The Lanester Musketeers: A Work in Progress
There is no team who has fallen so hard in recent years as the Lanester Musketeers. Formerly the national champion in 2012, the Musketeers have been on a long title drought that shows no sign of ending soon. This culminated in the 2018-2019 season, with the Musketeers having a losing record of 0-15. To address these issues, the Musketeers have set about firing their old guard and building for the future.
The first move the Musketeers made was firing all coaching staff and hiring a mix of grizzled veterans and hotshot newcomers. The Musketeers signed Hall of Fame coach Vincent Barbeau, who led the Callics to a threepeat title run from 1992-1994, to a five year, fifty million dollar contract in the hopes of whipping their team into shape. They also hired Klaas van Riele, former Head Coach of the University of Vinassan Tribe college Rugby team. Born in Maloria, van Riele was recruited to play in Callise for the University of Vinassan. In spite of a stellar collegiate career, van Riele was passed on in the 2005 CRA Draft and was left unsigned. His spirits sullied, he was offered a job as the Props Coach of his college team, eventually being promoted to Forwards Coach in 2011 and Head Coach in 2013. From 2013-2018, van Riele turned the obscure Vinassan Tribe into national contenders by recruiting talent from historically overlooked regions of Craviter and schools in Callise. Klaas van Riele will serve as General Manager, with the Musketeers shareholders hoping he can use his scouting talents to bring in a roster of youngsters to turn the team around.
The next move the Musketeers made was to hire young free agents and send out their aging stars in packages designed to build for the future. The Musketeers acquired Hooker Emmanuel Vasseur in free agency after Vasseur demanded release from the Bison. The Musketeers then sent veteran Fullback Pierre Calloux packing to the Pourpreville Knights. In exchange for the 27 year-old Calloux, who was a Second Team All-Republic member this season, the Musketeers acquired the fifth overall pick in the draft, a second rounder, and a 2020 CRA first rounder and third rounder. Finally, the Musketeers traded 35 year-old Wing Jule LaRousse to the Beaune Titans for the 15th overall pick.
The Musketeers then turned their eye to the draft, picking up what was indisputably the best draft class of the year. With the 15th pick, the Musketeers selected Keshav Shakur, a 20 year-old Wing from Syrixia. Shakur is incredibly small, but is entering the League as one of it's fastest players. Shakur is one of the few Syrixians to ever make it to the CRA, and his small stature and country of origin have made him a favorite underdog among Musketeer fans. The team has high hopes for him in the coming years. With the fifth pick, the Musketeers selected a far more well known name, Maximillien Gaudreau. Gaudreau was the star Fullback at the University of Beaune, and the Man of the Match for the collegiate national championship. Gaudreau is considered a sure bet and the Musketeers expect him to deliver immediately.
With the first pick, the Musketeers chose one of the most hyped prospects in recent memory: the Gojan Goliath himself, Karlheinz Øvenberger. Øvenberger, a Gojan by birth, is a freak of nature within the sport. 6'7", 265 lbs, and boasting a 4.42 40 yard time, he is expected to be an insurmountable challenge for opposing teams. His explosive power from the Flyhalf position made him an instant star at the College of Villende in Sainte-Beaudoin. His talents eventually won him the prestigious Simon Award, given to the best player in Callisean collegiate Rugby.
The Musketeers may have suffered for a long time, but with the changes ownership has made, their future looks brighter than ever.
