Major League Rugby Semi-Final

The second-place Seattle Seawolves will meet the third-place San Diego Legion in the Major League Rugby Semi-Finals at 5:00 pm MT (7:00 PM ET) at Infinity Park in Glendale, Colorado on June 30. The winner will meet the winner of the second semi-final between the Glendale Raptors and the Utah Warriors on July 7 at Torero Stadium in San Diego. Both Semi-finals and the Championship will broadcast on CBS Sports Network.

Seattle Seawolves

The Seattle Seawolves have made nine changes from their final regular season match June 16 against the Glendale Raptors. The Seawolves have perhaps their strongest side available since the beginning of hte season.

The forwards dominated in set pieces with a front row of Olive Kilifi, Ray Barkwill coming back from international duty and joining Tim Metcher. Taylor Krumrei and Cam Polson retain their positions at lock, as does Eric Duechle at flanker. Vili Toluta’u, who earned his first cap with the Eagles against Canada, returns at flanker, with Riekert Hattingh back at No. 8.

There are also five changes in the backs with a halfback combination of Phil Mack and Peter Smith, Peter Tiberio and Brock Staller are the wings and Shalom Suniula the inside center. Only William Rasileka at outside center and Mat Turner at fullback retained their positions.

The team also sees the return of Mike Sheperd in the reserves at hooker.

San Diego Legion

Head Coach Rob Hoadley has made five changes from last week’s 23-5 win over the Glendale Raptors. That was the team’s best performance of the season and with the return of the Eagles players, an attempt was made to keep some of the consistency of the team.

Changes in the forwards include Pat Blair, Chris Turori, and Cam Dolan, who will be at hooker, and at the locks, respectively. In the backs, Nate Augspuger returns to wing with new addition Joe Pietersen at fullback. Pietersen made two appearances for the Springboks in 2004 and joins the team after playing for the Kamaishi Seawaves. He also has played for the Super Rugby Sharks.

The reserves are bolstered by the inclusion of Siaosi Mahoni , Ben Cima, and Dylan Audsley.

Seattle Seawolves & San Diego Legion Squads

Seattle Seawolves: 1 Olive Kilifi 2 Ray Barkwill 3 Tim Metcher 4 Taylor Krumrei 5 Cam Polson 6 Eric Duechle 7 Vili Toluta’u 8 Riekert Hattingh (VC) 9 Phil Mack 10 Peter Smith 11 Peter Tiberio 12 Shalom Suniula (C) 13 William Rasileka 14 Brock Staller 15 Mat Turner 16 Mike Sheperd 17 John Hayden 18 Kellen Gordon 19 Cole van Harn 20 Aladdin Schirmer 21 Andre Coquillard 22 Jeremy Misailegalu 23 Sequoyah Burke-Combs

San Diego Legion: 1 Sione Tu’ihalamaka 2 Pat Blair 3 Nathan Sylvia 4 Chris Turori 5 Cam Dolan 6 Devin Short 7 Tony Lamborn 8 Drew Gaffney 9 Nick Boyer, 10 Tadhg Leader (C) 11Nater Augspurger 12 Anthony Salaber 13 Ryan Matyas 14 Taku Ngwenya (VC) 15 Joe Pietersen 16 Pat O’Toole 17 Faka’osi Pifeleti 18 Aaron Mitchell 19 Siaosi Mahoni 20 Alec Barton 21 Ben Cima 22 Nick Evans 23 Dylan Audsley + Head Coach Rob Hoadley