This is the third article highlighting positional battles for Old Glory, but this one might be one of the more fun ones to look at. It is no shock that the club has been finding a lot of great talent to be competitive in 2020, but there is one part of team that might be the deepest. The back row for the Old Glory is so talented and so deep that it could be a deciding factor in every match. That being said, let's take a look at some of the players that will play the three positions: openside flanker, blindside flanker, and the Number 8.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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