Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Major League Rugby held an expansion draft this past week to help populate the roster of the newest franchise – the Miami Sharks. Beginning play in the 2024 season, the Sharks will look to be competitive right out of the gate with several notables among the list of 25 players selected.
Existing teams were required to make 5 players available to be drafted by the new team. Miami now holds the negotiating rights for those 25 players selected until Sunday, August 6. If an agreement is not signed by then, the players are returned to their original team.
Curiously two of the selections – New York’s Nick Feakes and NOLA’s Eric Howard – have already announced their retirement from professional rugby at the conclusion of the 2023 MLR season. Second rows Samu Manoa and Api Naikatini are both now past their 38th birthday.
Some names surprisingly left unprotected include Old Glory prop Quentin Newcomer, a regular contributor in their match day 23. Seawolves lock Ben Mitchell was recently included in the USA Eagles training group. Dallas winger Eric Naposki is widely considered one of the brightest domestic talents in MLR, and fullback Marcos Moroni was a standout for the Jackals in 2023.
EXPANSION DRAFT SELECTIONS (BY POSITION)
| POS | NAME | CLUB | ELIG |
| LH | Frikkie de Beer | Houston SaberCats | USA |
| LH/TH | Alex Tucci | Dallas Jackals | USA |
| HO | Joey Backe | Utah Warriors | USA |
| HO | James Hilterbrand | New England Free Jacks | USA |
| HO | Eric Howard | NOLA Gold | Canada |
| TH/LH | Quentin Newcomer | Old Glory DC | USA |
| LO | Liam Hallam-Eames | NOLA Gold | Import (NZL) |
| LO | Samu Manoa | Seattle Seawolves | USA |
| LO | Ben Mitchell | Seattle Seawolves | USA |
| LO | Api Naikatini | Old Glory DC | Import (FIJ) |
| FL | Fred Henry-Ajudua | Rugby ATL | Import (NGA) |
| N8 | Tomás Casares | New England Free Jacks | USA |
| SH | Sean Yacoubian | Chicago Hounds | USA |
| FH | Danny Giannascoli | Utah Warriors | USA |
| FH | Shane O’Leary | Toronto Arrows | Canada |
| CE | Dawson Fatoric | Toronto Arrows | Canada |
| CE | Tyler Fisher | Utah Warriors | Import (RSA) |
| WI | Kainoa Lloyd | Houston SaberCats | Canada |
| WI/FB | Eric Naposki | Dallas Jackals | USA |
| WI | Avery Oitomen | Toronto Arrows | Canada |
| WI | Caleb Strum | Chicago Hounds | USA |
| WI | Nolan Tuamoheloa | Rugby ATL | USA |
| FB | Nick Feakes | New York Ironworkers | USA |
| FB | Troy Lockyear | New York Ironworkers | Import (ENG) |
| FB | Marcos Moroni | Dallas Jackals | Import (ARG) |
