MLR Notes: Arrows reinforcements, Trade deadline approaching

The injury-hit Toronto Arrows have announced their first batch of reinforcements. Midfielder Dawson Fatoric and winger D’Shawn Bowen have signed on for the rest of the season, joining up from the Canada Sevens squad. Both are also products of the Pacific Pride centralized development program.

Fatoric is 24 years old and won his first two test caps last summer, while Bowen was on the Canada ‘A’ tour of Brazil in October. Both are originally from Ontario and could make their professional debuts against Dallas this coming weekend.

The Arrows aren’t done there. Two experienced professionals are expected to arrive next week from France. One is a second row who will replace Micaiah Torrance-Read, whose season has come to an early end due to a knee injury. The other is a versatile back whose name will be familiar to Canadian fans.

Toronto’s extraordinary injured list meant that they were forced to play loose forward Mitch Eadie in the midfield and had only five replacements against Utah on Saturday. Hooker Ramón Ayarza and lock Mason Flesch went down in the first half, adding to their misery. They should be in better shape against the Jackals with a couple key backs returning to training this week.

Now-former Arrows lock Kyle Baillie has been snapped up by Old Glory. He gives the squad an immediate boost following the season-ending injury to Stan South, but they might have a couple more additions on the horizon. An Argentine lock and US-based scrumhalf have been mentioned though neither appear to be done deals yet.

Baillie’s domestic status and ability to play in the back row leaves the option open for another import up front. At scrumhalf, the club appears to be interested on acquiring some more experienced backup – and potentially competition – for incumbent Danny Tusitala.

The Gold made two trades over the past week, acquiring some salary cap space for this season. Utah will get a 2nd round pick in the 2023 Collegiate Draft in exchange.

Meanwhile heading to ATL is flanker Chase Schor-Haskin, who made one appearance for NOLA last season while training with the Eagles Sevens squad but was not part of plans this year. Schor-Haskin is familiar with the area having previously suited up for Life University.

Chicago have today announced a trade that sends outside back Kevin Morgan to the Jackals in exchange for salary cap considerations for this season and Dallas’ 2nd round pick in the 2023 Collegiate Draft. Morgan had made two appearances as a replacement for the Hounds.

The trade seems to be prompted by an injury to Eagles prospect Eric Naposki, who now looks likely to miss a considerable chunk of the season. It’s an interesting move given that Dallas have two backs – Kyle Fulton and Jason Tidwell – currently assigned to the USA Hawks.

Other options might have been Hayden Hill or Ethan Hager. Hill was released during preseason and has since moved to Australia, and the 8th-overall pick in the 2022 Draft Hager was not signed at all.

Expect more moves over the next couple weeks as the signing and trade deadline approaches. While players need to have their deals booked with the league by April 17, they don’t actually have to arrive until a while after that. League rules stipulate players must appear in four regular season games to be eligible to appear in the playoffs.

What that means, in real terms, is that the latest possible appearance for players to join contenders is Round 15, the last weekend in May. For Dallas and NOLA, the appearance deadline is a week earlier as they both have byes that weekend.

So who is likely to be signed? Players who opted out of the 2022 Collegiate Draft will have to sit out the entire campaign unless they apply for a waiver, which is considered on a case-by-case basis. More likely arrivals are those coming to the end of contracts in Europe or Japan.

And what about closer to home? There is certainly talent on the American Raptors who would be of interest to MLR clubs. While they look very unlikely to make the Super Rugby Americas post-season, the last game of the regular season is scheduled on May 27. If any player were to make the jump, they would have to depart the Raptors early which may not be on the cards this year.