Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Five players have signed on for another season with Rugby ATL. Front rower Alex Maughan, back rows Vili Helu and Jason Damm, and midfielders Martini Talapusi and Ryan Nell will return for the 2022 Major League Rugby campaign. Co-captain Nell was confirmed by the club with the others announced by player management agency EAM. All five enter their third seasons with ATL.
Nell missed much of the 2021 season with a knee injury but recovered in time to regain his starting spot for the playoffs. During the off-season the 31-year-old South African has been an Assistant Coach with ATL’s development side, Pathway 404.
Maughan, 26, was used primarily at hooker during the 2020 season but saw extended time at prop in 2021. He started seven games at loosehead, including the Championship Final, with two starts at tighthead. It’s at the No1 position he is expected to focus in 2022 following the departure of fellow USA international Chance Wenglewski.
A Collegiate All-American as a No8 for Saint Mary’s, Helu has settled into the blindside flanker role for ATL. The 25-year-old appeared in 16 of 18 games for the Ratlers in 2021 and wore the No6 shirt in the Championship Final against the LA Giltinis.
Winning the race to play at the back of the Ratlers scrum was 26-year-old Damm. The former USA u20 international scored five tries in 15 games and his outstanding form on both sides of the ball saw many calling for Eagles selection. A serious knee injury suffered in the second-last game of the regular season saw Damm missing out on the playoffs.
Talapusi’s season ended much earlier with knee surgery in April after just four appearances. The 26-year-old will be counted on to help fill the gap left by the departures of Bautista Ezcurra and Robbie Petzer. In his two seasons with the club Talapusi has played flyhalf, inside center, and fullback.
In addition ATL have confirmed the return of openside flanker Matt Heaton. The 28-year-old Canadian international captained the side in the absence of Nell this season, sharing the leadership duties in the final three games of the year. Heaton signed through the 2023 season last June.
