The American Raptors signed Haaken Friend for the 2023 season, and has been training with the team ahead of the Super Rugby Americas season. The 23-year-old lock (24 in April) is 6’7″ and 225 lbs. Haaken is from Bolivar, Missouri, and graduated from Lighthouse Christian Academy in 2017. He went to Evangel University, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science. He played five years on football team, and was a three-time All-Conference tight end, with two of the years, first team All Conference honors. After graduating, he joined the American Raptors. Other Articles DJCoil Rugby articles by Doug Coil…

The American Raptors signed former NFL player Cassh Maluia for the 2023 season. He is currently training with the team ahead of the Super Rugby Americas season. The 24-year-old center is 6’0″ and 245 lbs. Cassh is from Compton, California, and attended Paramount High School where he played football as a quarterback and safety. He received a football scholarship from the University of Wyoming and played as a linebacker for four years from 2016 through 2019 and graduated in 2020 with a Bachelor’s Degree in American Studies. While there he was an All-Mountain West Conference selection. He was then selected…

The American Raptors signed Daytwon Sheridan for the 2023 season and has been training with the team ahead of the final Super Rugby Americas team selection. The 25-year-old wing (26 in May) is 6’2″ and 210 lbs. Daytwon is from San Antonio, Texas, and played football at John Jay High School as a wide receiver and safety, and rugby with Trinity. He then enrolled at Navarro College, playing varsity football in 2017, took a brief absence, and returned in 2018  as a Kinesiology Major. He joined Colorado XO in 2021 and has continued with the renamed American Raptors since then.…

The American Raptors signed Chilean international Sebastián Ignacio Otero Abasolo for the 2023 Super Rugby Americas season. The 26-year-old loosehead/tighthead prop (27 in February) is 6’0″ and 255 lbs. Sebastián has played rugby for Los Troncos, COBS, and for Selknam in the Super Liga Americas during 2021-2022. He made his debut for Chile’s National Team against Russia in Hong Kong on 18 November 2017 and the last of his eight tests was against Paraguay at Santiago on 19 May 2018. Other Articles DJCoil Rugby articles by Doug Coil are also available on Facebook. Other Social Media sites to follow or…

The American Raptors signed Mikey Grandy for the 2023 Super Rugby Americas season. The 24-year-old flanker/No.8 (25 in May) is 6’4″ and 260 lbs. Mikey is from Palo Alto, California. He attended Palo Alto High School and was an offensive tackle in football. He was a two-time All-Santa Clara Valley  Athletic League DeAnza Division Selection. After graduating, he attended the College of San Mateo, where he continued to play football. He then went to the University of Texas on a football scholarship in 2017, but a concussion ended his football career in 2018. He was able to keep his scholarship…

The American  Raptors signed Steve Cluley for the 2023 Super Rugby Americas season. The 28-year-old fullback is 6’3″ and 225 lbs. Steve is from Manasquan, New Jersey. He was a record-breaking quarterback at Wall High School and a 2011 selection to the All-Madden team. He attended the College of William & Mary from 2012 to his graduation in 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science. As a junior, he was selected to the All-CAA third team, and as a senior, the team’s football captain earned All-CAA honors. He finished his three years by starting 35…

The American Raptors signed Alexander ‘Mo’ Vainikolo for the 2023 Super Rugby Americas season. The 25-year-old flanker is 5’11″ and 230 lbs. Mo is from Kinei, Hawaii is the youngest of nine children, and played youth rugby with Maui RFC along with other members of his family. He graduated from Maui High School in 2015 and played football and track and field. He attended Mt. San Antonio Junior College and played football for two years before transferring to New Mexico State where he played football as a linebacker and graduated in 2020 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts. Mo…

The American Raptors signed Sosefo Mailangi for the 2023 Super Rugby Americas season. The 24-year-old No.8 is 6’4″ and 245 lbs. Sosefo is from Huntington Beach, California. He graduated from Edison High School in 2015 and was All-League in football as a senior. He also played rugby for Back Bay Rugby Club, and was a USA Boys High School All-American, going on tour with the U17s to France in 2015. He played football at Saddleback College in 2017 and in 2018 and graduated with an Associate’s Degree in General Studies. From 2019 through his graduation in 2021 with a Bachelor’s…

The American Raptors signed Caleb Repp for the 2023 Super Rugby Americas season. The 25-year-old flanker (26 in March) is 6’5″ and 225 lbs. Caleb is from Rancho Cucamonga, California. He was a three-sport athlete at Los Osos High School, playing football, basketball, and track. He attended the University of Utah from 2015 through his graduation in 2019 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology. He played football all four years, playing in 37 games. He also played 12 games as a graduate student at Utah State in 2019. He was an Honorable Mention All-Mountain West selection, as well as an…

The American Raptors signed Jerad Line Latu for the 2023 Super Rugby Americans season. The 25-year-old flyhalf is 5’10” and 230 lbs. Line is from San Mateo, California, and attended San Mateo High School, where he played football as a quarterback, running back, safety, and punter. in 2015 he was the Utility Player of the Year, as well as, the MVP. He continued his education at the College of San Mateo, earning an Associate’s Degree and captaining the football team in 2018. He then transferred to Eastern Michigan University and was a wide receiver for two years, graduating with a…

The American Raptors signed Diego Fortuny for the 2023 Super Rugby Americas season. The 31-year-old hooker is 5’9” and 240 lbs. Diego played 175 minutes in 8 matches, starting 1, for the Houston SaberCats in 2022. In 2021 he played 476 minutes in 8 matches, starting 7, and missed several weeks with an injury during the season. In the pandemic shortened 2020 MLR season, he played 334 minutes in all five matches, starting four and scoring one try. Diego is from Salta, Argentina. He attended the Catholic University of Salta beginning in 2015 and played with Universitario de Salta First…

The American Raptors signed Uruguayan international Juan Echeverria for the 2023 Super Rugby Americas season. The 31-year-old tighthead/loosehead prop is 5’9″, and 250 lbs. Juan played for Peñarol Rugby from 2020 to 2022 in Super Liga Americana. Prior to that, was with Austin Elite Rugby in 2020, playing 249 minutes in all five matches, starting 3. In 2019, playing 787 minutes in 13 matches, starting 10, and scoring 1 try. He carried 40 times for 122 meters, made 2 tackle breaks, and 2 offloads, and made 97 tackles. Juan also played for Uruguay during the season, as well as at…

The American Raptors signed Tavius Sykora-Matthess for 2023. The 22-year-old 6’7″ and 255 lb. lock is in training camp ahead of the 2023 Super Rugby Americas season. Tavius is from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and attended George Washington High School, where he played football and was on the wrestling team. After graduating in 2019, he played football at Missouri Southern State University before transferring to Iowa Central Community College to play rugby. In 2022 he was a National Collegiate Rugby Division 1 All-American. He went on the USA Under23s Tour to the Netherlands to play against the host nation, Belgium, Czech…

The American Raptors signed Uatesoni ‘Watson’ Filikitonga for the 2023 Super Rugby Americas season. The 25-year-old center is 6’1″ and 228 lbs. Watson was signed by the LA Giltinis for the 2021 Major League Rugby season and played 7 minutes in two matches. He also played for their Academy team. He has played with the American Raptors since 2021. Watson was born in Tonga but raised in San Mateo, California, and attended San Mateo High School. He concentrated on football while in high school and was a running back and middle linebacker. His brother, USA Eagle #470 center Lemoto Filikitonga…