Old Glory DC hosts Rugby United New York on Sunday, May 30 at 1 pm at Segra Field in Leesburg, VA. The match will be broadcast on NBS Sports Washington, MSG, and streamed on The Rugby Network.
It is Armed Forces Appreciation day featuring the Quantico Marine Corp Band and Color Guard performances, a special jersey auction after the match, limit edition military team apparel at the merchandise tent, kid’s zone with face painting, and curtain-raiser. Old Glory’s partner’s Veterans Moving Forward and their service dogs are excited about this match. Place your Old Glory jersey bids or RUNY ones and Purchase Tickets for the match.
Both teams are coming into the match after wins. Old Glory traveled to Houston last week and exited with a 21-13 win over the SaberCats, while Rugby United New York flipped the Free Jacks, 29-19.
Rugby United New York was named the OFX team of the week and Old Glory fly-half Jason Robertson was the MLR Player of the Week. New York’s Nate Brakeley and Andy Ellis and Old Glory’s Jason Robertson and Mike Dabulas were named to the Geico XV.
The MLR Eastern Conference is extremely tight with only two teams advancing to the playoffs. Ten points separate first place through the sixth place with all teams in the playoff race.
The USA Men’s National Extended Team 41 man roster was announced this week, which included 31 players from Major League Rugby.
Old Glory DC had three players selected in Mikey Sosene-Feagai (5 caps), Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz (2 caps), and Mike Dabulas (uncapped). Photos by Paris Malone / Old Glory DC
Rugby United New York had four players on the USA Men’s National Extended Team roster. They include RUNY captain Dylan Fawsitt (15 caps), Nate Brakeley (23 caps), Hanco Germishuys (21 caps), and Nick Civetta (26 caps). The team and the Transit System promoted the players as the “Trains of NYC” – curated by Rugby New York.
On April 18 the teams met in Jersey City with RUNY edging Old Glory 38-34. The stakes are much higher now as teams jockey for one of the two Conference playoff spots.
Look for an expansive, physical match with New York having an edge in the scrums and Old Glory more consistent in the lineouts. The breakdowns will be heavily contested. Both teams will need to minimize penalties.
Old Glory DC Head Coach Andrew Douglas has made three changes in the starters. One of the changes was necessitated due to the red card Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz received against the Houston SaberCats for a tip tackle on Paula Balekana. Tevita Naqali, Josh Brown, and Ciaran Hearn are at blindside flanker, No. 8 and inside center, respectively. Sam Cusano returns to the roster for the first time since the previous match against RUNY in the reserves. Co-captain Thretton Palamo is out of the matchday roster.
Rugby United Head Coach Marty Veale has made four changes in the starters with Sak Taulafo returning to the roster at tighthead prop, Kara Pryor at No.8 with Evan Mintern shifting to lock. Backs changes have Quinn Ngawati and Chris Mattina swapping places with Will Leonard and Joel Miranda at inside center and right-wing, respectively, with Leonard and Miranda moving to the reserves. Charlie Hewitt returns to the reserves after being rested last week.
Nick Civetta is out of the roster with a shoulder injury and Kyle Sumsion was not on the matchday roster.
Rain is in the forecast at match time, so handling could prove to be a factor. One of RUNY’s strengths is in their forwards, so look for them to be very active in the match. The reserves have kept up the pace when they enter the match, so the match could come down to who performs better in the last 20 to 30 minutes in the match.
Old Glory DC has had players bombarding the social media with reasons to fill the stands at Segra Field. Rugby United New York can help in this regard by encouraging its supporters to make the road trip and enjoy a day of rugby.
Squads with Player Article Links
Old Glory DC: 1 Jack Iscaro 2 Mikey Sosene-Feagai 3 Steven Longwell 4 Api Naikatini 5 Stan South 6 Tevita Naqali 7Callum Gibbins (c) 8 Josh Brown 9 Danny Tusitala 10 Jason Robertson 11 Renata Roberts-TeNana 12 Ciaran Hearn 13 Doug Fraser14 Mike Dabulas 15 Dylan Taikato-Simpson 16 James King 17 Jack Carroll 18 Dante Lopresti 19 Casey Renaud 20 Cory Daniel21 Daniel Thomas 22 D’Montae Noble 23 Sam Cusano
Rugby United New York: 1 James Rochford 2 Dylan Fawsitt 3Sak Taulafo 4 Nate Brakeley 5 Evan Mintern6 Hanco Germishuys 7 Ben Bonasso 8 Kyra Pryor 9 Andy Ellis (c) 10 Harry Bennett 11 Apenisa Cakaubalavu 12 Quinn Ngawati 13 Fa’asiu Fuatai 14 Chris Mattina 15 Ben Foden 16 Wilton Rebolo 17 Anthony Parry 18 Samu Tawake 19 Charlie Hewitt 20 Rob Irimescu 21 Conor McManus 22 Will Leonard 23 Joel Miranda
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