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Rugby ATL have announced the return to Kurt Coleman to the active roster. Their starting flyhalf from 2020 broke his leg during a February intra-squad match and was expected to miss the entire year. Coleman boosts a Ratlers backline already bursting with talent and joins fellow South African Ryan Nell in returning to injury.
Nell, last season’s co-captain and first choice inside center, injured his knee while playing in the Super Rugby Unlocked tournament in October. He was activated ahead of the road game against New York but has not played yet. Both players are classified as imports and it will be interesting to see if they feature in the final weeks of the season.
SEASON OVER FOR ROBSHAW AND SOUTH
Two players who won’t be seen again this season are San Diego’s Chris Robshaw and Old Glory’s Stan South. Robshaw injured his left shoulder for a second time early in the second half against LA on the weekend. Things haven’t gone to plan for the former Harlequins flanker but with the Legion out of the race, he can start planning to make more of an impact in 2022.
Fellow Englishman South damaged a knee and will miss the final four games of the season for DC. Aside from some early discipline problems he has made a positive impact for Old Glory and it remains to be seen if he will return next season. Casey Renaud should see more action as a result of South’s injury.
DALTON MYSTERY SOLVED
Former Ireland u20 lock Matthew Dalton was announced as a signing by the Utah Warriors last November. Visa complications delayed his arrival initially, but then he didn’t show up at all. The reason? Dalton has now signed for Newcastle Falcons and opted to join the English Premiership club a few weeks earlier than intended. The Warriors have been well-served at lock as is with Aston Fortuin, Matt Jensen, and Saia Uhila playing the bulk of the minutes and Jurie van Vuuren filling in when required.
BACKS TO THE FRONT
LA center Bill Meakes was unexpectedly thrown in at openside flanker against San Diego after Christian Poidevin was ruled out with injury at the 11th hour. It was an unusual choice by Darren Coleman given Pago Haini was available and on the bench, but it worked out just fine with Meakes earning man-of-the-match honors.
Several players have appeared in both the forwards and backs during Major League Rugby matches but only three others have made starts in both. Moni Tonga’uiha started one game at center for NOLA in 2018 and often finished games in the midfield after starting on the flank. Zack Stryffeler played exclusively as a center for the Gold in 2018 but then switched to openside flanker for them the following season and stayed on the flank for New England in 2020.
Jasa Veremalua is the most unique of the lot. The Olympic Gold medalist and Fiji Sevens star signed for San Diego as a winger and then started twice at outside center. His next stop was on the flank and one game later was in the second row! Veremalua wore the No8 shirt for the first time against the SaberCats last month.
HAT TRICK HEROES
Lauina Futi’s hat trick for Seattle against Austin tied the MLR mark for most tries in a single match. To date nobody has managed to reach four tries. It’s the 13th time the three-try mark has been achieved, and the sixth time this season. The first to achieve the ‘tour du chapeau‘ was Anthony Salaber with San Diego against Houston in May 2018.
| Anthony Salaber | San Diego Legion | 2018-05-04 vs Houston SaberCats |
| Harley Davidson | Glendale Raptors | 2018-06-08 vs Houston SaberCats |
| Nick Feakes | NOLA Gold | 2019-03-02 vs Utah Warriors |
| Tristan Blewett | NOLA Gold | 2019-03-16 vs Houston SaberCats |
| John Ryberg | Glendale Raptors | 2019-04-06 vs Houston SaberCats |
| Robbie Petzer | Glendale Raptors | 2019-05-04 vs Utah Warriors |
| Cam Dolan | NOLA Gold | 2020-02-08 vs Old Glory DC |
| Joeli Tikoisuva | NOLA Gold | 2021-03-27 vs Rugby United New York |
| Harrison Goddard | LA Giltinis | 2021-03-28 vs Seattle Seawolves |
| James Malcolm | Seattle Seawolves | 2021-03-28 vs LA Giltinis |
| Robbie Povey | Houston SaberCats | 2021-04-24 vs Utah Warriors |
| Manuel Montero | Toronto Arrows | 2021-04-25 vs Rugby United New York |
| Lauina Futi | Seattle Seawolves | 2021-06-20 vs Austin Gilgronis |
