Our 2011-12 season review of Americans overseas continues with Part Three (check out Part One and Part Two here) and a look at Americans in the RFU Championship and the lower divisions.

RFU Championship

Mike MacDonald (Leeds)

It was another solid year for the Eagles all-time leading cap-winner. After coming off of a very strong World Cup, MacDonald slotted right back into the Leeds lineup for most of the season (he had some time off with a broken wrist). The team from the northeast was near the top of the table for much of the season and ended up making the playoffs, but could not escape from their group.

That finish was a disappointment for a team with aspirations to get back into the Premiership, and as a result they cleaned house at the end of the season with MacDonald among the casualties. MacDonald had spent most of his career with Leeds yo-yoing from the RFU Championship to the Premiership and back. He was also captain during a good stretch of that time. The need around the world is high for an experienced prop, and MacDonald certainly brings skill and leadership to the table. But he is on the wrong side of thirty and counts as a foreign player. Teams may be leery to bring him on despite his proven qualities. Still, odds are that he gets another job in England or makes the trip over to France to play in the ProD2.

Robbie Shaw (Leeds)

Shaw came over to Leeds from Bristol last summer with the hope of providing some help at scrumhalf. Unfortunately, he didn’t see as much time on the pitch as he would have liked. He was used mostly in a reserve role and spent some time away with injury. All in all it was a season to forget for Shaw. He was released at the end of the season but should be able to find a home at a place like London Scottish or another RFU Championship team.

Shawn Pittman (London Welsh)

A wild season for Pittman and London Welsh was capped off by a RFU Championship title and a possible shot at promotion to the Aviva Premiership. After returning from the World Cup, Pittman slotted right back into the Exiles lineup where he remained for much of the season. However, towards the end of the regular season, Pittman suffered a broken nose that kept him out of action. After that, Pittman struggled to regain his spot in the lineup and did not feature prominently in London Welsh’s playoff run. At the end of the season, he was let go by the club.

Andrew Suniula (Cornish Pirates)

Suniula signed with the Pirates just prior to the World Cup. After spending the first part of the season away at the World Cup and then with injury, Suniula settled into the Pirates lineup and spent the last half of the season making crucial starts at center. He proved to be a strong runner and provided crucial tries for the Pirates as they finished near the top of the table and made a run to the RFU Championship title series.

For all of that strong play, however, Suniula was released by the Pirates at the end of the year as part of a massive turnover for the club. Foreign player restrictions may have had something to do with the move. He didn’t get a lot of games in for the Pirates, but in the time he did get it should hopefully be enough to land another contract in the RFU Championship. Center is a tricky position, though, and it may be tough for him to land somewhere other than America. Italy or the Pro D2 may be a possibility.

National 1

Tim Usasz (Barking)

Originally signed to be a player-coach, Usasz ended up taking over the full-time coaching job of Barking after the sudden resignation of their previous manager. That meant that Usasz hung-up his boots and focused solely on coaching. He inherited a tough situation, not only with coaching, but also with injuries and departures as his side was ravaged by both throughout the season. Barking played tough at times, showing the fight that Usasz had as a player, but ultimately the club was relegated from the National 1. Usasz will likely remain on as coach of the side and will look to have them back up in the league after next season.

University

Derek Asburn (Oxford)

Asburn is yet another long line of American players that have played at Oxford after graduating from American universities. The former Cal All-American started almost every match for Oxford as they had a strong season. Asburn played all over the pitch seeing time as flanker, prop, and hooker. He earned a blue and was captain of the victorious Oxford side against Cambridge in the annual Varsity Match. His overall strong play could lead to a professional contract, but he still has one year remaining at Oxford first. Fellow Cal-alum Jason Law also spent the year at Oxford and appeared in a handful of matches. 

Curtis Reed is the editor and founder of This Is American Rugby and can be found at www.thisisamericanrugby.com or on Twitter @ThisIsAmerRugby