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The first four weeks of the 2021 Major League Rugby season are now in the books, with 21 games played in total. Half of the league’s 12 teams have played four games, the others three. There are still 14 weeks of the regular season to go but the bulk of the debutantes have now taken the field.
In total there have been 117 players earning their first MLR caps. Of those 55 (plus one uncertain) are eligible for either Canada or the USA. The team with the least thus far is NOLA who have had just four players new to the league this season. The most? LA at 18. A remarkable 14 of 15 starters in their season opener against New England were new to the American competition.
Liam Murray is a unique case. The Canadian prop was signed by the Houston SaberCats but made his debut while on a week-long loan to the Toronto Arrows against Old Glory DC. Not only did he debut with the ‘wrong’ club, he also played tighthead instead of his preferred loosehead position.
Of the 24 players selected in the inaugural Collegiate Draft, 11 have now won caps including 5 of the top 6 picks. This past weekend saw debuts for Lui Sitama with Austin and Tommy Clark for Seattle. San Diego’s Patrick Madden and Utah’s Derek Ellingson had bench spots but no game time yet.
New signing Seta Tuilevuka was a replacement for the Seawolves against the Warriors on Saturday. At 39 years, 5 months, and 14 days he is the oldest player to debut this year, but not the oldest in MLR history. That distinction belongs to JP Novak who was aged 39 years, 6 months, and 2 days when he started at lock for Austin in last year’s season opener against Toronto.
At the other end of the spectrum are a trio of 20-year-olds. The achievements of Austin scrumhalf Sid Shoop, Houston winger Zack Godfrey, and Seattle prop Gavin Prentice are impressive but also short of the record. MLR’s youngest player was Jake Christmann, who was aged 19 years, 3 months, and 25 days when he started for Glendale against Utah on May 5, 2018. Faitala Talapusi was just 18 when he was named on San Diego’s bench a week later against Glendale, but he did not see the field and has not appeared in a match day 23 since.
The most notable newcomer in Week 4 was Chris Robshaw for San Diego. The former England captain and flanker won’t be seen again for some time, however, after dislocating his shoulder 57 minutes into the game against Houston. Scans will determine if he has a chance to return in 2021.
Rugby ATL have developed a habit of confirming signings after they have already taken the field. This past weekend saw Adriaan Carelse debut as a replacement fullback, only to be announced by the team earlier today. Tighthead prop Wikus Groenewald, another arrival from South Africa, could appear on the roster as early as this weekend.
