Utah Warriors open their home 2019 Major league Rugby season against the Glendale Raptors at Zion Bank Stadium in Herriman, Utah. Tickets are still available and for those who can’t attend, the match is being broadcast on ESPN+ and internationally on the Major League Rugby Facebook page.
The Utah Warriors enter the match with a 1-1 record, while the Glendale Raptors are 1-2. The Warriors have targeted their home opener and want to send their fans home with a victory, while the Raptors will want to continue the momentum from last week’s win.
Match Comments
Utah Warriors Alf Daniels has made two changes in his starters and a few positional changes in the backs. Josh Reeves is playing for Brazil against the USA this week. Johnny Ika is at scrumhalf with Tim O’Malley, Jeremy Misailegalu, and Fets Vainikola shifting to flyhalf, inside center and outside center, respectively. Gannon Moore starts at wing. Nolan Tuamoheloa joins the reserves at wing.
Glendale Raptors Head Coach David Williams has made three changes in his starting XV as Kelepi Fifita, Brendan Daly, and Robbie Petzer start at tighthead prop, flanker and inside center, respectively. Fifita gains his first start during the 2019 regular season.
There are two additions to the reserves with Jason Damm at back row and Maximo De Achaval in the back three. De Achaval will be on the squad for the first time this season.
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 Johnny Ika 10 Tim O’Malley (C) 11 Gannon Moore 12 Jeremy Misailegalu 13 Fetu’u Vanikolo 14 Tonata Lauti 15 Josh Whippy 16 Blake Burdette 17 Huluhola Moungaloa 18 Jackson Kaka19 Maikeli Mudu Naromaitoga 20 Alex Tucci 21 Nolan Tuamoheloa 22 Josh Anderson 23 Ian Luciano + Head Coach Alf Daniels
Glendale Raptors: 1 Blake Rogers 2 Zach Fenoglio 3 Kelepi Fifita 4 Kody O’Neil 5 Luke White (C) 6 Brendan Daly 7 Peter Dahl 8 William Munro 9 Carlo De Nysschen 10 Ata Malifa 11 Harley Davidson 12 Robbie Petzer 13 Mika Kruse 14 John Ryberg 15 Dylan Taikato-Simpson 16 Chad Gough 17 Max Lum 18 Marco Fepulea’i 19 Connor Cook 20 Jason Damm 21 Mickey Bateman 22 Chad London 23 Maximo de Achaval
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