Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
The Hounds Academy is off and running. Chicago’s development side, headed by senior attack coach Dave Clancy, took their first steps against their Houston counterparts Rugby HTX on Sunday. It was a competitive run-out with the Hounds taking a 40-22 victory. The full match replay can be seen here.
Names of note in the Chicago lineup included senior Hounds forwards Fred Apulu, Sam Peri, and Tinashe Muchena. Draft picks Juan Pen and Clayton Means were also in the lineup, along with former Utah draft pick Gabe Kettering and uncapped Free Jacks winger Willis Goodwin.
In other news the Hounds have confirmed the return of former Eagles tighthead prop Paddy Ryan and second row back row Justice Nkombua. The former made 11 appearances this past season including 8 starts, while the latter played 6 games after arriving midway through the season. Nkombua spent the off-season playing locally with the Chicago Lions in the Midwest Premiership.
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The Warriors have found their replacement for Connor McLeod. Set to take the starting scrumhalf role is Logan Crowley, a nephew of former Canada and Italy coach Kieran Crowley. The 27-year-old has seven seasons of NPC rugby under his belt and was part of the 2023 title-winners Taranaki.
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Toronto have added more Australian influence to their side with Nick Brown joining ‘little’ brother Jordan in Canada for the 2024 campaign. The elder Brown will be 26 in January and was most recently playing with Manly Marlins in the Shute Shield. He was previously an Australia u18 select and long-listed for the u20s, and in 2022 made the England Students side while playing with Leeds Beckett. Brown also has a unique claim to fame having featured on reality TV show ‘FBOY Island Australia’ earlier this year.
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Ironworkers captain Nate Brakeley announced his retirement from international rugby this past week, and seemed to suggest that he might not be playing at all this coming season: “The nature of sport is that your time is finite, so I couldn’t be more pleased to go out playing for a championship alongside some of the same boys I started this journey with.” It seems Brakeley has now moved back to his home state of Massachusetts, but we’ll await confirmation before bidding the big man adieu.
