MLR 2023 – Dallas Jackals – ARN Season Guide

The Jackals put off their inaugural Major League Rugby campaign by a year, and it’s fair to say things didn’t quite go as planned when they did finally get on the field. Visa issues saw their intended Head Coach drop out of the picture and former GM Elaine Vassie stepped into a dual role. Injuries then decimated their roster and the final result was a winless season.

Good news started to arrive with the appointment of new management and an experienced coaching staff, and seemingly a new identity. A series of Argentine signing were announced but then the wheels stopped turning and communications ground to a halt. Dallas fans finally got a team list of sorts heading into their one and only preseason match, and we’ve cobbled together most of the roster below.

A detailed squad list can be seen here.

 

TEAM HISTORY

YEAR	SEASON	RANK	FINALS
2022	0-16	13 of 13	–

Year One was the second winless season in MLR history. There were constant changes in the match day squad which forced two of the coaches (Matoko Noudéhou and Danny Carlton) to suit up in a couple games. Despite the challenges the team endeared itself to the local community and found a welcoming environment at Choctaw Stadium.

 

COACHING STAFF

It’s all-new leadership in 2023. Former professional player Agustín Cavalieri takes his first Head Coach job after serving as an assistant for Italy’s u20 side. He is originally from Argentina, and will have the vastly experienced ex-Pumas supremo Mario Ledesma to lean on for guidance. Super Mario has been very hands-on at training with Willie Blanco taking charge of the backs.

 

FRONT ROW

MLR 2022	POS	MLR 2023
Ryan Bower Liam Murray Timmy Ohlwein	LH Prop	Joaquín Horcada Liam Murray Alex Tucci
Augusto Böhme Matt Frings Todd Gleave Dewald Kotze Ryheem Powell Brendan Rams Connor Robinson	Hooker	Tomás Baravalle Dewald Kotze Brendan Rams Connor Robinson
Herman Agenbag Tommy Madaras Alex Tucci	TH Prop	Herman Agenbag Kyle Steeves Juan Pablo Zeiss

There is some continuity here with six front rowers returning, but the starting trio should be all-changed. Ryan Bower and Todd Gleave have both departed, and Herman Agenbag should be second-choice tighthead behind Pumas international Juan Pablo Zeiss. He’ll be joined by countrymen Joaquín Horcada and Tomás Baravalle.

The supporting cast includes an all-Canadian front row in Liam Murray, Dewald Kotze, and newcomer Kyle Steeves. Alex Tucci switches his focus from tighthead to loosehead, with Connor Robinson back to cover hooker and Brendan Rams an option at hooker or tighthead prop.

There is no sign of Danny Tuala, LA’s Samoan international loosehead slash hooker, whose rights were acquired in the Dispersal Draft.

PROJECTED STARTERS

1	2	3
Joaquín Horcada	Tomás Baravalle	Juan Pablo Zeiss
23 yrs	32 yrs	33 yrs
5’10” / 1.78m	6′ / 1.82m	6′ / 1.83m
250lbs / 113kg	230lbs / 105kg	260lbs / 119kg
Argentina u20	Argentina (1 cap)	Argentina (7 caps)

 

SECOND ROW

MLR 2022	POS	MLR 2023
Charlie Hola Jérémy Lenaerts Sam Phillips Campbell Robinson Bronson Teles	Lock	Lucas Bur Sam Golla Charlie Hola Maikeli Naromaitoga

It’s almost a clean sweep at lock where Charlie Hola is the only confirmed returning player. Bronson Teles opted out of the season to focus on his career outside of rugby. Jeremy Lenaerts, Sam Phillips and Campbell Robinson are out of the picture.

Lucas Bur is a notable arrival from Argentina via Italy. He will be their primary ball winner at the lineout, and is set to pair with first overall Collegiate Draft select Sam Golla. Former Fiji Warriors select Maikeli Naromaitoga is a new addition. None of the current quartet are above 6’5″ (1.96m) in height.

PROJECTED STARTERS

4	5
Lucas Bur	Sam Golla
22 yrs	23 yrs
6’5″ / 1.95m	6’5″ / 1.96m
235lbs / 107kg	250lbs / 114kg
Argentina u20	USA u20

 

BACK ROW

MLR 2022	POS	MLR 2023
Moe Abdelmonem Asa Carter Romain Gadeaux Calvin Gentry Mike Matarazzo	Flanker	Nolan Buckley Jerónimo Gómez Vara Carson Shoemaker Jalen Tatum
Adriaan Booysen Conrado Roura Carson Shoemaker	No8	Adriaan Booysen Conrado Roura

Moe Abdelmonem, Romain Gadeaux, and Calvin Gentry have left MLR completely with Asa Carter also an unsigned free agent. Mike Matarazzo is a key departure to the Chicago Hounds. Others on short-term deals last year were Matthew Gash-Gilder and Jack Paloucek, while No8 pair DeCor Davis and Daryl Bagley have also moved on.

Conrado Roura is a candidate for the captaincy and is an option across the back row. He will be joined by another Argentina XV representative in the highly-rated Jerónimo Gómez Vara. Namibian powerhouse Adriaan Booysen completes the first choice loose forward trio.

The three players behind them at the moment combine for just three MLR caps and two starts. Jalen Tatum played on the wing last season but will now switch to flanker, where he started his rugby conversion at ATL. Carson Shoemaker makes a permanent move from Utah, and Nolan Buckley was picked up in the Draft.

Langilangi Haupeakui’s rights were acquired in the Dispersal Draft from LA but there is no indication that he has actually joined the team.

PROJECTED STARTERS

6	7	8
Conrado Roura	Jerónimo Gómez Vara	Adriaan Booysen
26 yrs	22 yrs	26 yrs
6’3″ / 1.91m	6’3″ / 1.90m	6’2″ / 1.88m
225lbs / 102kg	225lbs / 103kg	250lbs / 113kg
Argentina XV	Argentina XV	Namibia (11 caps)

 

HALFBACKS

MLR 2022	POS	MLR 2023
Tom Brusati Carlo de Nysschen Dylan James Kurtis Werner	Scrumhalf	Danny Christensen Pedro Imhoff Nazareno Valentini
Adriaan Carelse Alejandro Torres	Flyhalf	Adriaan Carelse Matías Caramuti Alejandro Torres

It’s a complete overhaul at scrumhalf with all of last season’s group out the door. Carlo de Nysschen is the only one signed to an MLR side, last season’s starter staying in Texas with the SaberCats.

Pedro Imhoff will take over the No9 shirt. Despite being 33 years old and a veteran of 3 tests this is his first professional contract. Nazareno Valentini is another Argentine option, while Danny Christensen arrives from Utah and should be the primary bench cover. Devereaux Ferris was acquired in trade from Dallas but has not signed with the club.

At flyhalf there is continuity with Adriaan Carelse and Alejandro Torres returning. Matías Caramuti was drafted from Thomas More. All three are classed as imports. Martín Elías is another option though looks likely to start at fullback, perhaps switching with Carelse at times.

PROJECTED STARTERS

9	10
Pedro Imhoff	Adriaan Carelse
33 yrs	28 yrs
5’9″ / 1.74m	5’7″ / 1.71m
180lbs / 82kg	175lbs/ 80kg
Argentina (3 caps)

 

MIDFIELD

MLR 2022	POS	MLR 2023
Juan Pablo Aguirre Ned Hodson Campbell Johnstone Chad London Matoko Noudéhou Lui Sitama Henry Trinder	Center	Juan Pablo Aguirre Campbell Johnstone Tomás Malanos Patrick Medina Mazvita Nyamarebvu

JP Aguirre and Campbell Johnstone were with the team last season but the rest of the menagerie of midfielders have departed. None of them are currently signed on in MLR. Matoko Noudéhou remains with the club but should be an emergency option only as he the Strength & Conditioning Coach.

While Argentina XV select Tomás Malanos would be a preferred starter, Dallas’ import limit could see him bumped out of the lineup at times. In that case Aguirre should partner with Johnstone or USA Falcons tourist Patrick Medina. Zimbabwe age-grade rep Mazvita Nyamarebvu was acquired in the Draft.

PROJECTED STARTERS

12	13
Juan Pablo Aguirre	Campbell Johnstone
28 yrs	24 yrs
6’1″ / 1.85m	6’3″ / 1.91m
200lbs / 92kg	215lbs / 98kg
Argentina u20	USA u20

 

OUTSIDE BACKS

MLR 2022	POS	MLR 2023
Aaron Gray Cael Hodgson Eric Naposki Jalen Tatum Rodrick Waters	Wing	Kyle Fulton Aaron Gray Marcos Moroni Eric Naposki James Vaifale
Hayden Hill Chris Pennell	Fullback	Martín Elías Hayden Hill Jason Tidwell

Cael Hodgson was traded to NOLA in the off-season while club captain Chris Pennell looks to have hung up the boots. Jalen Tatum is now a flanker again while Rodrick Waters was most recently playing club rugby with Austin Blacks.

Two more Argentines bolster the outside backs in Marcos Moroni and Martín Elías, while Eric Naposki looks to build on his impressive rookie campaign. James Vaifale and Aaron Gray are the main domestic candidates to start on the wing if one of the imports is left out.

Hayden Hill has been staying busy with the Dallas Reds. Kyle Fulton and the versatile Jason Tidwell were selected in the Collegiate Draft. Canadian flyer Ethan Hager was a first-round pick but there is no confirmation of his arrival, while it doesn’t appear Tom Mitchell will be joining from LA after being picked in the Dispersal Draft.

PROJECTED STARTERS

11	14	15
Marcos Moroni	Eric Naposki	Martín Elías
27 yrs	23 yrs	26 yrs
6’3″ / 1.90m	6′ / 1.83m	6′ / 1.83m
200lbs / 90kg	190lbs / 87kg	185lbs / 85kg
Argentina 7s	USA Falcons	Argentina XV

 

2023 OUTLOOK

On paper the projected starting squad looks competitive and isn’t far off an Argentina XV selection, but behind that the team lacks depth among their domestic talent. Outside of Booysen there is a shortage of dominant ball carriers, and opposition teams will know to target Bur at the lineout.

That said, overall it’s certainly a better side than last season and Dallas fans can be confident that the elusive first-ever win will come once the team gets settled in. The postseason isn’t on their forecast but they can play a spoiler role down the stretch, and perhaps target success in the Texas Cup.