NEWS

Johan Momsen Named MLR Forward of the Year

FORWARD OF THE YEAR: JOHAN MOMSEN, RUGBY ATL

Johan Momsen played a vital part in Rugby ATL’s campaign to win the Eastern Conference Final, and face LA in the MLR Championship Final. While Rugby ATL fell just short of bringing home the Championship Shield, Momsen’s efforts earned him the title of Forward of the Year for his impressive season.

Playing 1168 minutes for Scott Lawrence’s Rugby ATL in 2021, 25-year-old lock forward Momsen has completed his second year in Georgia. Those minutes came across the South African’s 17 appearances this season, scoring five tries along the way.

Playing as a hard hitter, Momsen carried the ball on 103 occasions, each one of those carries into contact, breaking 22 tackles in the process and making 513 meters. Off the charts statistics for a player in his position, Momsen backed up his attacking flair with uncompromising defense.

Making 193 tackles, no one else on ATL’s roster put the shoulder in more. 17 of those tackles were dominant, meaning that the opposition’s attack lost momentum as a result, and Momsen turned the ball over on five occasions.

Influential at the lineout too, he took the ball 83 times in the air in attack and stole the opposition’s ball on 11 occasions at the set-piece, which accounted for 53% of the team’s tries scored in 2021.

Such was the trust in Momsen, played at No. 8. in the Championship Final because of his athleticism and ability to affect the game with his power game.

Earlier this week Major League Rugby released the All-MLR team selections and the overall Player of the Year. Stay tuned for additional end of season awards to be released by MLR across the week.

Written by Joe Harvey | Photos by Karl Moore