Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Houston SaberCats fullback Gerrie Labuschagne has received a three-game suspension after being sent off against the Dallas Jackals on Saturday. A red card was brandished by referee Scott Green after a TMO review identified a forearm to the face of Dallas winger Aaron Gray at the 48 minute mark.
As a result Labuschagne will miss Houston’s upcoming games against the San Diego Legion, Rugby ATL, and the Seattle Seawolves. He will be free to play against the Utah Warriors on March 26.
McDOWALL FREE TO PLAY
Meanwhile New England Free Jacks flanker Slade McDowall will not be suspended after receiving a red card for a high tackle on Old Glory DC winger Simi Moala at the 76 minute mark of Friday evening’s game in Leesburg. While the red card is maintained on his record, mitigating circumstances determined that no further sanctioning was required.
50 NOT OUT FOR MacLELLAN
Angus MacLellan will be recognized by the Utah Warriors at their March 5 home opener against the Dallas Jackals after becoming the first player in Major League Rugby history to reach 50 appearances. The USA international has remarkably appeared in every single game for the Warriors to date. He came off the bench for the first time on May 15th of last year, a run of 37 consecutive starts at tighthead prop.
MLR NEWCOMERS – ROUND 3
On the other side of the spectrum, 15 players made their MLR debuts over the weekend. Old Glory welcomed flyhalf Rohan Saifoloi and winger Peni Lasaqa to their lineup, with New England bringing in prop Tevita Sole, center Wayne van der Bank, and winger Zach Bastres in the same match.
New York and Toronto each featured one newcomer. Joe Basser was a replacement flanker for the former, with Brock Webster enjoying a try-scoring debut for the Arrows wearing the No11 shirt. There were three late subs for Utah making seeing their first pro action – center Tomasi Tonga, wing Connor Burns, and finally loosehead prop Emerson Prior. All three had been unused replacements in previous games. Tonga matched Webster in scoring a try in his first game.
Dallas brought on flanker Calvin Gentry and hooker Luke Rizzo in the second half against Houston, with the SaberCats giving tighthead prop Pono Davis his first regular season game time. Finally the Seawolves featured two new forwards in their starting lineup – South African loosehead prop Mzamo Majola and Tongan lock Setefano Funaki.
