‍📰 HEADLINES

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COLLEGE RUGBY

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NCR: Thunderbirds Sweep All-Star, Rising Star Championships (National Collegiate Rugby)

• All Stars Competition: The Great Lakes Thunderbirds finished 6-0 and defeated the Midwest Barbarians 34-0 in the final.
• MVP: Tshepo Moselane from Thomas More.

• Rising Stars Compeition: The Thunderbirds finished 4-0 and defeated the New England Independents (Blue) 31-7 in the final.
• MVP: Alex Nyamunda from Wheeling University.

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MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY

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12th team in 2024: World Rugby-Backed USA Development Team to Join MLR (Americas Rugby News)

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‍Details:

• 🇺🇸 Purpose of this team is to develop US-eligible players for the 2027 and 2031 RWC.
• 🏉 The team will consist of members of the existing USA Hawks squad, players from an MLR expansion draft, some senior Men's Eagles, and a few imports.
• 💰"A significant investment from World Rugby" with MLR footing the rest.
• 📆 2024 MLR schedule will undergo a revision, though "to keep much of the current version intact as possible."
• 🗂 Teams split back into East and West conferences, with Chicago & NOLA in the East.
• 🏆 Playoff qualification is TBD.
• 🔮 Rumored to be a four-year commitment, but let's hope the team sustains beyond 2027.

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Next Steps:

• 📰 An official announcement is likely sometime this week.
• 👉 An expansion draft to take place early this week.

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MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY

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ICYMI Player Moves ⤵️

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Houston SaberCats: re-signed 27-year-old lock Nathan Den Hoedt, who returns to Houston for a second season.

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‍Houston SaberCats:signed former Toronto Arrows center Tautalatasi Tasi for the 2024 MLR season.

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‍Miami Sharks: signed four more players:

• Center Joshua McAdam
• Prop Jonas Petrakopoulos
• Wing Avery Oitomen
• Center Guiseppe du Toit

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‍‍🏉 QUICK HITS 🏉

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College Rugby: Speed of Play Sees Gaels Past GCU (Goff Rugby Report)

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‍Colombia: Colombia Enters New Era with Luis Pedro Achard (World Rugby)

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‍High School Rugby: South Meck Rolls on in North Carolina (Goff Rugby Report)

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‍Premiership Women's Rugby: Round 7 Review (Premier 15s)