Rugby United New York host the Austin Gilgronis on February 15 at 6:30 ET at Sam Boyd Stadium as part of MLR Vegas Weekend. The match will be streamed on ESPN+ and broadcast for international viewers on Major League Rugby Facebook live.
Both teams lost in the opening week of the 2020 Major League Rugby season. RUNY lost to the New England Free Jacks to open the MLR Vegas Weekend, while Austin Gilgronis lost their home opener to the Toronto Arrows.
Rugby United New York
Rugby United New York Head Coach Greg McWilliams has made three changes in the starters from the first match against the New England Free jacks. Two of them are injury replacements as Jona Petrakopoulos, Troy Lockyear, and Mark O’Keeffe gain their first starts at tighthead prop, outside center, and at wing, respectively.
There are also a few positional changes as Nate Brakeley moves from flanker to lock, Kyle Sumsion from No.8 to flanker, Mathieu Bastareaud from the outside center to No.8, and Chris Mattina from wing to inside center. Reserve changes include Alex McDonnell at prop and Quentin Pradere at the center.
MLR Vegas Weekend has been a bonding experience for the team and they hope that to exit with a win over the Austin Gilgronis and to have their remaining contingent of players that were waiting on visas, join the team shortly.
Rugby United New York starts its 2020 MLR season away for the first five matches, although Saturday’s match against Austin Gilgronis is technically a home one. They then have their home opener on Match 15 against the Seattle Seawolves. preceding that match the RUNY U18s Academy All-Stars will play the Connacht U17s. Tickets for the home opener are still available.
RUNY Man of Match vs Free Jacks
Photo: Lucas Peltier
Major League Rugby Highlight Video NE vs NY
Austin Gilgronis
The Gilgronis have made three changes in their starters from last week’s match against Toronto. Mason Pedersen, Rikust Zwart, and Rodrick Waters will start at tighthead prop, lock, and wing, respectively. Pedersen was a reserve last week and Zwart was scheduled to start but was a last-minute scratch. Waters makes his first appearance on the regular-season roster along with Brendan Rams, who returns to the team as a reserve.
A positional change was also made with Juan Echeverria switching from tighthead to loosehead prop.
Chris Schade scored the team’s first try in an Austin Gilgronis uniform.
Major League Rugby Highlights: Austin vs Toronto
Squads With Player Article Links
Rugby United New York: 1 Anthony Parry 2 Dylan Fawsitt 3 Jonas Petrakopoulos 4 Matt Wirken 5 Nate Brakeley 6 Kyle Sumsion 7 James Denise 8 Mathieu Bastareaud 9 Marcus Walsh 10 Cathal Marsh 11Connor Wallace-Sims 12 Chris Mattina 13 Troy Lockyear14 Mark O’Keeffe15 Ben Foden16 Mike Brown 17 Alec McDonnell 18 Will Burke 19 Robert Irimescu 20 Julio César Giraldo 21 Mike Petri 22 Harry Bennett 23 Quentin Pradere
Austin Gilgronis: 1 Juan Echeverria 2 Chris Schade 3 Mason Pedersen 4 Maikeli Naramaitonga 5 JP Novak 6 Potu Leavasa 7 Dominic Akina 8 Lino Saunitoga 9 Marcelo Torrealba 10 Zinzan Elan-Puttick (C) 11 Alex Faison-Donahoe 12 Sione Fangaiuiha 13 Peni Tagive 14 Corey Jones 15 Rodrigo Silva 16 Tiaan Strauss Erasmus 17 Brendan Rams 18 LaRome White19 JP Novak 20 Moe Abdelmonem 21 Colby Stevens 22 Alex Rees 23 Gabe Farley
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