MLR talent stays sharp in American Rugby Premiership

The new season of the revamped American Rugby Premiership kicked off on Saturday. This year’s competition sees North and South conferences with four teams each. The North is comprised of traditional club sides while the South includes three Major League Rugby academy teams.

All eight teams featured players with MLR experience as they look to keep sharp during the off-season. Some are returning to their 2022 teams while the appearances of others may hint at some potential moves for the 2023 campaign.

Scoring details were not available but results and lineups can be seen below.

*denotes capped MLR player

 

OLD BLUE 20 vs 35 NYAC
Travers Island, Pelham

The first match of a double-header at Travers Island was an old-fashioned New York derby. Old Blue are being coached by Sam Windsor but there were no current MLR players in the side. Connor Wallace-Sims and Derek Lipscomb, who both played in MLR as wingers, lined up at flyhalf and flanker respectively. Former ATL winger Jeremy Misailegalu started at outside center.

NYAC had a significantly stronger side on paper and came away convincing winners. Old Glory’s Rob Irimescu started at hooker, with ATL scrumhalf Eamonn Matthews on the bench. New York pair Connor Buckley and John Powers were the halfbacks. The midfield pairing was particularly interesting with Austin duo Mark O’Keeffe and Julián Domínguez getting a run.

OLD BLUE
1 Jahquar Williams, 2 *Diego Maquieira, 3 James Sheridan, 4 Anthony Russo, 5 Chris Vakasisikakala, 6 *Derek Lipscomb, 7 Adrian Newell, 8 Luke Watts (capt.), 9 Mike Villalobos, 10 *Connor Wallace-Sims, 11 Kyle Granby, 12 Sonny Adjei, 13 *Jeremy Misailegalu, 14 *Mike St. Claire, 15 Kevin Braithwaite

Replacements: 16 Dejon Taylor, 17 Francis Dougherty, 18 Khalil Morris, 19 Maurice Diong, 20 Onyeukwu Onwukanjo, 21 Arnold Mananu, 22 Ulises Kevelier, 23 Trey DeFede

NYAC
1 *Anthony Parry, 2 *Rob Irimescu, 3 *Kirk Hamilton, 4 Stuart Williamson, 5 *Myles McQuone, 6 Lorenzo Maso, 7 Max Kearney, 8 Santiago Mascolo, 9 *Connor Buckley, 10 *John Powers, 11 *Ishmail Shabazz, 12 *Mark O’Keeffe, 13 *Julián Domínguez, 14 Nick Jimenez, 15 Oran James

Replacements: 16 North Westall, 17 Fintan Murphy, 18 Adam Zeich, 19 Brandon Wynne, 20 Kyle White, *Eamonn Matthews, 22 James Tweedy, 23 Luca Allison

 

WHITE PLAINS 29 vs 33 MYSTIC RIVER
Travers Island, Pelham

A strong Fijian contingent turned out for White Plains. SaberCats lock Maikeli Naromaitoga was in the pack, with Jackals center Veramu Dikidikilati an interesting choice at flyhalf. Former Free Jacks fullback Josateki Degei lined up in the midfield, with Dallas star Eric Naposki at fullback.

Mystic River’s pack was filled with MLR talent, with New England providing Kyle Ciquera, Javon Camp, Justin Johnson, Cam Davidowidz, and reserve flanker Ethan Fryer. Dallas trio Connor Robinson, Matthew Gash-Gilder, and Jack Paloucek were all acquired from the Free Jacks during the season. Holden Yungert and Peceli Rinakama were the starting halfbacks with former Utah Warriors scrumhalf Ian Luciano in reserve. Argentina u18 academy member Tomás Díaz Peralta is another notable inclusion.

WHITE PLAINS
1 Kenny Ekert, 2 Burger McDonald, 3 Ray Weiner (capt.), 4 *Maikeli Naromaitoga, 5 Tevita Kunacawaitakali, 6 Jason Libertelli, 7 Mike Monaco, 8 Jonathan Grzeszczyk, 9 Jose Reyes, 10 *Veramu Dikidikilati, 11 Francesca Guevara, 12 Darrin Fernandez, 13 *Josateki Degei, 14 Joe Vusalevu, 15 *Eric Naposki

Replacements: 16 Meli Rokocaba, 17 Angel Torres, 18 Billy Hoadley, 19 David Juarez, 20 Zavian Arroyo, 21 Al Levine, 22 Jake Hoadley, 23 Grant Myerson

MYSTIC RIVER
1 *Kyle Ciquera, 2 *Connor Robinson, 3 Jordan Drain, 4 *Javon Camp, 5 *Justin Johnson, 6 *Matthew Gash-Gilder, 7 *Jack Paloucek, 8 *Cam Davidowicz, 9 *Holden Yungert, 10 *Peceli Rinakama, 11 Brian Patterson, 12 Adnan Kawuma, 14 Shane Dempsey, 14 Devin Andres, 15 Tomás Díaz Peralta

Replacements: 16 Sean McElhinney, 17 Mani Young, 18 Omar Elhout, 19 Cody Davidowicz, 20 *Ethan Fryer, 21 *Ian Luciano, 22 Rhys Lawther, 23 Eric Kasiita

 

 

NOLA GOLD ACADEMY 13 vs 15 LIFE RUNNING EAGLES
The Gold Mine, New Orleans

Both teams rolled out powerful lineups in New Orleans. The Gold featured an impressive back row of Maciu Koroi, Osaiai Tonga’uiha, and USA international Moni Tonga’uiha. Draft picks Sebastiano Villani and Christian Olney started while Trent Rogers came off the bench. Former American Raptors prop Garrald McDowall started at loosehead with former LA draft pick Sam Klimkowski on the bench. Clermont Auvergne academy flyhalf Alexandre Vaz is another notable, while ex-Lindenwood kicker Reece Botha lined up at inside center.

Life also had a powerhouse back row with Fred Henry-Ajudua, Ross Deacon, and Johan Momsen present. Former ATL lock Marno Redelinghuys, now with Houston, also featured along with Ratlers prop Wikus Groenewald. Harley Davidson was the only current ATL player in the backline.

GOLD ACADEMY
1 Garrald McDowell, 2 *Alex Lopeti, 3 *James Irey, 4 *William Waguespack, 5 Joe Goldbloom, 6 *Maciu Koroi, 7 *Osaiasi Tonga’uiha, 8 *Moni Tonga’uiha, 9 Sebastiano Villani, 10 Alexandre Vaz, 11 *Kenneth Jinkins, 12 Reece Botha, 13 *Ross Depperschmidt, 14 *Jack Webster, 15 Christian Olney

Replacements: 16 Will Almodovar, 17 Sam Klimkowski, 18 Trent Rogers, 19 Sean McFetridge, 20 Brendan Weaver, 21 *Damian Stevens, 22 *Aaron Matthews, 23 *James Vaifale

LIFE
1 Brandon Rey, 2 Chris Rossouw, 3 *Wikus Groenewald, 4 Dom Oliveira, 5 *Marno Redelinghuys, 6 *Frederick Henry-Ajudua, 7 *Ross Deacon, 8 *Johan Momsen, 9 Adrian Escobedo, 10 Jacques Odendaal, 11 *Harley Davidson, 12 Matías Corrado, 13 *Sean Coughlan, 14 Tommy Morrissey, 15 Khyle Mingo

Replacements: 16 Josh Kindis, 17 Jandré Venter, 18 Dion Bertch, 19 Mark Humphries, 20 David Rimes, 21 Jaco Nell, 22 Jonah Carignan, 23 Karch Hoffman

 

RUGBY ATL ACADEMY 19 vs 25 RUGBY HTX
Lupo Family Field, Marietta

Speaking of ATL, they have discarded the Pathway 404 moniker in favor of a simpler name. 2021 draft pick Isaac Bales made his return from a long-term knee injury. Will Burke anchored the scrum with Martini Talapusi back from injury to start at fullback. Campbell Robinson ran out at lock. He started the MLR season with Austin and was then traded to Dallas.

Houston’s development side are now under the supervision of MLR veteran Mike Brown, who played with the Seawolves this year. Their lone draft pick Brandon Karnes got the start at tighthead prop, with undrafted Lindenwood captain Marnus Spangenberg playing lock. Four of this season’s South African contingent took the field which suggests that they will indeed return in 2023 – No8 Gideon van Wyk, flyhalf Kian Meadon, center Louritz van der Schyff, and winger Marcell Muller.

ATL ACADEMY
1 Sean Johnson, 2 Isaac Bales, 3 *Will Burke, 4 AJ Maiorana, 5 *Campbell Robinson, 6 Joe Christian, 7 Marquise Snead, 8 Murray Alford, 9 Evan Taylor, 10 Mauro Pettenari, 11 Jason Paul, 12 Richard Shore, 13 Castor Magis, 14 Austin Parrish, 15 *Martini Talapusi

Replacements: 16 Julian Skinner, 17 Zach McAfee, 18 Sean Gilfillian, 19 Sean Hunt, 20 Sam Patterson, 21 Austin Fernandez, 22 Chris Bagby, 23 Cooper Jackson

RUGBY HTX
1 Hunter Blanchard, 2 *Patrick Donovan, 3 Brandon Karnes, 4 Marnus Spangenberg, 5 *Will Crawford (capt.), 6 Niko Afuha’amango, 7 Mustafa Fall, 8 *Gideon van Wyk, 9 Ethan Russell, 10 *Kian Meadon, 11 *Marcell Muller, 12 Cuyler McCorkindale, 13 *Louritz van der Schyff, 14 Ryan Grady, 15 *Trace Bolstad

Replacements: 16 Dillon Shotwell, 17 DaQuan Perry, 19 Leo Harrid, 21 Cole Elham, 22 DJ Selby, 23 Isaiah Hunter