Major League Rugby MLR

[ARHS]

Over 80 kiwis involved this year now?

[taniwharugby]

@ARHS given most are on a min of $20k USD for what 3 months of rugby, seems an easy decision to make for them to earn that instead of maybe a side of beef and some petrol money for thier club...

[Stargazer]

Houston Sabercats have named their squad for the 2023 season:

Kiwis:
Rob Cobb
Morgan Mitchell
Fatongia Paea
Vereniki Tikoisolomone
Drew Wild

Very high number of South Africans in that squad. Not surprising, with Heyneke Meyer being the Director of Rugby and Pote Human the head coach.

[Stargazer]

New Orleans Gold have named their squad for the 2023 season:

Kiwis:
Jarred Adams
Sean Paranihi
Liam Hallam-Eames
Tom Florence
Luke Campbell
Jordan Trainor

Coaches:
Kane Thompson
Taylor Howden

[Stargazer]

Old Glory DC have announced their squad for the 2023 season:

Kiwis:
Kyle Stewart
Nic Souchon
Danny Tusitala
Kurt Baker
Peni Lasaqa
Junior Sa'u

Fijian Apisai Naikatini has played for Wellington and Waikato.
Samoan William Talataina-Mu has played a few games for Southland and Auckland.

Coaches: Josh Syms, Callum Gibbins

[Higgins]

@Stargazer Naikatini must be pushing 40 by now. He is sort of an uncle to the Fijian contingent of my whangai grandkids!

[mikedogz]

https://www.majorleague.rugby/news/expansion-teams-headline-off-season-of-growth-for-major-league-rugby/?fbclid=IwAR2xaGl3MZfCGr91WUDWcBoctuLFzkszQoUzcH8CEh04w_t6RD58bZTROUQ

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=3314775982078862

[Stargazer]

@mikedogz Miami! Didn't expect that to be the next addition!

It will be interesting to see with at how many teams the MLR will settle, eventually. I can see LA come back with a team and, possibly a team from Hawaii. Boston also seems a spot where you'd expect a team, and maybe another Canadian team? The USA are so big, it makes you wonder whether they'll ultimately end up with, say, four conferences instead of two.

[Bovidae]

@Stargazer The NE Free Jacks are essentially a Boston team.

[Stargazer]

@Bovidae Are they? NE is so big, that I wasn't sure.

[Stargazer]

Rugby New York has announced it's squad for the 2023 season:

Kiwis:
Tevita Langi
Sam Davies
Hamish Dalzell
Brad Tucker
Brendon O'Connor
Kara Pryor
Jack Heighton
Jason Emery
Faʻasui Fuatai
Teihorangi Walden

Coaches:
James Semple
Ben Afeaki
Andy Ellis

Also:
Ed Fidow plays for Manawatū.
Canadian Quinn Ngawati played for Mid Canterbury in 2022.

[Higgins]

@Stargazer said in Major League Rugby MLR:

Rugby New York has announced it's squad for the 2023 season:

Also:
Ed Fidow plays for Manawatū.
Canadian Quinn Ngawati played for Mid Canterbury in 2022.

With a name like that you would expect to see him competing at the Taumaranui A&P Shearing Champs or the Open Final of the Golden Shears

[mikedogz]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quinn_Ngawati

[OleOleOle]

@Stargazer Ishmail Shabazz...not a Kiwi but spent tie playing for Te Awamutu Sports in the Waikato

[Stargazer]

Strangely enough, not all MLR teams have announced their teams for the 2023 season, which starts this weekend.
So I've looked several other websites to find the squads.

Dallas Jackals

https://www.americasrugbynews.com/2023/02/13/mlr-2023-dallas-jackals-arn-season-guide/

Kiwis: none

Fijian Maikeli Naromaitoga has apparently played for Mid-Canterbury.

[Stargazer]

Chicago Hounds

https://www.americasrugbynews.com/competitions/2023-major-league-rugby/mlr-2023-chicago-hounds/

One Kiwi:

• Prop Mika Felix - NZ born and raised, has played for Sydenham, but qualifies for the USA through his American father and has played for USA U20s and USA Falcons

Aussie Hugh Roach has played for Ta$man (2019), and one game for the Crusaders (2020) in which his most notable moment was getting red-carded.
Charlie Abel has played two games for Auckland, this year.

[Stargazer]

New England Free Jacks

https://www.americasrugbynews.com/competitions/2023-major-league-rugby/mlr-2023-new-england-free-jacks/

Kiwis:
Kianu Kereru-Symes
Mills Sanerivi
Joel Hintz
Sam Fischli
Mitch Jacobson
Joe Johnston
Kieran McClea
Reece MacDonald
Jayson Potroz

Semisi Paea played for Bay of Plenty in 2021.
Taniela Filimone attended Rotorua BHS and has played for Manawatū (2021-2022). He also played for Bay of Plenty Development team, Chiefs Under 20s, Tonga Under 20s and Chiefs Development XV.

[Stargazer]

San Diego

https://www.americasrugbynews.com/competitions/2023-major-league-rugby/mlr-2023-san-diego-legion/

Kiwis:
Shilo Klein (born in USA, so eligible for that country, too)
Tom Franklin
Isaac Ross
Dan Pryor
Richard Judd
Ma'a Nonu
Tomas Aoake

Blair Cowan was born in NZ (cousing of Pek Cowan), but hasn't played in NZ as far as I know.
Tupou Ma'afu Afungia plays for Hawke's Bay. He represented Tonga at an U16s level and 2 years at U20s level.
Sama Malolo was born in NZ, but grew up in Australia. He has never played in NZ.
American Chris Bauman has played for Wellington.
Fijian Filimone Waqainabete has played for Canterbury.

[Stargazer]

Seattle Seawolves

https://www.americasrugbynews.com/competitions/2023-major-league-rugby/mlr-2023-seattle-seawolves/

Kiwis:
Sam Matenga
Charles Elton

AJ Alatimu (Samoa) played for Counties Manukau, this year.

[Stargazer]

Toronto Arrows

https://www.americasrugbynews.com/competitions/2023-major-league-rugby/mlr-2023-toronto-arrows/

Kiwis:
Lolani Faleiva
Gene Syminton
Isaac Salmon
Micaiah Torrance-Reid
Sam Malcolm

Tautalatasi Tasi is NZ born, but Aussie raised, and has never played in NZ.
Aussie Will Grant has played for Northland.
Irishman Conán O'Donnell has played for the Highlanders, Counties Manukau and - in 2022 - Northland.