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Juan Pablo Aguirre is returning to Major League Rugby. The former Argentina u20 representative has signed with the Dallas Jackals for the remainder of the 2022 season. He arrives from the American Raptors, who he joined earlier this year after departing Seattle at the end of 2021.
This is the fourth MLR club for Aguirre. The 27-year-old played for Austin Elite in 2019 and was on the books for Rugby United New York in 2020 though he did not make an appearance before the season was cancelled. A versatile back who can cover flyhalf, center, or fullback, he is US-eligible on residency and was a Collegiate All-American in sevens.
Dallas have also acquired 24-year-old hooker Patrick Donovan on loan from the SaberCats. He was in the match day squad for the first five games of the season though he saw the field in only two of those games. With Axel Zapata now arrived in Houston, the club had a surplus at the position.
A second player has gone out on loan from Houston. Zachary Short has joined the Free Jacks as scrumhalf cover. New England were forced to dress Strength & Conditioning Coach Ewan Brumwell against New York after Holden Yungert was injured in the warm-up. Sean Yacoubian is currently unavailable for medical reasons leaving the Eastern Conference leaders with only one fit scrumhalf in John Poland. A player to be determined will be heading the other way for the short term.
The suspension of two players could determine Houston’s greatest need. Second row Wynand Grassmann has been suspended for three weeks for a dangerous clearout of Mitch Voralek in the second half of Saturday’s game against Toronto. He will be free to return against the Seawolves on May 27.
Outside back Gerrie Labuschagne was sent off in the same match against the Arrows, for a tip-tackle on Voralek during the first half. He has also received a three-game suspension and will be eligible to return on the same date as Grassmann.
This is the second red card and second suspension of the season for Labuschagne, who was previously sent off against Dallas. His suspension, however, does not appear to take that into account with off-field aggravating factors listed as ‘none.’ A prior red card to Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz from the 2021 season counted against the Old Glory player after he was suspended for an incident against the Arrows earlier this season. MLR has not offered any explanation as to the inconsistency in the two rulings.
Toronto has been busy on the trade market, though none of the deals directly involve players. They have sent an international player slot to the LA Giltinis effective immediately, and has also traded one international slot each for the 2023 season to Dallas, New England, and New York. In all cases the Arrows receive salary cap considerations for the 2022 season in return.
There could be an increase in off-field activity over the next week as a ‘trade and signing deadline’ approaches. Monday, May 9 has been designated as the last day for clubs to acquire players for the final weeks of the regular season and the playoffs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time such a deadline has been imposed.
