The Houston SaberCats have signed loose forward Mathew Faoagali for the 2019 Major League Rugby season. A powerful ball carrier who can play across the back row, Faoagali arrives via Australia where he has been playing for the Penrith Emus in Sydney’s Shute Shield competition.

Penrith were recently a subject of controversy as the West Sydney club was axed from the Shute Shield having played in the premier division since 1995.

Just 21 years old, Faoagali originally hails from New Zealand but also has an American passport so will not count as an import player. He joins a loose forward contingent that includes new signing Ayron Schramm and established trio Cecil Garber, Chris Coyle, and Pago Haini.