This article will take a look at each forward on Old Glory's 2020 squad as this will be the first ever pack that will represent the team in it's inaugural season. This is a a very strong group and arguably the best pack in the entire Eastern Conference. Expect the scrum to be very dominant and their loose forwards to make a significant difference on both offense and defense. The only question will be how the lineout will be, but that is something that will be determined once the season gets underway. With that being said, here are the players who will playing for Old Glory in 2020.
Props
Gordon Fullerton
One of the first significant signings for Old Glory and they found a player who adds quite a punch in the scrum. Fullerton is versatile as he can play loosehead and tighthead, but his 6'1" and 256 lbs frame will help him go a long way in the forward pack. He did play in the Mitre 10 Cup for Te Awamutu. At 21 years old, this could be another underrated signing as he could blossom into a big time player in the league. Now, the question will be whether if he starts or he comes on as a replacement.
Jack Iscaro
Iscaro is an interesting prospect as he played at California-Berkeley, one of the top college rugby programs in the United States, but he also brings versatility as he can play at hooker. He is also a local product as he played for Gonzaga High School and played for the Maryland Exiles, a youth rugby club. While Iscaro is not likely to crack the starting lineup, however, the team will hope he can develop as he looks to be a star player in the making. So for right now, he is just depth, but should get some playing time coming on as a replacement.
Dante Lopresti
Lopresti is a tighthead prop who will no doubt provide depth for the team. He is 5'11" and 250 lbs, so he should be able to pack a lot of force into a scrum if injuries do occur. A local product of the D.C. metropolitan area, he played for Old Glory in their exhibition season in 2019. Lopresti played for local club Potomac Exiles and was selected to the prestigious Capital Selects.
Tendai Mtawarira
This is arguably the biggest signing that has been made by an MLR side since it's inception in 2018, but this will improve the front row for Old Glory significantly. Mtawarira gets his nickname of "Beast" because of his overpowering charges, his incredible scrummaging skills and power, big build, and is arguably one of the strongest forwards in the sport. "Beast" had been crushing defenders and ball carriers since 2006 when he joined the Sharks of Super Rugby and has been a main fixture at loosehead prop for South Africa since 2008. For the Sharks, Mtawarira had made 160 appearances, the most by any South African player in Super Rugby. At the national level, he has made 117 appearances for the Springboks, the third most in South African history, including 14th most for an international forward and fifth among props. He's also played for the Barbarians. For the Springboks, he had helped his country to win multiple Tri Nations/The Rugby Championship titles and a Rugby World Cup trophy in 2019. He had just retired from international play after winning the World Cup. There is no doubt that "Beast" will be named on gamedays, but it would seem likely that he will be the starting loosehead prop. Mtawarira might come on as a replacement on occasion, but is very likely to be the starter. That being said, with him signed on, it will be interesting how head coach Andrew Douglas will utilize his options at both prop positions. "Beast" also brings a wealth of experience which will be critical in the scrum and in the first season in the MLR.
Jake Turnbull
Turnbull is 6'2" and 285 lbs as he adds quite some power and weight to the scrum. In 20 matches played for Houston in the past two seasons, he has scored one try. This was an excellent pickup as he helped Houston win their last four matches of the season to finish 6-10 after starting 2-10. It also brings in some star power as he is considered one of the top front rowers in the MLR.
Will Vakalahi
Vakalahi played for Old Glory during their exhibition season, but he might've been a steal as he looks to be an up and coming star player as the team hopes he can develop. He's only 20 years old and has a 5’10” and 275 lbs frame, so he looks to be a force in a scrum. While it will be hard for him to crack a starting role, he does provide great depth and will likely come on as a replacement a lot during the season.
Khalid Williams
Williams was signed for the 2019 exhibition season after impressing at the Columbus combine. Like Lopresti, Williams will provide depth at prop and his 6'0" and 240 lbs frame could make him a great piece for the scrum. Williams got his rugby career started in high school, but went on to be a great collegiate player for Notre Dame College as he earned 2017 D1A Rugby East All-Conference Second Team honors.
Hookers
Mo Katz
Katz was expected to be signed after impressing in the 2019 exhibition season for the team as he provides depth at hooker. Katz got his rugby career started playing for James Madison University as he won multiple Cardinal Conference Championships and the 2015 Keystone Rugby Championship. He also helped James Madison win the 2015 USA National Sevens Division II Championship as well as led them to the semifinals in the 2016 Las Vegas Invitational. During his time at James Madison, he earned 2014/2015 USA Rugby Collegiate All-American Honorable Mention honors and in 2016, he represented the Collegiate All-Americans on tour to Queensland, Australia. During that time he was also named MVP of the Keystone Rugby Conference. For James Madison, Katz helped the team become Chesapeake Collegiate Rugby Conference Champions and he was an All-Conference selection in 2016. He played for local D.C. metropolitan club NOVA Rugby and during his time there he was named to the Capital Rugby Union Selects in 2017 against Stars Rugby and again in 2019 versus USA Rugby South.
Max Lum
Lum hails from North Carolina and was exposed to rugby at a young age when he started playing for Triad Bulldogs of the Carolina Youth Rugby League. Lum also played in college having played for Wheeling Jesuit in Wheeling, West Virginia. After college, he moved to New Zealand where he played for a few clubs before coming to the Colorado Raptors in 2019 where he came in as a replacement in 14 matches. He also played for the U20 side for USA in 2013. This was an excellent move for Old Glory as Lum is a very good ball carrier and defends really well. He is also versatile as he can play either as a hooker or as a prop.
Mikey Sosene-Feagai
Sosene-Feagai is from Samoa and has spent a good chunk of time living in New Zealand. He started his professional career for the Hawke's Bay development side in 2014 before moving to the United States to play for the San Diego Breakers of the now defunct PRO Rugby league in 2016. Sosene-Feagai went back to New Zealand in 2018 and joined Auckland in the Mitre 10 Cup in which they won in the finals that campaign. He has also represented the United States five times internationally making his debut in the 2016 Americas Rugby Championship. He also played for the Eagles in the 2019 Pacific Nations Cup and was in camp for the Rugby World Cup squad. At 5'11" and 235 lbs, Sosene-Feagai packs quite a punch from the 2 jersey.
Locks
Dylan Pieterse
Pieterse was born in South Africa and has been playing the sport since he was 11 years old, so he clearly has a lot of rugby under his belt and even played in the Blue Bulls Rugby Union’s academy. After leaving the academy, he played for The Pumas in the Premier Division of the Currie Cup. In 2016, he joined the Western Force’s Future Force program. Pieterse is actually coming over from another Major League Rugby side as he played for Austin Elite (now Gilgronis) in 2019 playing in seven matches. He also played for the Leopards in the First Division of the Currie Cup. One thing that stands out about Pieterse is his size as he is 6'7" and weighs 250 lbs. That makes him a prime candidate for lineouts and gives him an advantage for a starting role. He will also would help out in the scrums tremendously. Pieterse is also a very agile player, so that can come in handy.
Api Naikatini
One of the biggest signings, Naikatini comes over as a defending champion as he was a major factor in the Seattle Seawolves repeating as champions. Naikatini provides bone crushing hits and is a stout defender. He will be a key player in the second row for Old Glory. Naikatini should help lead a strong forward pack and their defense. The Fijian is an experienced player which should help them for a playoff push.
Tevita Naqali
The club probably was looking for depth and a player to develop a partnership with Naikatini in the second row and they found it in Naqali. Naqali, like Naikatini, is an experienced Fijian that provides versatility as he can play in the back row. His height should be a big factor in the lineouts, which could be an area where the club will need to win a lot.
Loose Forwards
Josh Brown
Brown was the captain of the team during preseason and will return to the club as the captain in 2020. Brown played with Rocky Gorge RFC and helped lead them to a USA Rugby Club National Division II Championships in 2012 and 2014 and was named most valuable player in the 2014 edition. He has also been named to a Capital Selects side as well. Brown did play for the New England Free Jacks in 2018, but because of his firefighter/paramedic job, Old Glory was able to provide him a better opportunity. Brown is a versatile back row player as he can play at flanker and at the Number 8. It will be interesting to see if he is starting or is named as a replacement, but because of his captain status, he will likely start. The question will be whether he will start at flanker or at Number 8 because of the crowded back row.
Cory Daniel
Daniel is a relative newcomer to rugby, but having played football and wrestling, he seems like a natural player to transition to play rugby. He is listed as a flanker as he made his rugby debut in 2019 having attended the Rugby Americas North combine. He was a wrestler at University of North Carolina. Expect him to be learning a lot about the sport as the season progresses, but he should be depth.
Jamason Fa'anana-Schultz
Fa'anana-Schultz is a very intriguing player as he is young and has already played for the USA Eagles. He was a very consistent player in the MLR for Houston in 2019, but he is looking to break out and become a star. He is versatile as he can play flanker and at Number 8. Fa'anana-Schultz is a strong ball carrier as he scored three tries in 2019 in only seven matches (416 meters on 60 carries). Fa'anana-Schultz also adds a lot of punch in the scrum as he is 6'2" and 254 lbs. It will be interesting to see where he plays as it will likely be a dilemma as to where he will play and whether its at flanker or at the Number 8.
Matt Hughston
Hughston played for RUNY last season in all of it's 16 matches. Hughston is now famously known having played for five North American teams after his move to the Nation's Capital as he played for the Ohio Aviators of the now defunct PRO Rugby league in 2016, but also played for NOLA Gold in 2018 and New England Freejacks in an exhibition match. Hughston is a very electric player who should be expected to earn a starting role or be named as a replacement in every match. Last season for RUNY, Hughston scored one try, had 123 carries for 616 meters, 21 lineout breaks, and made 170 tackles suggesting that he is a force on both offense and on defense (Stats provided by djcoilrugby.com). Hughston is a dynamic player and his 6'3" and 226 lbs frame makes him a force. With a crowded back row, it will be interesting to see how he will be used or where he will play, whether he's starting or coming in as a replacement, but regardless, he's playing on gameday.
Travis Larsen
Larsen was one of the first big name signings by the club and he most certainly is a big acquisition. He is a quality flanker from Canada as he has played for the Canadian National side. Larsen is very likely to start at the blindside flanker position, but he can also play at Number 8. Larsen is a dynamic player who is versatile and a hard nosed individual, which will help him a lot in making an impact on the field.
Mungo Mason
Mason tried his shot at Major League Rugby before as he played for the San Diego Legion during the 2018 preseason, but was unable to secure a visa. He had been playing for top rugby club Chicago Lions while studying at Chicago-Kent College to get his law degree. He also has played for the Scotland national 7s team and also played for Edinburgh in the Pro 14. Mason plays mostly as an openside flanker, so it will be interesting to see how the team juggles him with the other players in the back row as to whether he will start or be named as a replacement, but either way, he likely will play on game days.
Jack McLean
McLean is another collegiate side player to keep a watch on as he could develop into a star player too. McLean was a four year starter at Penn State and captained them as well. He helped lead them to a regional championship which is pretty impressive to have on a resume. McLean might actually struggle to beat out some of the others listed here, but one thing you can expect from him is to likely be named as a replacement on gameday despite the crowded back row. He will likely become a starter soon, but because of the depth of the back row, it will be hard for him to crack the starting lineup in 2020. That being said, if injuries do occur, expect him to step up and start then.
Nic Mirhashem
Mirhashem is a very intriguing player as he is super talented and could become a star for the club in the near future. Mirhashem helped lead his collegiate side, Cal, to the National Championship and finished in second place, but he was also a Collegiate All-American. The coaching staff will have a huge dilemma on their hands as Mirhashem is a very talented player and whether he should start at the openside flanker or come on as a replacement. This will be a huge question mark in preseason, but one thing you can expect is to see him get a lot of playing time despite a crowded back row.
Dacoda Worth
Worth played for Old Glory during their 2019 exhibition season and impressed so much that they signed him to an MLR contract for 2020. Worth played rugby at Indiana University being named Forward of the Year in 2019 and was the Co-MVP in 2018. He played for local club NOVA Rugby, but he was also named to the Old Glory Selects to play against USA Rugby South Panthers. Worth also got his chance to play Sevens as he played for All-Army Sevens in the Rugbytown 7s. Worth is 6'3" and 220 lbs as he provides depth for the club.
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