Canada

Houston have signed center Moa Maliepo, prop Nikoloz Khatiashvili, and second row Apisai Tauyavuca for the 2021 Major League Rugby season. SaberCats flyhalf Sam Windsor confirmed the news on the latest edition of the MLR Kickoff Podcast. All three arrive from European professional clubs. Maliepo arrives from Romania, most recently …

The Toronto Arrows have confirmed the addition of scrumhalf Jason Higgins for the 2021 Major League Rugby season. He arrives from Cork Constitution, who he helped win All-Ireland League titles in both 2017 and 2019. Also confirmed are the re-signings of lock Mike Sheppard and wing Johnny Sheridan Higgins, 25, …

The San Diego Legion have confirmed that Ben Mitchell is staying with the team for the 2021 Major League Rugby season. It’s the second year of his contract signed in August of last year after the big second row opted to depart Austin Elite for the West Coast. Mitchell has …

Versatile front rower Brendan Rams has re-signed with the Gilgronis for the 2021 Major League Rugby season. The 31-year-old will play a third season for Austin, first joining the club ahead of the 2019 season after recovering from a long-term knee injury. Despite making 14 appearances in his two seasons …

Steven Hinshaw has signed a two-year contract extension with the New England Free Jacks that ties him to the club through the 2022 Major League Rugby season. The 24-year-old hooker is the second front row player confirmed by the club this week following incoming prop Erich de Jager. A product …

Pele Cowley will be returning to Austin for the 2021 Major League Rugby season. The Manu Samoa scrumhalf was one of three internationals who arrived just one game before the campaign was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. His MLR debut was a memorable one. Cowley played all 80 minutes …

The Houston SaberCats have confirmed the return of South African pair De Wet Roos and Kyle Breytenbach for the 2021 Major League Rugby season. Both players continue contracts signed in the fall of 2019, with Roos arriving from Australia and Breytenbach from Austin. Roos, 29, captained the Cats in his …

The Loughborough Lightning have confirmed the signing of Canadian international Courtney Holtkamp for the 2020-21 Premier 15s campaign. She arrives from the Red Deer Titans, having also turned out for the University of Alberta Pandas. Holtkamp, 21, is one of Canada’s brightest young talents. The powerful ball carrier has most …

Erich de Jager is switching from the Free State to the Free Jacks. The South African prop has signed on with New England through the 2022 Major League Rugby season after five years in the Cheetahs organization. At just 24 years old de Jager is already an experienced professional. He …

Rugby Québec has sent 19 of its best players to French clubs for the 2020-21 season. Most will compete in the country’s top division, the Élite 1 Feminine, the others in Élite 2. The Élite 1 is comprised of the top 12 teams in France, with the next 10 in …