Rugby United New York have retained loosehead prop James Rochford for the 2021 Major League Rugby season. The 27-year-old joins fellow forwards Dylan Fawsitt, Nate Brakeley, and Kyle Sumsion in signing on for a third MLR campaign with the club.
Rochford has been an indispensable member of the front row since joining in 2019. He started all 17 games last season and proved his versatility by wearing the No3 shirt on three occasions. The Crosshaven, Ireland, native missed the first to games of this past season attending the birth of his daughter but made his mark in the remaining three games.
New York confirmed the return of exciting backfielder Troy Lockyear on Monday and welcomed newcomers Connor Buckley, Apenisa Cakaubalavu, and Fa’asiu Fuatai in previous announcements. More players for the 2021 season are set to be unveiled in the coming days.