San Francisco Golden Gate Rugby Host Seattle Seawolves

San Francisco Golden Gate will host the Seattle Seawolves on Saturday, January 5 at 1:30 pm PT at Ray Sheeran Field on Treasure Island. SFGG is planning on streaming the match on their Facebook page, weather permitted.

Golden Gate will open their Pacific Rugby Premiership season on January 27, while the Seawolves open defense of their 2018 title against the Glendale Raptors on January 27. The match will help SFGG assess team fitness and the physicality in the team’s style of play.

San Francisco Golden Gate has played one pre-season match against the Saint Mary’s College Gaels. The team has lost two key players with Nathan Silva signing with the San Diego Legion and Brendan Daley with the Glendale Raptors. The team wishes them well, as they have in the past with other players who have played to the Eagles, Eagles 7s, or the USA Selects.

San Francisco starting XV will include 7 starters who have played in the Pacific Rugby Premiership. They include Neill Barrett at hooker, Gus Puamau at tighthead prop, Matangi Tonga at flanker, Akuila Usasele at No. 8, wing Pila Huihui and outside center Jack Halalilo.

The Seattle Seawolves are traveling with 30 players. The team’s starting XV is a blend of players who will be starting for the team during the season along with a number of players who want to see increased playing time.

Of note, Joey Iosefo played with the Houston SaberCats last season and starts at outside center. Scott Dean, who has played for the Seattle Seawolves, will start at fullback and try to earn a spot on the MLR or Associate roster. The reserves will include many starting players and some new international players.

Thanks Paul Santinelli for assistance with information about Golden Gate.

For Seattle Seawolves player article links, see squads below. Joey Iosefa played last season for the Houston SaberCats debuting as a reserve at center against Austin Elite Rugby. Scott Dean and Moses Lalasava played for the Seattle Saracens.

Squads

San Francisco Golden Gate: 1 Toa Ngata 2 Neill Barrett 3 Gus Puamau 4 Luca Tani 5 Sam Peri 6 John Bulaich 7 Matangi Tonga 8 Akuila Usasele 9 Colby Stevens 10 Mike McCarthy 11 Pila Huihui 12 Taufa Molipeli 13 Jack Halalilo 14 Travis Benson 15 Ronan Orford 16 Henry Hall 17 Paul Santinelli 18 Spencer Sarver 19 Isaac Helu 20 Jeffrey Pelesauma 21 Jack Bacigalupi 22 Siaosi Nonu 23 Viliamo Soakai 24 Ollie Videgon

Seattle Seawolves: 1 Olive Kilifi 2 Dan Trierweiler 3 John Hayden 4 Jérémy Lenaerts 5 Brad Tucker 6 Nakai Penny 7 Eric Duechle 8 Aladdin Schirmer 9 Phil Mack 10 Ben Cima 11 Dion Crowder 12 George Barton 13 Joey Iosefa 14 Brock Staller 15 Scott Dean 16 Kellen Gordon 17 Stephan Coetzee 18 Mike Shepherd 19 Taylor Krumrei 20 Cam Polson 21 Vili Toluta’u 22 Cole Van Harn 23 Riekert Hattingh 24 JP Smith 25 Shalom Suniula 26 Moses Lalasava 27 Roland Suniula 28 William Rasileka 29 Peter Tiberio 30 Mat Turner

Coach: Anton MoolmanManager: Kevin Flynn Physio: Lee Schuster

Seattle Seawolves: 1 Olive Kilifi 2 Daniel Trierweiler 3 John Hayden 4 Jeremy Lenaerts 5 Brad Tucker 6 Nakai Penny 7 Eric Dueschle 8 Aladdin Schirmer 9 Phil Mack 10 Ben Cima 11 Dion Crowder 12 George Barton 13 Joey Iosefa 14 Brock Staller 15 Scott Dean 16 kellen Gordon 17 Stephan Coetzee 18 Mike Shepherd 19 Taylor Krumrei 20 Cam Polson 21 Vili Toluta’u 22 Cole Van Harn 23 Riekert Hattingh 24 JP Smith 25 Shalom Suniula 26 Moses Lalasava 27 Roland Suniula 28 William Rasileka 29 Peter Tiberio 30 Mat Turner