Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Jason Robertson is heading back to Major League Rugby. The star playmaker has signed on with Old Glory for the 2024 season, making a return to the club after spending two years in France. He played with Narbonne in the Pro D2 after leaving DC in 2021, and then spent the past season in the Top 14 with Bayonne. Robertson was one of MLR’s top flyhalves in 2020 and 2021.
The signing suggests that Tito Díaz Bonilla will not be returning to the club given both import and salary cap limits. Díaz Bonilla started strongly in 2023 but the Argentine was overtaken by Canadian international Gradyn Bowd in the No10 pecking order in the second half of the season.
There is further good news for Old Glory, who just yesterday confirmed a move to a new venue in 2024. A formal player development partnership with Washington Irish has been agreed, which should see younger DC prospects getting valuable playing time with the local amateur club.
Los Angeles have acquired two players via trade in recent days. Lock or eightman Jurie van Vuuren arrives from Utah in exchange for salary cap space. The former South Africa u20 select has been a stalwart for the Warriors over the past four seasons but the arrival of Tongan international Onehunga Havili saw van Vuuren spending half his time among the reserves in 2023.
Also heading to the California sunshine is Seattle flyhalf Jordan Chait. Another from South Africa, he impressed in his first MLR campaign in particular with his expectional kicking skills. Notably both van Vuuren and Chait will line up for the Tel Aviv Heat in the Rugby Europe Super Cup during the off-season.
As Chait departs Seattle, Ryan Rees arrives from the team formerly known as Rugby ATL. The US Eagles scrumhalf is a straight swap for Chait and gives the Seawolves potentially three international options at No9 with once-capped Devereaux Ferris also on their books at the end of the season and incumbent starter JP Smith qualified for the USA on residency in 2024. Rees takes the roster spot of Karl Keane, who has moved on to Japan.
Meanwhile another player has confirmed his departure from Seattle. Eagles lock Ben Landry will leave the team after three seasons in Seawolves colors. It’s unclear if the 32-year-old intends to continue playing professional rugby, with a statement from the club indicating he is dedicating more time towards his family business in Wisconsin.
Dallas have signed two new players for next season. USA u23 scrumhalf Evan Conlon arrives from ATL in exchange for LA’s 3rd-round pick in the 2024 Collegiate Draft. Conlon made his pro debut late in the season after spending several weeks with the USA Hawks program in South America and North Carolina.
The replacement for Italy-bound Conrado Roura appears to be former Wales u20 flanker Ben Fry. After being released from the cash-strapped Dragons, Fry had earlier turned down an offer from Jersey Reds in the RFU Championship and was said to be considering leaving professional rugby altogether. He joins returning captain Jerónimo Gómez Vara as the presumptive first choice flankers for the new season.
