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There’s change aplenty in New York heading into the 2023 campaign. New coaches have been hired, the team will move to a new home venue, and of course there is the change in branding. On the field, however, there is a relatively consistent group of players who are set to defend their title.
That’s not to say there aren’t some significant departures. Their All Blacks trio will not be playing though Andy Ellis is sticking around as part of the new-look staff. All three of last season’s tighthead props are gone, along with the towering presence of Will Tucker and late-season addition Antonio Kiri Kiri.
New Zealand is again the primary source of incoming talent with four arriving from the NPC and Brad Tucker acquired from Seattle to take his brother’s place on the roster. Hamish Dalzell and Teihorangi Walden are the most experienced of the new recruits, with Enrique Quinteros set to become the first Paraguayan international to play in Major League Rugby.
Nick Feakes was an early arrival from NOLA who is a handy edition to the backline, while the club has recently confirmed the signings of ex-LA pair Cristian Rodriguez and Brooklyn Hardaker. Rodriguez played exclusively as an outside back last season but will compete as a scrumhalf in New York. Hardaker, a speedy Australian winger, missed the entire season with a knee injury.
The club has left it late in announcing many of their returning players, thought there was never any doubt that the likes of Pago Haini would be back. DaQuan Perry will make a full-time conversion from the back row to hooker, while NYAC loosehead Anthony Parry is back in the fold – he played against Toronto on the weekend – after being left out of the squad last year.
Perry and Parry both suited up in the American Rugby Premiership during the off-season, the former with Rugby HTX. Others include Connor Buckley, Eamonn Matthews, John Powers, and Ishmail Shabazz with NYAC, and Bill Whiteside and Conor McManus with Old Blue.
Returning: Chance Wenglewski (LH), Dylan Fawsitt (HO), Kaleb Geiger (HO), Nic Mayhew (TH), Nate Brakeley (LO), Charlie Hewitt (LO), Joe Basser (FL), Benjamín Bonasso (FL), Brendon O’Connor (FL), Kara Pryor (FL/N8), Pago Haini (N8), Connor Buckley (SH), Conor McManus (SH), Jack Heighton (FH), Sam Windsor (SH), Jason Emery (CE), Fa’asiu Fuatai (CE), Quinn Ngawati (CE/WI), Ishmail Shabazz (CE/WI), Ed Fidow (WI), Andrew Coe (WI/FB), John Powers (WI/FB), Troy Lockyear (FB)
Collegiate Draft: Doyle Hedgepeth (LH, Queens Charlotte), Bill Whiteside (LO, Lindenwood)
Dispersal Draft: Cristian Rodriguez (SH/FB, LA Giltinis), Brooklyn Hardaker (WI, LA Giltinis)
New Signings: Tevita Langi (LH, North Harbour, NZ), Anthony Parry (LH, NYAC), DaQuan Perry (HO, Rugby HTX), Sam Davies (TH, North Harbour, NZ), Enrique Quinteros (TH, Ciencias, ES), Hamish Dalzell (LO, Auckland, NZ), Brad Tucker (LO/FL, Seattle Seawolves), Eamonn Matthews (SH, Rugby ATL), Teihorangi Walden (CE, Taranaki, NZ), Nick Feakes (WI/FB, NOLA Gold)
Departures: Peter Reyes (LH), Sakaria Taulafo (PR, Céret, FR), Wilton Rebolo (HO/TH, Western Force, AU), Kalolo Tuiloma (TH), Will Tucker (LO, Highlanders, NZ), Jonathan Grzeszczyk (FL, West Harbour, AU), Antonio Kiri Kiri (FL/N8, Maidenhead, UK), Andy Ellis (SH, retired), Cuyler McCorkindale (CE/WI, Rugby HTX), Waisake Naholo (WI), Nehe Milner-Skudder (FB, Manawatu, NZ)
