MLR Notes: Kearney official for Chicago, Four more for San Diego

Another long-rumored arrival in Chicago is now official. Dave Kearney will play for the Hounds in the 2024 Major League Rugby season. The 34-year-old winger arrives from Dublin after spending the past 14 years with European giants Leinster and winning 19 caps for Ireland.

Kearney made his senior professional debut in 2009 after playing a starring role for Ireland u20s. He made the jump to full test honors in 2013 and started four games for Ireland at the 2015 World Cup. His final international appearance was against Wales in 2019.

Notably both Dave and brother Rob Kearney, a former British & Irish Lions star, are minority investors in the Hounds. Another ex-Leinster winger, Adam Byrne, was also linked with a move to Chicago but the 29-year-old opted instead to retire from the game in August.

Make it four more for San Diego. Committing for another season with the 2023 finalists are center Tiaan Loots and prop trio Nate Sylvia, DJ Sears-Duru, and Luke Green. Loots was limited to just 5 appearances behind first choice No12 Ma’a Nonu, but the three front rowers were match day regulars. Green will be available for the entire season in 2024, having previously joined the club on loan from former club London Irish partway through the 2023 campaign.

Mike Dabulas is back for a fifth season with Old Glory, and the USA international will be hoping the dreaded injury bug stays away this time. The 26-year-old has started games at flyhalf, wing, and fullback for the club but managed only six appearances in each of the 2022 and 2023 seasons. At full fitness ‘Chicken’ is an electric attacker and one the Eagles selectors will be keeping a close eye on.

Signing on for a second season with the Arrows is veteran back row Travis Larsen. The 32-year-old was a rare bright spot in an underwhelming Toronto side and was rewarded with his first full test caps for Canada against Tonga in August. Larsen began the season on the blindside flank but started the second half of the campaign at the back of the scrum.

Former Canada ‘A’ loose forward Seb Pearson has joined the Warriors staff as their new Lead Performance Manager. He had been working as a strength and conditioning coach for Rugby Canada since 2021 and will travel to the Pan Am Games in Santiago with the national sevens side before departing for Utah. This won’t be the first time Pearson has experienced Salt Lake, having previously worked with Weber State University in Ogden.