MLR 2024: Anthem Carolina – ARN Season Guide

Anthem Rugby Carolina are the newest franchise in Major League Rugby and are unlike any seen before. Operating costs will largely be covered by World Rugby with the MLR owners picking up the rest of the bill. It’s a joint agreement with WR, MLR, and USA Rugby designed to increase playing time for US-qualified athletes, similar to the approach taken by South American sides in Super Rugby Americas.

The initial roster does have a significant number of international players, perhaps more than expected with nine players either captured or currently ineligible for the Eagles. Second row James Rivers is close to achieving his five-year residency and has already been included in USA high performance training camps. Scrumhalf Siaosi Nai has resided in Utah for the best part of five years but has previously represented Tonga at senior ‘A’ level.

 

 

TEAM HISTORY

While this is an entirely new operation, the idea itself has roots in the USA Hawks program that competed in a series of exhibition matches last year. Comprised mostly of under-23 age grade players, the Hawks toured South America and then played a handful of games in Charlotte before players returned to their MLR sides. A second Hawks training camp was then held at the same location on the fall.

 

 

COACHING STAFF

Head Coach duties have been given to current Eagles attack coach Alama Ieremia. The 53-year-old began his coaching career in Japan with Suntory, before assuming assistant rules with provincial side Wellington and the Hurricanes of Super Rugby. He was named Head Coach of Manu Samoa in 2015 and then led Auckland to an NPC title in 2018. As a professional player Ieremia played 5 times for his native Samoa before representing the All Blacks in 30 tests as a midfielder, earning selection to the 1995 and 1999 World Cups. The rest of the staff has yet to be revealed.

 

 

FRONT ROW

MLR 2023	POS	MLR 2024
n/a	LH	Stephan Bernal-Wendt (D) Ivan Pula (D) Jake Turnbull (D)
n/a	HO	Jack Manzo (D) Declan Moore (I) Connor Robinson (D)
n/a	TH	Joe Apikotoa (I) Mika Felix (D) Dan Hanson (D) Juan Pen (D)

Eagles loosehead prop Jake Turnbull is the only man on the roster past the age of 30 and looks a good bet to be named captain. Tongan World Cup select Joe Apikotoa is the presumptive starting tighthead, with Declan Moore the arriving from the United Rugby Championship to pack down at hooker.

The rest of the front rowers have either been fringe players for their respective MLR sides or are entirely new to professional rugby. Ivan Pula and Mika Felix have suited up for the USA Falcons (formerly Selects), while Jack Manzo captained the USA u23 side and was on the American Raptors roster last year.

1	2	3
Jake Turnbull	Declan Moore	Joe Apikotoa
30 yrs	27 yrs	27 yrs
6’2″ / 1.89m	6′ / 1.84m	6’3″ / 1.91m
255lbs / 116kg	245lbs / 112kg	265lbs / 120kg
USA 5 caps	AUS u20	TON 5 caps

 

 

SECOND ROW

MLR 2023	POS	MLR 2024
n/a	LO	Lucas Gramlick (D) Reagan Leslie (I) James Rivers (I) Shneil Singh (I) Logan Weidner (D)

An area where Anthem are reasonably well covered. Reagan Leslie wasn’t far off a Super Rugby deal with the Western Force before signing, and Shneil Singh was longlisted for the New Zealand u20s before playing professionally in Japan. The latter is also a candidate to add size to the back row.

Rivers, as mentioned, is already on the Eagles radar despite not fully qualifying until the last quarter of 2024. Logan Weidner has represented both Canada and the USA at u20 level but looks set to commit to the stars and stripers. He could also find himself as a loose forward. Standing a lofty 6’8″ (2.03m), Lucas Gramlick is the biggest man on the roster and spent time with both the Raptors and Hawks last year.

4	5
Reagan Leslie	James Rivers
24 yrs	23 yrs
6’7″ / 2.01m	6’6″ / 1.98m
255lbs / 116kg	255lbs / 115kg
	HKG u20

 

 

BACK ROW

MLR 2023	POS	MLR 2024
n/a	FL	Sione Latu (D) Tevita Kutu (D) Braemar Murray (D) Albert O’Shannessey (D) Carson Shoemaker (D)
n/a	N8	Joe Basser (D) Dylan Fortune (D) Michael Ma’afu (D)

The back row stable has plenty of potential but not much experience. Joe Basser and Carson Shoemaker are the only players who have suited up in MLR. Albert O’Shannessey is originally from New Zealand, coming through the Canterbury system, and Braemar Murray played his youth rugby in England and most recently in France with the Toulouse academy.

Singh looks a good bet to pack down on the blindside with Basser at either openside or No8. The third starting spot appears up for grabs. Michael Ma’afu could be one to watch, the younger brother of Biarritz lock Nafi Ma’afu and a former collegiate football player.

6	7	8
Shneil Singh	Albert O’Shannessey	Joe Basser
27 yrs	24 yrs	24 yrs
6’6″ / 1.98m	6’2″ / 1.88m	6’2″ / 1.88m
240lbs / 110kg	215lbs / 98kg	225lbs / 103kg

 

 

HALFBACKS

MLR 2023	POS	MLR 2024
n/a	SH	Siaosi Nai (I) Rino Teoni (D) Sean Yacoubian (D)
n/a	FH	Shane Barry (D) Oscar Koller (I) Sebastián Montes (D)

Sean Yacoubian is the likely starter, joining his fourth MLR side after stints with Colorado, New England, and Chicago. Injuries and health issues have severely limited his playing time but perhaps the former Scotland u20 and USA Falcons select can find his form with a string of games in the No9 shirt.

At flyhalf will be Oscar Koller, a regular starter with North Harbour in New Zealand’s NPC. Shane Barry will compete with US-born and Argentine-raised Sebastián Montes to be Koller’s understudy. The Eagles desperately need some new names to put their hand up for contention behind incumbents AJ MacGinty and Luke Carty. Is there a chance Koller plays No12 with Barry or Montes at No10?

9	10
Sean Yacoubian	Oscar Koller
29 yrs	23 yrs
5’9″ / 1.76m	6′ / 1.83m
195lbs / 89kg	215lbs/ 97kg
USA Falcons

 

 

MIDFIELD

MLR 2023	POS	MLR 2024
n/a	IC	Cael Hodgson (D) Chase Suznevich (D)
n/a	OC	Junior Gafa (D) Te Rangatira Waitokia (I)

Midfield is a clear weakness for Anthem, with Junior Gafa the only real specialist in the squad. He will return to the Free Jacks part-way through the season. Cael Hodgson can play center or wing and seems a likely starter somewhere, while Te Rangatira Waitokia seems to be the best choice at the challenging No13 position. Chase Suznevich is a local utility back who can play anywhere from No9 to No15.

12	13
Cael Hodgson	Te Rangatira Waitokia
25 yrs	27 yrs
6’2″ / 1.89m	5’11” / 1.80m
220lbs / 100kg	200lbs / 90kg
USA Falcons	NZL Sevens

 

 

OUTSIDE BACKS

MLR 2023	POS	MLR 2024
n/a	WI	Tyren Al-Jiboori (D) Mateo Gadsden (D) Ulu Tiutupuivaha (D) David Still (D) Caleb Strum (D)
n/a	FB	Cliven Loubser (I) Josh Shelter (D)

There is no shortage of size and speed among Anthem’s wing options, though one does question how they will fair moving backwards to defend against kicks. Former Raptor and USA u20 select Mateo Gadsden returned from some time in the professional wilderness to suit up with Tennessee Elite last year, and should be in the match day 23 if not the starting lineup. Namibian international Cliven Loubser arrives from Utah and is a certain starter at fullback who is also a capable flyhalf.

The most intriguing name in the bunch, and arguably on the roster, is David Still. A collegiate football standout, the 25-year-old played with Colorado and briefly with Austin before being snapped up by Mike Friday’s Eagles Sevens program. He had initially stepped away from rugby to have another crack at pro football, but has now been convinced to return to the XV-a-side game. Scott Lawrence & Co. will be keeping a close eye on the 6’3″ (1.90m) specimen.

11	14	15
Mateo Gadsden	David Still	Cliven Loubser
24 yrs	25 yrs	27 yrs
6’4″ / 1.93m	6’3″ / 1.90m	5’9″ / 1.76m
220lbs / 100kg	220lbs / 100kg	185lbs / 85kg
USA u20	USA Sevens	NAM 22 caps

 

 

2024 OUTLOOK

With easily the youngest and least experienced roster in MLR, Anthem are not going to be playoff bound in Year One. Some might argue they will be lucky to find any wins at all, and certainly they will enter every game – home or away – as an underdog.

There is some talent here, however, and if they can secure clean set piece ball they have enough x-factor to cause teams problems on attack. Expect some heavy defeats along the way but if a few young players emerge as future test contenders the season can be deemed a success.

 

A detailed squad list and schedule can be seen here.