Seattle Seawolves vs. Glendale Raptors: MLR Preview

The Seattle Seawolves are hosting the Glendale Raptors on Sunday, January 27 at 7:30 pm PT to open the 2019 Major League Rugby season. The match pits the two teams that met for the 2018 MLR Championship. The match is officially sold out, but there are a limited number of standing room tickets available. The match is being broadcast as the CBSSN Game of The Week.

Prior to the match at Starfire Stadium, the Seattle Seawolves will be presented with their MLR Championship rings. The team also announced a head coaching change as former USA Women’s Sevens Coach Richie Walker takes over for the Seawolves. Visa issues again proved to be a problem for the team is securing their original head coaches in 2018 and in 2019. Walker is an accomplished coach, who has coached Atavus Rugby, OMBAC, and the San Diego Aztecs.

The Glendale Raptors are holding a Watch Party in Denver at Old Chicago, 128 S. Colorado Blvd. They invite all their fans to cheer the team.

Seattle Seawolves

The Seattle Seawolves will have the support of their fans in the sold-out Starfire Stadium as only standing room tickets remain. The Seawolves will have a ring ceremony prior to the match for winning the 2018 MLr Championship against Glendale.

The Seawolves have a very experienced front row of Eagles prop Oli Kilifi, Super Rugby hooker Stephan Coetzee and 1st team ALL-MLR tighthead prop Tim Metcher. Rounding out the tight five are the USA Selects lock Taylor Krumrei, who is pair with Api Naikatini, a Fijian who played Super Rugby. The back row includes New Zealand Mitre 10 Cup back row Brad Tucker, Eagle Vili Toluta’u and Super Rugby No.8 Riekert Hattingh.

The backs are led by Canada international Phil Mack, who pairs with Eagle Ben Cima. The centers include former Eagle Shalom Suniula and William Rasileka, a former Fiji National Team 15s and 7s player. In the back three are Peter Tiberio, an Eagle with Brock Staller, a Canadian international. Former England 7s player Mat Turner rounds out the starters.

The reserves include a front row of Mike Shepherd, who played for the USA Selects at hooker. Kellen Gordon and John Hayden are props, Belgian international Jérémy Lenaerts is a lock, and Eric Duechle a flanker. Backs include JP Smith at scrumhalf, Canada international George Barton at center and Moses Lalasava at wing.

Seattle Seawolves: 1 Olive Kilifi 2 Stephan Coetzee 3 Tim Metcher 4 Taylor Krumrei 5 Apisai Naikatini 6 Brad Tucker 7 Vili Toluta’u 8 Riekert Hattingh 9 Phil Mack 10 Ben Cima 11 Peter Tiberio 12 Shalom Suniula 13 William Rasileka 14 Brock Staller 15 Mat Turner 16 Mike Shepherd 17 Kellen Gordon 18 John Hayden 19 Jérémy Lenaerts 20 Eric Duechle 21 JP Smith 22 George Barton 23 Moses Lalasava

Glendale Raptors

The Glendale Raptors beat the Seattle Seawolves twice during the 2018 regular season and then lost in the Championship. Glendale remains a veteran team, but has had some new additions to the club in former Utah All-American Chad Gough at hooker, New Zealander Marco Fepulea’i at tighthead prop, Eagle lock Brendan Daly, Eagle back row Hanco Germishuys and New Zealand fullback Dylan Taikato-Simpson.

Returning veterans include Blake Rogers at prop, Kody O’Neil and Luke White at lock, and Connor Cook at No. 8. Factor in an Eagles halfback combination of Shaun Davies and Will Magie, along with former Eagle Chad London and uncapped Eagle Mika Kruse, who played against the Maori All Blacks, at center. The wings have contrasting styles with Harley Davidson a speedy, yet elusive runner, while John Ryberg is a power runner.

The reserves are also talented with former Eagles hooker Zach Fenoglio and Eagles 15s & 7s back row Malon Al-Jiboori ready when needed. Add Max Lum, who played with Southbridge Rugby Club in New Zealand, Kelepi Fifita, who played with the USA Selects at prop. At lock is William Munro, who played for Randwick in the Shute Shield. Backs reserves include South Africans Carlo De Nysschen at scrumhalf and Robbie Petzer at center, with Nick Johnson covering wing or fullback.