MLR Notes – South retires, Lee-Lo returns, more Arrows injured

Old Glory DC lock Stan South has announced his retirement from professional rugby with immediate effect. The 26-year-old has been forced to call it quits on medical grounds, after suffering an ultimately career-ending injury after making just one appearance during the 2023 campaign.

South has been an integral part of DC’s pack since arriving ahead of the 2021 season, and had been named vice-captain this year. He played in 24 regular season games for Old Glory, all but one of them starts. The former England u20 international had previously played professionally for Harlequins, Richmond, and Exeter in England, Edinburgh in Scotland, and Brive in France.

It’s rough news not long after confirmation that Head Coach Josh Syms will be departing for pastures new at the end of the season. DC were also hit with a lower leg injury to winger Marcos Young against the Arrows, which saw John LeFevre playing the last few minutes on the wing.

The Arrows lost three more players in Thursday’s draw against DC. Loosehead prop Lolani Faleiva went down with a twisted ankle just before the first hydration break. Mitch Richardson was next to fall just a few minutes later, the midfielder helped off in clear distress. The third man down was second row Adrian Wadden, who left for an HIA just past the half-hour mark and did not return.

Utah got a big win over Houston despite the presence of two of their first choice loose forwards. Captain Bailey Wilson and No8 Thomas Tu’avao were late withdrawals before kickoff, but the good news is it was a stomach bug and not injuries that kept the duo out of the lineup.

The SaberCats lost two starters in the first half against Utah. Tighthead prop Morgan Mitchell came off with a recurring nerve problem in his back. Star flyhalf Davy Coetzer took a knock on the knee. Both players will sit out this coming weekend’s game against Chicago as a precaution.

Returning to action to fill the gap at prop is former USA u20 starter Valdemar Lee-Lo. The 28-year-old has been working his way back from a long-term injury and hasn’t played a minute for the SaberCats since the third week of the 2021 campaign. Lee-Lo was previously a loosehead but played tighthead for the Rugby HTX academy side in the Red River Conference.