MLR Notes: Seattle and Houston swap stars, Malcolm re-signs

Seattle and Houston have worked a blockbuster trade, the biggest in Major League Rugby history in terms of star-power. Headed to the SaberCats in a straight swap is Samoan international playmaker AJ Alatimu, while the Seawolves receive USA Eagles titan Joe Taufete’e.

Alatimu has been one of the league’s most consistent scorers since arriving in Seattle three seasons ago, leading all of MLR in 2022. He has featured primarily at flyhalf but is also a talented inside center and with Davy Coetzer expected to return for Houston it could be in the midfield where Alatimu finds himself more frequently. Louritz van der Schyff has been the starter at No12 for the past two seasons.

Taufete’e is also versatile, with international test experience at all three front row positions. It was at hooker where he is most often found, though the USA’s lack of options at tighthead prop could see ‘Big Joe’ switch his focus to the No3 shirt. Seattle already has a pair of Eagles front rowers on their books in hooker Peter Malcolm and new cap Jake Turnbull, a loosehead, while tighthead Mason Pedersen has been part of the wider Eagles training group in recent months.

On the topic of scoring threats, the Arrows have retained metronomic goal kicker Sam Malcolm for what will be his sixth season with the club. The flyhalf or fullback and vice-captain missed half the 2023 campaign with injury and will be hoping for better fortunes in 2024. With Rewita Biddle and Robbie Povey arriving in Toronto next year it could be either position where Malcolm is utilised.

The Sharks are set to land a pair of Welsh internationals, according to Steffan Thomas of WalesOnline. Loosehead prop Rob Evans and hooker Kirby Myhill will make the move from the Dragons and Cardiff respectively. Both players are 31 years old and were casualties of the severe budget cuts to the Welsh regions at the end of last season.

Evans played 39 tests for Wales, most recently in March of 2020, and was a longtime starter at Scarlets but injuries severely affected his opportunities over the past couple seasons. Myhill started his pro career at Scarlets before moving to Cardiff, and earned one cap against New Zealand in October of 2021.

A couple interesting names were spotted in the NOLA Gold Academy lineup this past weekend. Former Free Jacks lock Javon Camp has returned from a stint in Australia. The 24-year-old was part of the USA Falcons squad that competed at the Americas Pacific Challenge in 2021. Former Lindenwood tighthead prop and Utah Warriors draft pick Sam Buckley was also in the squad.

NOLA’s academy side, now dubbed the Gold Miners, will wear the name of Bill Webb on their shoulders during the American Rugby Premiership campaign. The honor recognizes Webb’s contributions to MLR as a whole and the close ties between the Arrows co-founder and his NOLA counterpart Tim Falcon.