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Former Scotland winger Rufus McLean has been named in the 35-man American Raptors squad for the upcoming Super Rugby Americas season. The 23-year-old is US-born and could be Eagles-qualified in July of 2025, but his signing is not without controversy.
McLean played in three tests for Scotland, scoring two tries on debut against Tonga in October 2021, but his Glasgow Warriors contract was terminated in early 2023 after he pleaded guilty to domestic abuse of his former partner. A court issued a 10-year non-harassment order against McLean and sentenced him to 120 hours of community service.
It’s a new-look squad with only 16 returnees, two of whom did not see action during the regular season in 2023. Several leading players have departed for Major League Rugby, with four heading in the opposite direction. Two Collegiate Draft picks, Gabe Mahu’inga and Jackson Zabierek, have also opted for the Raptors instead of MLR.
Other notable acquisitions include Argentine trio Facundo Pomponio, Ignacio Mieres, and Francisco Quinn. Mieres is a former Pumas flyhalf while Pomponio earned SRA Team of the Season honors at tighthead prop while playing for Yacare. He added Argentina XV honors to his resume in the off-season.
American youngsters Koby Baker, a tighthead prop, and Ethyn Baker, a winger, return from the UK after spells with Cardiff Metropolitan University. Second row Javon Camp is back on domestic soil after playing with Hunter Wildfires in Australia, and USA Hawks loose forward Aidan Christians joins fellow USA u20 select Aki Pulu in Glendale.
A detailed squad list can be seen here.
PROP
Koby Baker, Zack Jessell, Isikeli Kava, Clay Markoff, Ma’ake Muti, Facundo Pomponio
HOOKER
Diego Fortuny, Gabe Mahu’inga, Jackson Zabierek
SECOND ROW
Javon Camp, Will Crawford, Mikey Grandy, Tavius Sykora-Matthess
BACK ROW
Aidan Christians, Shawn Clark, Tommy Clark, Diego Magno, DJ Martin, Sione Talisa, Mo Vainikolo
SCRUMHALF
Cian Barry, Devereaux Ferris, John LeFevre
FLYHALF
Patrick Madden, Ignacio Mieres, Francisco Quinn
MIDFIELD
Watson Filikitonga, Zach Hall, Thomas Morani, Aki Pulu
OUTSIDE BACKS
Ethyn Baker, Jax Hidalgo, Luke Mallette, Rufus McLean, Daytwon Sheridan
