | F | USA Eagles |
| Connor Cook | F | Collegiate Champ |
| Chad Gough | F | USA MCAA |
| *Ben Pinkelman | F | USA Eagles |
| Aladdin Schirmer | F | USA Eagles |
| Mason Emerson | H | NZ Development |
| *Naima Fuala’au | H | USA Eagles |
| Mika Kruse | H | USA Training Camp |
| Mateo Gadsden | B | USA Training Camp |
| Seth Halliman | B | USA Eagles |
| Ryan James | B | USA Falcons |
| Rene Ranger | B | New Zealand |
HOUSTON SABERCATS
The SaberCats would enter the tournament with the 2016 Olympic Gold-winning captain in their ranks. Osea Kolinisau would have Pumas Sevens cap Matías Freyre alongside and three Eagles – Zach Pangelinan and draftees Danny Barrett and Kevon Williams, the latter appropriately a Houston native. De Wet Roos is the only one on the roster who doesn’t seem to have any representative or invitational sevens experience, but we’ve given him the nod ahead of prospect Kieran Farmer.
| NAME | POS | EXPERIENCE |
| *Danny Barrett | F | USA Eagles |
| Adriaan Booysen | F | Namibia |
| Malacchi Esdale | F | USA Falcons |
| Cecil Garber | F | Bulldog Rugby |
| Max Tacket | F | USA Hawks |
| Osea Kolinisau | H | Fiji |
| Zach Pangelinan | H | USA Eagles |
| De Wet Roos | H | |
| Matías Freyre | B | Argentina |
| Thomas Morani | B | Buenos Aires |
| Tim Stanfill | B | USA MCAA |
| *Kevon Williams | B | USA Eagles |
NEW ENGLAND FREE JACKS
Eagles captain Madison Hughes was an obvious pickup with his Dartmouth connection, with Carlin Isles another cracking addition to what looks one of the strongest rosters on paper. One look at the All-American talent left off will tell you what kind of firepower this team boasts – Deion Mikesell, Christian Adams, Stephen Dazzo, and wider squad talent like Jihad Khabir and Chris Frazier. What would happen if Nate Ebner showed up with his boots?
| NAME | POS | EXPERIENCE |
| Naulia Dawai | F | Southland |
| Ahmad Harajly | F | USA Eagles |
| Pago Haini | F | USA Eagles |
| Owen Hundt | F | Tiger Rugby |
| Zack Stryffeler | F | Tiger Rugby |
| *Madison Hughes | H | USA Eagles |
| Peceli Rinakama | H | Atavus Rugby |
| Beaudein Waaka | H | New Zealand |
| *Carlin Isles | B | USA Eagles |
| Liam Steel | B | NZ Development |
| Poasa Waqanibau | B | |
| Mitch Wilson | B | USA MCAA |
NOLA GOLD
Con Foley would captain the side with his extensive sevens experience, and there is a second Australia representative in Robbie Coleman. The Eagles draft picks are Brett Thompson and Martin Iosefo, with former Pumas Sevens starter Julián Domínguez another World Series veteran. Eric Howard is a surprise choice but not one to be scoffed at – the Canadian hooker represented Canada at the FISU Sevens (aka University Olympics). Moni Tonga’uiha and Trace Bolstad would be our primary backups.
| NAME | POS | EXPERIENCE |
| Cam Dolan | F | USA Eagles |
| Con Foley | F | Australia |
| Eric Howard | F | Canada Uni |
| Malcolm May | F | USA Youth Olympics |
| *Brett Thompson | F | USA Eagles |
| Robbie Coleman | H | Australia |
| JP Eloff | H | USA MCAA |
| Nick Feakes | H | USA MCAA |
| Julián Domínguez | B | Argentina |
| *Martin Iosefo | B | USA Eagles |
| Shawn Riley | B | USA Hawks |
| Joeli Tikoisuva | B | USA Falcons |
OLD GLORY DC
The debate here was between two-time first team All-American select Mike Dabulas and two-time Hong Kong 10s champion Jason Robertson. Either way it’s a big win. Folau Niua’s scrum cap fits perfectly with the team colors and Joe Schoeder adds lineout height to an impressive forward group. Danny Tusitala, Mungo Mason, Ciaran Hearn, and Thretton Palamo add more international experience and that’s not counting the immensely talented Renata Roberts-Te Nana and Dylan Taikato-Simpson.
| NAME | POS | EXPERIENCE |
| Matt Hughston | F | USA Falcons |
| Mungo Mason | F | Scotland |
| Jack McLean | F | USA MCAA |
| Thretton Palamo | F | USA Eagles |
| *Joe Schroeder | F | USA Eagles |
| *Folau Niua | H | USA Eagles |
| Jason Robertson | H | |
| Danny Tusitala | H | Samoa |
| Ciaran Hearn | B | Canada |
| Declan O’Donnell | B | New Zealand |
| Renata Roberts-Te Nana | B | North Harbour |
| Dylan Taikato-Simpson | B | Australia Training Squad |
RUGBY ATL
On to the next… Florida’s Perry Baker – the former World Rugby Player of the Year no less – is a natural fit while Faitala Talapusi comes in to knock brother Martini out of the lineup. Ryan Nell has played for the Blitzboks and Harley Wheeler is joining the Eagles camp for the build-up to the Olympics. There are three Falcons caps, the USA’s primary development side. All-American class who miss out include Zach Young and Zac Mizell, the latter might do as a team coach.
| NAME | POS | EXPERIENCE |
| Vili Helu | F | USA Falcons |
| Paris Hollis | F | USA MCAA |
| Maciu Koroi | F | USA Falcons |
| Ryan Nell | F | South Africa |
| Harley Wheeler | F | USA Eagles |
| *Faitala Talapusi | H | USA Eagles |
| Duncan van Schalkwyk | H | USA MCAA |
| Rory van Vugt | H | Southland |
| *Perry Baker | B | USA Eagles |
| Harley Davidson | B | USA MCAA |
| Jeremy Misailegalu | B | RugbyTown Champ |
| Austin White | B | USA Falcons |
RUGBY UNITED NEW YORK
Perhaps slightly cheating with the addition of Gavan D’Amore-Morrison here, but as he has yet to make his full Eagles debut and was technically part of the RUNY squad in the early preseason we allowed the exception. Stephen Tomasin and Cody Melphy are the draftees with further international experience via Chris Mattina, Connor Wallace-Sims, and Jamaica flyer Mike St. Claire. It’s been a while since we’ve seen Hanco Germishuys stretch his legs on the sevens pitch but it sure sounds fun.
| NAME | POS | EXPERIENCE |
| Gavan D’Amore-Morrison | F | USA Falcons |
| Jake Feury | F | Atlantis Rugby |
| Hanco Germishuys | F | USA Youth Olympics |
| Derek Lipscomb | F | USA Falcons |
| *Stephen Tomasin | F | USA Eagles |
| JP Aguirre | H | USA MCAA |
| Harry Bennett | H | |
| *Cody Melphy | H | USA Eagles |
| Troy Lockyear | B | USA MCAA |
| Chris Mattina | B | USA Eagles |
| Mike St. Claire | B | Jamaica |
| Connor Wallace-Sims | B | USA Eagles |
SAN DIEGO LEGION
Malon Al-Jiboori and Maceo Brown were already squad members but we’ll designate them as draft picks given they are formally based at Chula Vista. It could be argued that Mike Te’o is another, while Nate Augspurger and Tai Enosa are further Eagles caps. Jasa Veremalua won gold at Rio and Tira Patterson was in the Fijian training squad for the Commonwealth Games. We’ve left out South Africa international Joe Pietersen, All-American select Dylan Audsley, and Life West star Devereaux Ferris.
| NAME | POS | EXPERIENCE |
| *Malon Al-Jiboori | F | USA Eagles |
| Keni Nasoqeqe | F | |
| Chris Turori | F | USA Falcons |
| Jasa Veremalua | F | Fiji |
| Psalm Wooching | F | Atavus Rugby |
| Nate Augspurger | H | USA Eagles |
| Tai Enosa | H | USA Eagles |
| Mike Te’o | H | USA Eagles |
| *Maceo Brown | B | USA Eagles |
| Ryan Matyas | B | USA Falcons |
| Tira Patterson | B | Fiji Training Squad |
| Save Totovosau | B |
SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
Washington natives Pat Blair and Ben Broselle were natural additions to a powerhouse Seawolves entry. Andrew Durutalo and Shalom Suniula are experienced Eagles, Mat Turner was a long-time star for England, and William Rasileka played for Fiji before moving stateside. How about this for a team of the ‘leftovers’ – Canadian quartet Nakai Penny, George Barton, Brock Staller, and Jeff Hassler combined with All-American trio Scott Dean, Vili Toluta’u, and Sequoyah Burke-Combs.
| NAME | POS | EXPERIENCE |
| *Pat Blair | F | USA Eagles |
| Harry Davies | F | Wales |
| Eric Duechle | F | USA Falcons |
| Andrew Durutalo | F | USA Eagles |
| William Rasileka | F | Fiji |
| Jope Motokana | H | USA Falcons |
| Shalom Suniula | H | USA Eagles |
| Mat Turner | H | England |
| *Ben Broselle | B | USA Eagles |
| David Busby | B | Ireland |
| Sitiveni Tamaivena | B | |
| Suliasi Tamaivena | B |
TORONTO ARROWS
Ironically an actual Arrows entry would be even stronger given Canada Sevens squad members Andrew Coe, Josiah Morra, and Cooper Coats have all played for the team in exhibition matches, and that’s without mentioning Avery Oitomen and a certain John Moonlight. As it is Matt Mullins and Theo Sauder are the ‘draft picks’. Marcello Wainwright and Riley DiNardo have played for the Maple Leafs, Canada’s equivalent of the Falcons, while Johnny Sheridan was a national University All-Star select.
| NAME | POS | EXPERIENCE |
| Tomás de la Vega | F | |
| Manuel Diana | F | |
| Leandro Leivas | F | Uruguay |
| *Matt Mullins | F | Canada |
| Marcello Wainwright | F | Maple Leafs |
| Tayler Adams | H | |
| Riley DiNardo | H | Maple Leafs |
| Sam Malcolm | H | |
| Spencer Jones | B | |
| Gastón Mieres | B | Uruguay |
| *Theo Sauder | B | Canada |
| Johnny Sheridan | B | Canada Uni |
UTAH WARRIORS
The Warriors could pull names from a hat and still make out just fine just with their local talent. Add in Gold medalist Vatemo Ravouvou and a couple Eagles lenders and this is a formidable group. Maka Unufe is a natural fit hailing from Provo with Anthony Welmers adding his experience to a front three that boasts hugely experienced Kenny Scott and former North Harbour rep Gannon Moore. We held off calling in the magical Don Pati to keep things honest.
| NAME | POS | EXPERIENCE |
| Gannon Moore | F | USA Training Squad |
| Kenny Scott | F | USA Hawks |
| *Anthony Welmers | F | USA Eagles |
| Lance Williams | F | |
| Bailey Wilson | F | |
| Michael Baska | H | USA MCAA |
| Vatemo Ravouvou | H | Fiji |
| Jared Whippy | H | National Champ |
| Tonata Lauti | B | USA MCAA |
| *Maka Unufe | B | USA Eagles |
| James Vaifale | B | American Samoa |
| Josh Whippy | B | Tiger Rugby |
