MLR Notes – Koroi suspended and Parete gets more time

Maciu Koroi is the latest Major League Rugby player to fall foul of the judiciary. The NOLA Gold back row has been suspended for three weeks after being cited for a dangerous clearout against the Toronto Arrows on Sunday.

At the 19-minute mark of the game in New Orleans, Koroi tipped over Arrows flanker Lucas Rumball at a ruck. While the referee did not initially award a penalty, a TMO review identified the act of foul play and cancelled out a try that was scored moments later.

Here’s the clearout that resulted in a three-week suspension for NOLA back row Maciu Koroi. #MLR2023 pic.twitter.com/fo14nbjckV

— Bryan Ray (@raysrugby) May 5, 2023

The in-game sanction was penalty-only but the judiciary determined it was worthy of a red card. In the case of law 9.18, the low-end sanction is 6 weeks but it was reduced to 3 weeks due to Koroi’s acceptance that he had committed an act of foul play and ‘disciplinary record’.

It should be noted that this is the second time Koroi has been suspended in MLR. A year ago he was sent off for a dangerous tackle late in the game against San Diego. The sanction on that occasion was also three weeks. Koroi will be free to play against Old Glory on June 3.

NOLA will also be missing hooker Pat O’Toole for the immediate future after the hooker was knocked unconscious in the second half of the game against Toronto. Eric Howard started the game with Matt Harmon, who had started at loosehead prop, coming back on to replace O’Toole.

The Arrows also lost a couple more players in that same game. While Gene Syminton passed his early HIA and returned to the field, both Mitch Eadie and Fabian Goodall left the game at the same time with injury. Eadie seemed to jar something in his lower body while making a tackle, while Goodall’s issue was not immediately clear on the tape.

New York are also suffering major injury woes with the latest being Conor McManus. Their first choice scrumhalf had missed time earlier this season with a thigh injury. Against the Free Jacks on the weekend he landed awkwardly after catching a high ball in the air and twisted his ankle. No word yet on how long McManus will be out.

New England will be without Jesse Parete for a little longer than originally anticipated. The second row was initially suspended for two weeks after being sent off against ATL. He has now been admonished for speaking to the match officials following that game, and will sit for another three weeks. Parete won’t be eligible to play again until the June 11 match against the Seawolves.