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The Mtawarira MLR move has sparked an intriguing online debate
By Josh Raisey
The United States’ Major League Rugby (MLR) has welcomed another superstar of the game to the league after it was announced on Wednesday that South Africa’s Tendai Mtawarira has joined Old Glory DC.
The 117-cap loosehead prop is a huge name in world rugby, but this has created a debate amongst members of the rugby community in the States about how beneficial signing players of this magnitude is for the league.
‘The Beast’ joins Ma’a Nonu and Mathieu Bastareaud as just some of the high-profile signings set to play in 2020 MLR season. He's maybe the biggest name of the three. Nonu is a titan of the game, but has not played international rugby in four years. Similarly, Bastareaud was not picked for France’s Rugby World Cup squad. On the other hand, Mtawarira was not only part of the Springboks’ RWC triumph in Japan, he was at his devastating best in the final against England, tearing through their scrum.
In terms of players that are still in the limelight, the 34-year-old is the biggest name to join the league, and he said on Twitter that he hopes to “grow the game in America”.
However, this created an interesting debate between podcaster Pat Clifton and former USA women’s coach Pete Steinberg. In essence, the discussion on Twitter revolved around whether these big names actually create an increase in stadium attendance or viewership in the US, particularly amongst those that don’t know the players, or whether it is simply to generate interest from abroad. While players of Mtawarira’s calibre will improve the standard of the league, it can sometimes come at a price.
This was the thread on Twitter:
While these signings are often viewed as beneficial for the globalisation of rugby and growth of the game in North America, this is the other side of the coin. MLR clearly wants to grow as a product, but there is not necessarily an agreement about the best methods to achieve that.
It is less than two months until these players begin another chapter in their careers, with the new season starting in February 2020.
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“Pep didn’t win the ECL in 2009. It was 2008 with Barca”
Why are you so insistent on being wrong? Man United won in 2008 (beating Chelsea in the final). In 2009 Barcelona won, beating United.
“The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.”
Again - you’re not correct. City won the CL in 2023, and made the final in 2021. Those are the only two CL finals they have made. With Barcelona, Pep made the semi final four consecutive times - with City he’s managed only 3 in 8 years. This year they didn’t even make the round of 16.
To re-cap, you wrote that Pep “has gotten better with age. By every measure.” There are some measures that support what you’re saying, but the vast majority of the measures that you have highlighted actually show the opposite.
I am aware Les Kiss has achieved great things in his career, but I don’t care what he did over ten years ago. Rugby was a different sport back then.
I think your take on Gatland is pretty silly. Gatland was without Edwards in the 2013 and 2017 Lions tours and managed to do alright. You’ve also not addressed Eddie Jones.
I agree wrt Schmidt. He would ideally be retained, but it wouldn’t work to have a remote head coach. He should definitely be hired as a consultant/analyst/selector though.
“Look at the talent that would be discarded in Schmidt and Kiss if your age Nazism was applied.”
lol u really need to chill out lad. Kiss and Schmidt would both be great members of the coaching set up in 2025, but it would be ridiculous to bank on either to retain the head coach role until 2031.
Go to commentsGood to see this guy back, looking forward to this years RC.
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