The 2-1 San Diego Legion will host the 1-0 Utah Warriors at Torero Stadium on Sunday, February 17. Kickoff is at 2 pm PST (5 pm EST) and tickets are still available. The match will be broadcast on ESPN+ and internationally on the Major League Rugby Facebook page.
The Utah Warriors are having a Watch Party at Top Gold in Midvale, UT.
San Diego Legion opened the season with a narrow lost to Rugby United New York and then followed with wins over the Seattle Seawolves and the Houston SaberCats. The Utah Warriors have beaten Austin Elite Rugby.
Match Comments
San Diego Legion Head Coach has made five changes in the starting XV, with Nathan Sylvia and Dean Muir returning to start at loosehead prop and hooker, respectively. Nate Augspurger, who scored the winning try against the Houston SaberCats last week, gets his first start of the season at wing. Dylan Audsley returns at center, as the Eagles have a bye week in the Americas Rugby Championship. Ryan Matyas also returns after an injury in the last preseason match.
In the reserves, Siaosi Mahoni and Psalm Wooching are on the matchday 23, for the first time this season. Save Totovosau also returns to the squad after missing last week.
Utah Warriors Head Coach Alf Daniels has made two changes to his starters, with Josh Reeves making his team debut at flyhalf, as James Semple is rested. Reeves is playing for Brazil in the Americas Rugby Championship and kicked his team (6 penalty kicks) to an 18-10 win over Canada. Josh Whippy also returns to the team after an injury early in the 2018 season at fullback in place of Johnny Ika.
The Warriors have made three changes in the reserves. Blake Burdette will be the reserve hooker in place of Alex Vorster. The former Eagle is the oldest player to appear on a matchday squad. Jackson Kaka will see his first action at flanker, as he replaces Kenny Scott. Gannon Moore just returned from playing with the Eagles in South America and could enter the match at center or in the back three. he takes the place of Iniki Fa’amausili.
Squads & Player Article Links
San Diego Legion: 1 Nathan Sylvia 2 Deon Muir 3 Paddy Ryan (VC) 4 Lou Stanfill 5 Keni Nasoqeqe 6 Chris Turori 7 Devin Short 8 Drew Gaffney 9 Nick Boyer 10 Joe Pietersen (C) 11 Nate Augspurger 12 JP du Plessis 13 Dylan Audsley 14 Ryan Matyas 15 Mike Te’o 16 Kapeli Pifeleti 17 Faka’osi Pifeleti 18 Aaron Mitchell 19 Siaosi Mahoni 20 Psalm Wooching 21 Tai Enosa 22 Kyle Rogers 23 Save Totovosau + Head Coach Rob Hoadley
Utah Warriors: 1 Franco Van den Berg 2 Logan Daniels 3 Angus Maclellan 4 Matt Jensen 5 Saia Uhila 6 Lance Williams 7 Ara Elkington 8 John Cullen (VC) 9 Ian Luciano 10 Josh Reeves 11 Fetu’u Vanikolo 12 Tim O’Malley (C) 13 Jeremy Misailegalu 14 Tonata Lauti 15 Josh Whippy 16 Blake Burdette 17 Huluhola Moungaloa 18 Jackson Kaka19 Maikeli Mudu Naromaitoga 20 Alex Tucci 21 Gannon Moore 22 Josh Anderson 23 Joseph Nicholls + Head Coach Alf Daniels
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