Rugby United New York & Boston Mystic River

Rugby United New York will host a double-header at Gaelic Park in the Bronx, with a charity game at 4 pm between FDNY and NYPD (New York City Fire Department vs. New York Bravest RFC). At 7 pm, Rugby United New York will play Boston Mystic River.

Also being held that day is the Four Leaf Fifteens Rugby Tournament. Rugby United New York (RUNY) and the Four Leaf Fifteens Rugby Tournament have developed a partnership.

“As part of the partnership, Rugby United New York will have a presence at the all-day tournament and post-tournament social hosted at Bronx Brewery. In addition, Rugby United New York is offering discounted tickets to teams registered for the tournament for the club’s inaugural home match against Boston, which will take place at Gaelic Park in the Bronx at 7 P.M on March 24. Shuttle service to the inaugural home match will be offered by Rugby United New York from the post-tournament social at Bronx Brewery to the team’s match at Gaelic Park. General sale tickets for match day are available at rugbyunitedny.com/tickets.”

Rugby United New York

Rugby United New York played their first Major League Rugby match as an Associate member on March 17, beating the Ontario Arrows 36-19. The team hopes to carry this momentum into their second match against Boston Mystic River.

The majority of the players for both teams have played against each other, with a number also playing for the Northeast Aacademy from both teams.

Mike Tolkin has made four changes and two positional changes from last week’s team against the Ontario Arrows. Gavan D’Mare-Morrison starts at flanker for Alex Schwartz. Jack Fitzpatrick moves from inside center to flyhalf for the injured Harry Bennett. Connor Wallace-Sims switches from wing to inside center. Chris Vakasisikala, who was a powerful replacement last week, is at outside center and Greg Voigt is at wing.

The starting forwards include Anthony Parry, at loosehead prop,( 27, 6’1″, 245) who played professionally for the Ohio Aviators. At tighthead prop is Kirkland Hamilton (28, 6’1″, 250) who played for Rutgers. At Hooker, is Dylan Fawsitt, who is the captain. He is 27, 6’0″, 225, and has three caps for the Eagles. He also has played with the Ohio Aviators, Life University, and Blackrock in Ireland.

The locks include David Gannon (25 years old, 6’5″, 240) who played with Connacht and for Ireland A. Nate Brakeley is 28, 6’5″, 260 and has 15 caps for the Eagles.

The back row consists of flankers Gavan D’Mare-Morrison and James Denise. D’Mare-Morrison is (6’2″, 215) and Denise is the NYAC captain. He is 30, 6’2″, and 240 pounds. At No. 8 is Ross Deacon, (24, 6’2″, and 240) who played for the USA U20s, Leinster U20s, Landsdowne (Dublin, Ireland), and for NYAC.

The backs include former Connacht scrumhalf, Marcus Walsh. He is 26, 5’7″, and 170 pounds. He is paired with Jack Fitzpatrick (24, 5’11” and 198lbs.), who has played for Canada A, Ireland U18s, and for Trinity College.

Connor Wallace-Sims and Chris Vakasisikala are the centers. Connor Wallace-Sims, a Northeast Academy and Eagles 7s player. Chris Vakasisikakala (25, 5’11”, 215) played with the Pittsburgh Harlequins.

The back three include Mike St. Claire, an Old Blue, and Northeast Academy player and Greg Voight, from NYAC at wing. At fullback is Luke Hume, who has 20 Eagles caps and also is a capped Eagles 7s player. Hume is 30, 5’9″, and 190 pounds and plays a prominent role for Old Blue.

The reserve forwards include hooker Mike Brown (26, 5’11”, 220), props Brian McKellar (Penn State, NYAC, Collegiate All-American, 23, 6’2″, 250) and Chris Sullivan 6’0″, 255) from Monmouth RFC and the USA Selects, lock Dave Shotton (30, 6’10”, 245) from Manly, and flanker Nick Wooley from NYAC.

The reserve backs include scrumhalf Mike Petri (Eagles 57 caps, NYAC, 33, 5’10”, 190), Jake Feury (Middlebury College), wing Kyle Granby (Old Blue), and Mike Tagliaferro (RPI).

Boston Mystic River

Boston Mystic Rugby will play their opening match of a home and away series against Rugby United New York and in April and May against the Ontario Arrows.

Josh Smith has selection of forwards includes a front row of Pino Maupese (20, 6’1″, 260) at loosehead prop. He is from East Auckland, New Zealand and played representative side rugby for the Papatoetoe Premier team. Greg Rasmuson (30, 6′, 225) is the hooker with Steve Cappello (28, 6’1″, 260) , who played for USA Rugby South, is at tighthead prop. Rob Brennan (29, 6’2″, 225) and Dave McKenna (28, 6’5″, 275) are the locks. The backrow has Chris Frazier and Jon Kokinda at flanker and Michael Kaivelata at No. 8. Frazier (27, 6’3″, 220) played for the NE Academy ODA, Tiger Rugby, and for the Kukri Cobras. Kokinda (32, 5’9″, 200) also played for the NE Academy from 2012-2015. Kaivelata (20, 6’5″, 260) is from South Auckland, New Zealand and played for the Manukau Rovers Premier team.

The backs include Ian Luciano (23, 5’9″, 180) from Sydney, Australia at scrumhalf, who played for NE ODA. He is paired with flyhalf Santiago Bertranou (23, 6′, 185) from Mendoza, Argentina. The centers are Matias De Paolis (24, 5’8″, 177) from Mendoza, Argentina and Paulo Aukuso (29, 5’10”, 215) from Wellington, New Zealand. Aukuso played for Oriental Rongotai. The wings are Vini Daley (28, 5’10”, 195) and Stephen Dazzo (26, 6′, 225), both who played for NE ODA. Jared Collison (27, 5’10”, 205) also from the NE ODA, rounds out the starting XV at fullback.

The reserves include Deven Ibañez (24, 5’11”, 200). He played for the USA at the 2017 Maccabiah Games for Glenfield Rugby Premier Team, as well as for Sydney East and the Maccabiah Blues. He was the captain at UMass. Gianni Miceli (26, 6’3″, 270) a prop or lock, played at Norwich University. Scott Lucas (38, 6′, 250) at prop. Keaton Cashin (27, 6″2″, 220) played for the Irish International Hockey team and rugby at Salem State University. Andrew Burns (29, 6’2″, 230) is a lock. Erik Thompson (22, 5’10”, 185) was a HS All-American from California. Matt Dunleavy (24, 6′, 205) was a forward at Pitt Rugby. Akinola Raymond (24, 5’10”, 180) is from Lagos, Nigeria was a USA HS All-American in 2012 and also played for the NE ODA.

Boston Mystic River: 1 Pino Maupese 2 Greg Rasmuson 3 Steve Cappello 4 Rob Brennan 5 Dave McKenna 6 Chris Frazier 7 Jon Kokinda 8 Michael Kaivelata 9 Ian Luciano 10 Santiago Bertranou 11 Vini Daley 12 Matias De Paolis 13 Paulo Aukuso 14 Stephen Dazzo 15 Jared Collison 16 Devin Ibañez 17 Gianni Miceli 18 Scott Lucas 19 Keaton Cashin 20 Andrew Burns 21 Erik Thompson 22 Matt Dunleavy 23 Akinola Raymond 24 Jeff Laflamme + Head Coach Josh Smith

Rugby United New York and Boston Mystic River

Rugby United New York: 1 Anthony Parry, 2 Dylan Fawsitt (capt.), 3 Kirkland Hamilton, 4 David Gannon, 5 Nate Brakeley, 6 Gavan D’Amore-Morrison, 7 James Denise, 8 Ross Deacon, 9 Marcus Walsh, 10 Jack Fitzpatrick, 11 Mike St. Claire, 12 Connor Wallace-Sims, 13 Chris Vakasisikakala,14 Greg Voigt, 15 Luke Hume 16 Mike Brown, 17 Brian McKellar, 18 Chris Sullivan, 19 Dave Shotton, 20 Nick Wolley, 21 Mike Petri, 22 Jake Feury 23 Kyle Granby 24 Mike Tagliaferro + Head Coach Mike Tolkin

Boston Mystic River: 1 Pino Maupese 2 Greg Rasmuson 3 Steve Cappello 4 Rob Brennan 5 Dave McKenna 6 Chris Frazier 7 Jon Kokinda 8 Michael Kaivelata 9 Ian Luciano 10 Santiago Bertranou 11 Vin Daley 12 Matias De Paolis 13 Paulo Aukuso 14 Stephen Dazzo 15 Jared Collison 16 Devin Ibañez 17 Gianni Miceli 18 Scott Lucas 19 Keaton Cashin 20 Andrew Burns 21 Eric Thompson 22 Matt Dunleavy 23 Akinola Raymond 24 Jeff Laflamme + Head Coach Josh Smith

Rugby United NY Staff