Ireland

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 …

John Poland has signed a two-year contract extension with the New England Free Jacks. With his existing contract running through 2021, the new deal ties the 23-year-old scrumhalf to the club through the 2023 Major League Rugby season. Arriving from Munster ahead of their inaugural campaign, the Ireland u20 international …

Tadhg Leader will stay on for at least one more year with the New England Free Jacks. The US Eagles international flyhalf has committed to the Boston-based franchise through the 2021 Major League Rugby season. Prior to his test debut Leader represented his native Ireland up to u20 level. Leader …

Will Leonard will continue to play for Rugby United New York in the 2021 Major League Rugby season. The 24-year-old center enters the third of a three-year contract signed in December 2018. Standing 6’2″ (1.88m) and weighing nearly 230lbs (104kg), Leonard casts a formidable shadow in the midfield and is …

Bill Beaumont has established an 8 Nations competition. It sees Fiji and Japan joining the six members of the annual 6 Nations tournament. The competition replaces the annual November Internationals that see teams traveling to Europe to play three or four matches. The cancellation of the matches due to COVID-19 …

Rugby United New York have retained loosehead prop James Rochford for the 2021 Major League Rugby season. The 27-year-old joins fellow forwards Dylan Fawsitt, Nate Brakeley, and Kyle Sumsion in signing on for a third MLR campaign with the club. Rochford has been an indispensable member of the front row …

The idea of a Major League Rugby Sevens tournament continues to make the rounds. A short time ago we posted Jonny Craenen’s fantasy kit designs and the most recent edition of the Rugby Wrap-Up featured a detailed discussion of what the concept might look like. We’re taking it one further …

Rugby United New York have confirmed their second Rugby World Cup representative in a span of days. Following second row Nate Brakeley, hooker Dylan Fawsitt has extended his stay in the Big Apple through the 2021 Major League Rugby season just days shy of his 30th birthday. Affectionately known as …

The Dallas Jackals have confirmed Allen Clarke as the first Head Coach of the Major League Rugby expansion side. The former Ireland international spent 15 years coaching for Ulster and the IRFU before joining Ospreys in 2017. He also coached Emerging Ireland in 2015. Clarke was Head Coach of the …