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The 2022 Major League Rugby regular season is now just days away and some teams are still refining their playing roster. Below is a brief summary of the latest moves.
Kainoa Lloyd is returning to MLR with the San Diego Legion. The Canadian international winger last suited up for the Toronto Arrows in 2019, but opted to sit out the 2020 and 2021 seasons in pursuit of a spot on the Olympic Sevens roster. He most recently played for Canada in November’s Europe tour games against Portugal and Belgium.
Another Canadian is headed to the east coast. George Barton is to join Matt Heaton and Conor Keys at Rugby ATL. A powerhouse midfielder, he spent the past four years with the Seattle Seawolves but was released near the end of the 2021 campaign.
Suddenly departing the Ratlers is Jeremy Misailegalu. A starter on the team during their Eastern Conference title run last season, the team released a statement saying he has been cut following the review of an off-field incident.
On January 20, 2022, Rugby ATL announced one of its players was suspended by the league for alleged violations of the Personal Conduct Policy. The League has concluded its investigation and has terminated the contract of Jeremy Misailegalu.
— Rugby ATL (@RugbyATL) January 31, 2022
EDIT: The team has now confirmed the signing of Nolan Tuamoheloa, who is promoted from the Pathway 404 development squad. A winger for the Utah Warriors in 2019 and 2020, he can also play center and this past year made appearances with the Hartford Harpooners.
NOLA are set to announce the arrival of USA Eagles prop Paddy Ryan just in time for the regular season. Primarily a tighthead, he can also play loosehead when required and gives the team vital front row experience. The Gold now have three American test props along with Matt Harmon and Dino Waldren. Ryan played for Austin last season and recently suited up for Highfield RFC in Ireland.
Meanwhile the Gold have seen two players snapped up by their respective national sevens sides. Lockie Kratz has joined up with the Canadian team and will stay north of the border this season. The midfielder’s rights remain with NOLA and it’s hoped he returns in 2023. Back row Chase Schor-Haskin has joined the USA camp at Chula Vista but should be released to the Gold when not required by the Eagles.
Three new players have officially signed on for Rugby New York. White Plains flanker Jonathan Grzeszczyk gets the call after recently suiting up for the Hartford Harpooners. Former Oregon ducks midfielder Ishmail Shabazz signs on having spent the last two seasons with Te Awamutu in New Zealand. Fullback John Powers moves back to his native New York from the Utah Warriors. Not publicly confirmed but also staying on with the team is second row Max Dacey, who was a late arrival last year and spent the off-season playing with the American Raptors.
Speaking of Utah, three players have been promoted from the Warriors Selects program. Back rows Taris Schramm and Carson Shoemaker are added along with center Tomasi Tonga. Fullback Opeti Iongi was also announced but has since left the team. Viliami ‘Puna’ Vuli returns after spending a season with LA’s academy side to bolster the second row. He last played for the team in 2020. Two players previously signed are no longer arriving due to visa complications – lock Reagan Leslie and flyhalf Mick O’Gara.
The Seawolves have added four players to their front row stocks over the past week. Former pro football player Taniela Tupou was officially confirmed as joining from the American Raptors. South Africa Schools loosehead Dewald Donald has arrived from the Blue Bulls, and veteran hooker Mike Brown moves to his fourth MLR team after playing for Houston last season. Former Saint Mary’s forward Alex Glover was spotted suiting up in a preseason game and looks to be joining primarily as a hooker option. He is a former USA u20 trialist and spent time in LA’s academy program last year.
