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Old Glory DC have unveiled their roster for the 2022 Major League Rugby season, at the same time confirming four previously unannounced overseas additions. Prop Kyle Stewart, lock Felix Kalapu, and winger Peni Lasaqa are to join from New Zealand with back row Fintan Coleman arriving from Ireland.
Despite being only 24, Stewart is the most experienced of the group with four seasons of provincial rugby in New Zealand and one in Italy. A regular in Taranaki’s match day squads during this year’s Bunnings NPC, he spent the 2019-2020 campaign with Lyons Piacenza before a brief stint with Manawatu in 2020. Primarily a tighthead prop, he could also be an option at loosehead.
Kalapu, 22, made his senior provincial debut in 2020 where he lined up alongside Danny Tusitala and William Talataina. He was again part of the Auckland squad in 2021 but the pandemic saw the team’s entire schedule cancelled.
Of Fijian extract, Lasaqa attended St. Kentigern College and represented New Zealand Schools Barbarians in 2018. The following year he was called up to the New Zealand Sevens development squad, and was named in the New Zealand u20 extended training group in 2020. Lasaqa has been playing for Bay of Plenty in the NPC.
Coleman represented Ireland u18 in 2017 and has played for Munster at age grade level. More recently he had a short-term spell with the London Irish academy and has been playing regularly for club side Young Munster in the All-Ireland 1st Division.
Local products John LeFevre, a scrumhalf, and winger Jack Russell have been training with the senior squad along with draft picks Labi ‘LJ’ Koi-Larbi and Palema ‘Nikey’ Roberts. Will Vakalahi returns from injury and is now training as a loosehead prop, with versatile front rower Dante Lopresti also back. Second row pair Casey Renaud and David Beach are also confirmed as returning.
Others currently training with the team during the preseason include loosehead prop Hannibal Vaivao and hooker pair Nick Hryekewicz and Thomas Capriotti. Vaivao played one game for the team in 2021. Hryekewicz was with New England but did not see game time. Capriotti was selected by San Diego in the Collegiate Draft but not signed by the Legion.
A detailed roster can be seen here.
