MLR Notes: Hooley joins league brass, Houston snags ATL duo

Will Hooley is trading his kicking tee for a white board. The recently-retired USA and San Diego Legion flyhalf has taken up a new job as a Technical Director with Major League Rugby. Hooley hung up his boots at the age of just 29 at the conclusion of the 2023 campaign.

The new position will see Hooley employed largely in a media management and public relations role. He’ll work closely with The Rugby Network and expects to be more visible coming the regular season.

Houston’s South African contingent has a pair of big additions for the 2024 season. Johan Momsen and Justin Basson have been acquired from Los Angeles in exchange for salary cap considerations. The two have been among the best lock partnerships in MLR for the past couple seasons.

Momsen had initially stated he would be making the move to the West Coast, but has reconsidered and will now reunite with his former ATL lock partner Marno Redelinghuys in Texas. Most recently Momsen has been plying his trade with Manawatu in New Zealand during the MLR off-season.

Another now-former ATL forward is off to Texas, but to Dallas. The Jackals have scooped up 26-year-old Daemon Torres, who is originally from Round Rock, in exchange for cash considerations. Torres is a former USA u20 select who brings a much-needed domestic option at blindside flanker or No8.

Also landing in Dallas is former NOLA Gold winger Joeli Tikoisuva. The surprise part of the news is that ‘JoJo’ has apparently been on San Diego’s books for the last few months, without the Legion ever telling anyone about it. Tikoisuva has only played one game over the past two seasons, and his rights go to the Jackals with Danny Christensen heading in the opposite direction.

Christensen is an experienced domestic scrumhalf who started the last two games of the season for Dallas. He will be joined in San Diego by Eagles flanker Vili Helu. The 27-year-old is originally from the Bay Area but now heads to SoCal and gives the Legion a high quality lineout jumper in the back row.

Not wanting to be left out, Miami have reached into ATL’s forward stocks to pluck Chase Schor-Haskin away. The 24-year-old flanker is originally from Pembroke Pines, about 20 miles from the new home pitch of the Sharks. Schor-Haskin has recently been part of the Eagles Sevens program and didn’t make any MLR appearance in 2023.

Another interesting addition to the Sharks is Connor Burns. The former Lindenwood star was frustrated by a lack of game time at Utah last season. Standing 6’3″ (1.91m), the 25-year-old is highly rated as a wing or fullback and importantly should be US-eligible on residency for the 2024 season.

On the re-signing front, Old Glory have confirmed the return of their own Eagles flanker Cory Daniel. The 28-year-old’s season this year ended early due to a shoulder injury but he should be ready to go for the start of the 2024 campaign. DC signed Niko Jones as a replacement but he’s currently in New Zealand and it’s not yet clear if he will be returning.

Jack McRogers didn’t play as much as some might have hoped in 2023, with some school commitments seemingly contributing. The Canadian international hooker has re-signed with the Arrows, however, and will hope the new Head Coach sees him in a better light. It’s unclear when exactly that new coach will be unveiled though reports from the Arrows camp say it’s just a matter of completing paperwork for the preferred candidate.