Major League Rugby signings have taken a back seat with the November internationals front and center, but there have been some fairly significant moves in the past three weeks, not least from the newest league entry – the Toronto Arrows. Other teams remain largely in the dark – we’re looking at you Austin, Utah, and San Diego!

Aside from the long-awaited MLR stamp of approval for the Arrows that coincided with Washington DC’s spot for 2020, the biggest news league-wise was the release of the 2019 schedule. Also arriving in the public domain were the playing kits for the 2019 season.

As expected Season Two kicks off in the last week of January and runs an full 19 weeks with each team playing 16 times. This expansion – a literal doubling of the inaugural campaign – will see playing rosters expand to 35-40 with some teams certain to push past that mark as attrition and international call-ups take their toll.

The full schedule and rosters for each team as they stand can be seen here.

Austin remain largely quiet with the biggest news the moving of their main home ground from Round Rock Multipurpose Complex to the much larger Dell Diamond. Two matches will be played at venues to be determined, with one set for San Antonio.

On the player front a big name is reportedly on the way – Sebastián Kalm has left New Orleans and is set to join the Elite for 2018. The former Lindenwood star was in top form for the Gold before sustaining a neck injury in the second week of the season against Austin.

Towering second row Victor Comptat left the team for France but is now reportedly heading to Houston for the 2019 season. France Sevens cap Simon Bienvenu is joining the team from Racing 92, yet another move still to be officially confirmed by the Elite.

Hanco Germishuys remains in limbo. He will not be returning to Austin with his next move looming at the completion of the USA’s European tour. Better news for Austin fans is that Peter Malcolm will be, the Eagles hooker set to resume duties following recovery from a long-term knee injury.

In: Simon Courcoul (PR, Grasse), Juan Echeverría (PR, Uruguay), Josh Larsen (LO, Otago), Travis Larsen (FL, James Bay), Andrés Vilaseca (CE, Uruguay), Simon Bienvenu (CE, Racing 92)

Out: Mike Brown (HO, Rugby United New York), Victor Comptat (LO, Bédarrides), Ross Deacon (FL, Rugby United New York), Hanco Germishuys (FL), Pedrie Wannenburg (N8, retired), Marcus Walsh (SH, Rugby United New York)

There is no contract news yet on any of the trialists from Raptors HQ. In fact the only news, schedule aside, is that a handful of Glendale players were part of the USA side at the World Rugby Classic in Bermuda, namely Peter Dahl, Max de Achaval, Logan Collins, Max Statler, and Mose Timoteo.

Rumors that star hooker Zach Fenoglio and second row Casey Rock were pondering retirement seem to have subsided. Both remain on Glendale’s registered player list this fall. Two who are not present are outside backs Dustin Croy and Seth Halliman.

In: Chad Gough (HO, Utah Utes)

Out: Dylan Fawsitt (HO, Rugby United New York), Ben Landry (LO, Ealing Trailfinders), Sam Figg (N8, NSW Country Eagles), Grigor Kerdikoshvili (N8, Lelo Saracens), Jake Christmann (SH, Utah Warriors), Bryce Campbell (CE, London Irish), Seth Halliman (FB)

Houston’s media releases continue to come methodically. There are no new signings officially but the team is set to replace departed giant Justin Allen with another skyscraper in Austin’s Victor Comptat. The 6’8″ (2.04m) second row has recently been turning out for Bédarrides in the French Fédérale 1.

Officially confirmed as re-signed this past week is prop Codi Jones, who returns from ACL reconstruction, and former Lindenwood hooker Gabe Romero. Entering the second years of their contracts are props Jamie Dever and Jake Turnbull, lock Charlie Hewitt, scrumhalf Conor Murphy, flyhalf Sam Windsor, winger Josua Vici, and fullback Zach Pangelinan.

Construction on the new AVEVA Stadium is underway but the heavy rain in Houston has caused delays and there is now a race against time to complete the project in time for both the home opener against Toronto on February 22 and the Americas Rugby Championship match between the USA and Brazil the following day.

Under Contract: Jamie Dever (PR), Jake Turnbull (PR), Charlie Hewitt (LO), Conor Murphy (SH), Sam Windsor (FH), Josua Vici (WI), Zach Pangelinan (FB)

Re-signed: Codi Jones (PR), Gabe Romero (HO), Chris Coyle (FL), Cecil Garber (FL), Kieran Farmer (FH), Conor Mills (CE), Malacchi Esdale (WI)

In: Pat O’Toole (HO, San Diego Legion), Mathew Faoagali (BR, Penrith Emus), Ayron Schramm (N8, Heidelberger RK), Santiago Arata (SH, Uruguay), Max Tacket (CE, Burnaby Lake)

Out: Petey Hepburn (PR, retired), Paul Mullen (PR, Newcastle Falcons), Diego Maquieira (HO, New England Free Jacks), Lindsey Stevens (HO, Eastern Suburbs), Justin Allen (LO, Rotherham Titans), Kyle Sumsion (FL/N8, Rugby United New York)

The steady feed continues for New Orleans. Over the past two weeks the team has posted the re-signings of Joeli Tikoisuva, Ben Tarr, Zack Stryffeler, Holden Yungert, Taylor Howden, Vince Jobo, Cameron Troxler, Cam Falcon, John Sullivan, and Will Waguespack.

Two new signings confirmed are Collegiate All-American flanker Kevin O’Connor, who is returning stateside after a season with Trinity College in Dublin, and winger Shawn Riley. The latter has been in the American club wilderness since playing for the Ohio Aviators in 2016.

Nik Bursic has been re-signed but his Chilean compatriot Sebastián Kalm has left the team. The dynamic No8 is working his way back from a neck injury suffered while on Gold duty, with his new team said to be Austin Elite. Eagles starter Cam Dolan has taken his spot on the NOLA roster.

Re-signed: Eric Howard (HO), Cam Falcon (HO/PR), Ben Tarr (PR), Derrek van Klein (PR), Nikola Bursic (LO/N8), Will Waguespack (LO), Vince Jobo (FL), John Sullivan (FL), Holden Yungert (SH), JP Eloff (FH), Taylor Howden (FH/CE), Zack Stryffeler (CE), Tim Maupin (WI), Joeli Tikoisuva (WI), Michael Baska (FB), Cameron Troxler (FB)

In: Matt Harmon (PR, Life), Kevin Sullivan (PR, Cal Golden Bears), Kane Thompson (LO, Taranaki), Ignacio Dotti (LO, Uruguay), Kyle Baillie (FL, London Scottish), Malcolm May (FL, Penn State), Kevin O’Connor (FL, Trinity College), Cam Dolan (N8, San Diego Legion), Scott Gale (SH, Brisbane City), Nick Feakes (FH, Lindenwood), Tristan Blewett (CE, Southern Kings), Con Foley (CE, Brisbane City), Shawn Riley (WI, Southern Pines)

Out: Anthony Parry (PR, Rugby United New York), Myles McQuone (LO, New England FreeJacks), Matt Hughston (FL, Rugby United New York), Sebastián Kalm (N8)

New signings over the past three weeks are former SaberCats captain Kyle Sumsion and Alex MacDonald, a lock or blindside flanker previously at Life who arrives after spending time with Trinity College in Dublin. Mike Brown has officially returned from his loan to Austin, a signing that caused some amusement on Twitter with the hooker sharing the same name as the Harlequins and England fullback.

Re-signed: Dylan Fawsitt (HO), Mike Brown (HO), Nate Brakeley (LO), Ross Deacon (FL), Mike Petri (SH), Marcus Walsh (SH), Seamus Kelly (CE), Michael St. Claire (WI), Luke Hume (WI), Connor Wallace-Sims (FB)

In: Alex MacDonald (LO/FL, Trinity College), Matt Hughston (FL, New Orleans Gold), Kyle Sumsion (FL/N8, Houston SaberCats), Cathal Marsh (FH, Leinster), Ben Foden (FB, Northampton Saints)

Contrary to NOLA, the Legion are still buying the ‘silence is golden’ mantra. There is still nothing official from their camp though we now know that Psalm Wooching will land in San Diego at the end of his Eagles commitments this week, and there are newcomers in Fijian No8 Keni Nasoqeqe and GCU utility back Austin Taefu.

Nate Augspurger is in recovery mode after getting repairs done on a damaged quadricep that knocked him out of the European tour. Meanwhile Mike Te’o is ready to dance for the Legion in 2019. The side-step master has been out for months after being injured in the 2018 season opener.

In: Psalm Wooching (FL, USA Eagles), Keni Nasoqeqe (N8, Belmont Shore), Austin Taefu (SH/CE, GCU), Jasa Veremalua (WI, Fiji Sevens)

Out: Tony Purpura (PR), Pat O’Toole (HO, Houston SaberCats), Cam Dolan (N8, New Orleans Gold), Ben Cima (FH, Seattle Seawolves), Tadhg Leader (FH/CE, New England Free Jacks)

Seattle is getting the band back together and now have 21 returning players officially locked in. Confirmed since the last update are Dion Crowder, Nakai Penny, George Barton, Jérémy Lenaerts, Cole van Harn, Kellen Gordon, Dan Trierweiler, and Olive Kilifi.

They also have their first new name – Ben Cima. The Eagles flyhalf arrives from San Diego after brief stops in Boston and his home in DC. Cima replaces Peter Smith on the roster, the Australian goal kicking virtuoso forced to hang up his boots due to persistent injuries.

Returning but yet to find their way to the Seawolves social media pages are USA Selects pair Taylor Krumrei and Vili Toluta’u. The status of prop John Hayden and flyhalf Will Holder remains uncertain.

Re-signed: Kellen Gordon (PR), Olive Kilifi (PR), Tim Metcher (PR), Mike Shepherd (HO), Dan Trierweiler (HO), Jérémy Lenaerts (LO), Cam Polson (LO), Eric Duechle (FL), Nakai Penny (FL), Cole van Harn (FL), Riekert Hattingh (N8), Aladdin Schirmer (N8), Phil Mack (SH), Shalom Suniula (CE), George Barton (CE), William Rasileka (CE), Sequoyah Burke-Combs (WI), Dion Crowder (WI), Peter Tiberio (WI), Brock Staller (WI/FB), Mat Turner (FB)

In: Ben Cima (FH, San Diego Legion)

Out: LaRome White (PR), Louie Henson (PR), Ray Barkwill (HO), Peter Smith (FH, retired), Mike Garrity (CE), Mozac Samson (CE), Jeremy Misailegalu (WI)

Now that the Arrows are officially official, their squad has already jumped to 20 in the span of two announcements. A baker’s dozen have returned after donning the jersey under the Ontario banner, with the likes of AJ Quattrin, DJ Sears-Duru, and Mike Sheppard still to come.

New names include heavy influence from New Zealand with tighthead prop Morgan Mitchell, flyhalf Sam Malcolm, and midfielder Spencer Jones joining outside back Aaron McLelland on the roster. Current Canadian internationals Jamie Mackenzie and Theo Sauder have put pen to paper, as have Uruguay veteran Gaston Mieres and Wales age-grade fullback Jack Evans.

There are at least two players who will not be part of the professional campaign. English scrumhalf Alex Gliksten will instead stay with Saracens Academy and Bedford Blues on a dual-registration deal, and Canada u20 flyhalf Will Kelly is currently in Wales on a Dragons Academy contract.

Re-signed: Rob Brouwer (PR), Cole Keith (PR), Mike Smith (PR), Steven Ng (HO), Paul Ciulini (LO), Josh van Horne (LO), Tom van Horne (LO), Peter Milazzo (FL), Lucas Rumball (FL), Andrew Ferguson (SH), Shawn Windsor (FH), Kainoa Lloyd (WI), Aaron McLelland (WI/FB)

In: Morgan Mitchell (PR, Southland Stags), Jamie Mackenzie (SH, Balmy Beach), Sam Malcolm (FH, Manawatu Turbos), Spencer Jones (FH/CE, Westshore), Gastón Mieres (WI/FB, Uruguay), Jack Evans (FB, Cardiff RFC), Theo Sauder (FB/FH, UBC Thunderbirds)

Out: Alex Gliksten (SH, Saracens), Will Kelly (FH, Dragons)

Utah have found their replacement for flyhalf Kurt Morath, adding Brazil’s left-footed super kicker Josh Reeves. The team bizarrely seemed to deny the move initially on social media but the post has since been removed after Reeves himself dropped by the ARN Podcast to discuss his new deal.

Certain returnees include promising loose forward Lance Williams and hard-running center AJ Tu’ineau. Also in line for a return is Tonga winger Fetu’u Vainikolo and three key players who missed most or all of last season with injury – flanker Jackson Kaka and the Whippy twins, Josh and Jared.

Re-signed: Alex Tucci (PR), Lance Williams (N8), AJ Tu’ineau (CE)

In: Jake Christmann (SH, Glendale Raptors), Josh Reeves (FH, Brazil)

Out: David Tameilau (N8, Glasgow Warriors), Kurt Morath (FH, Doncaster Knights), Jonny Linehan (FH, retired), Paul Lasike (CE, Harlequins)