MLR Notes: Chile captain to Free Jacks, Schedule changes coming

Chile captain Martín Sigren is heading to Major League Rugby. The 27-year-old loose forward has signed on with the defending champion New England Free Jacks. He makes the move after spending last season in the English Championship with Doncaster Knights.

Sigren has been an exemplary skipper for the Cóndores since taking over the on-field leadership at the age of just 22 in 2019. He led the side to their first ever World Cup, starting all four games at flanker. A 6’3″ (1.91m) lineout option, Sigren is also comfortable at the back of the scrum.

Old Glory have re-signed one of their outstanding players from this past season. Argentine flanker Lautaro Bavaro will return for a second campaign. The 29-year-old started all but one game in 2023 and played more minutes than any of his teammates.

The SaberCats haven’t announced either officially yet but photos on social media revealed two more players for 2024. Lock or blindside flanker Emmanuel Albert will stick around for a third season, and there is a return to Texas for hooker Tiaan Erasmus. The latter spent the past two years in Atlanta but prior to that spent three years in the Lone Star state, two with Austin and one in Houston.

Speaking of hookers, Utah now have two publicly confirmed for next season. Joining former DC-rake Nic Souchon is Phil Bradford, a 26-year-old from Australia who was previously part of the Waratahs academy program. Bradford spent a year in Spain with Ciencias but has otherwise been a regular in the Shute Shield. He led the competition in try-scoring in 2022 with a remarkable 17 in as many games.

Chicago have confirmed the re-signing of promising No8 Tinashe Muchena. Originally from Zimbabwe, the 25-year-old is now US-eligible on residency and will be watched closely by Eagles selectors this coming season. Muchena made just five appearances in 2023 including two starts, but his powerful ball carrying caught the eye and he should should feature heavily for the Hounds moving forward.

While fans patiently await details of the new Los Angeles team’s identity, behind the scenes MLR is set to reveal significant changes in the 2024 schedule. As revealed on a recent edition of MLR Weekly with Matt McCarthy, the new campaign will begin two weeks later in the year with a March 2 weekend kickoff. That change will help alleviate some concerns with troublesome weather for northerly-based teams, but will also necessitate a two-week pause in the season – during the playoffs no less – to accommodate the July international window.

Also set for a shake-up is the league structure itself. Multiple sources have indicated to ARN that there will be three conferences instead of two in 2024. The West will include Seattle, Utah, LA, and San Diego; the East comprised of Toronto, New York, New England, DC, and expansion side Miami; and a new Central division made up of Chicago, Houston, Dallas, and NOLA. How the postseason qualification process works remains to be seen.