The Utah Warriors host the New England Free Jacks on February 15 at 2:30 pm ET at Sam Boyd Stadium as part of MLR Vegas Weekend. The match will be broadcast on Eleven Sports and for international viewers on the Major League Facebook page live. It will also be broadcast on NESN tape delay on Feb. 16 at 5 pm ET.
Last week the Utah Warriors lost to Rugby ATL, while the New England Free jacks opened MLR Vegas Weekend with a win over Rugby United New York.
Utah Warriors
The Utah Warriors made two changes from last week’s match against Rugby ATL. Thomas Tu’avao is on the regular-season roster for the first time and starts at openside flanker. Fets Vainikolo is at wing with Calvin Whiting switching to the outside center.
The Warriors jumped out to a lead over Rugby ATL, but Atlanta came back for the win last week. Fly Half Hagen Schulte was named Major League Rugby’s FirstXV fly half of the week.
Major League Rugby Highlight Video ATL vs Utah
New England Free Jacks
Prematch Update: Beaudein Waaka is out with an injury and Deion Mikesell will start at wing with Mitch Wilson switching to fullback. Peceli Rinakama joins the reserves.
Free Jacks head coach Josh Smith has made two changes in his starters from last week’s win over Rugby United New York. Simon Courcoul and Tim Guilliman will start at loosehead prop and at flyhalf, respectively. Donald Brighouse switches from loosehead to tighthead prop as Kensuke Hatakeyama is rested. Tadhg Leader is also out of the matchday roster.
Quentin Newcomer and Danny Collins join the roster for the first time this regular season as reserves.
The team was impressive in its inaugural MLR match and can expect a physical match against the Utah Warriors.
Last week’s player of the match was Naulia Dawai, shown below.
Major League Rugby Highlight Video NE vs NY
Squads with Player Article Links
Utah Warriors: 1 Franco Van Den Berg 2 Veremalua Vugakoto 3 Angus MacLellan 4 John Cullen 5 Matt Jensen 6 Bailey Wilson 7 Thomas Tu’avao 8 Jurie Van Vuuren 9 Dwayne Polataivao (C) 10 Hagen Schulte 11 Fetu’u Vainikola 12 Blake Hohaia 13 Calvin Whiting14 Gannon Moore 15 Josh Whippy 16 Ricky Tu’ihalagingie 17 Huluholo Mo’ungaloa 18 Kalolo Tuiloma 19 Viliami Puna Vuli 20 Saia Uhila 21 Michael Baska 22 Robbie Povey 23 Tyler Fisher
New England Free Jacks: 1 2 Sean McNulty 3 Donald Brighouse 4 Jackson Thiebes 5 Thomas Tu’avao 6 Naulia Dawai 7 Zack Stryffeler 8 Brad Hemopo 9 John Poland10 Timothée Guillimin 11 Deion Mikesell 12 Sam Beard 13 Liam Steel 14 Poasa Waqanibau15 Mitch Wilson 16 Steve Hinshaw 17 Kyle Ciquera18 Quentin Newcomer 19 Conor Kindregan 20 Owen Hundt 21Erik Thompson 22 Peceli Rinakama 23 Danny Collins
Other Articles
DJCoil Rugby articles by Doug Coil are also available on Facebook. Other Social Media sites to follow or subscribe include Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube for interviews.
