Rugby New York hosts Old Glory DC on Sunday, April 3 at 3 pm ET at JFK Stadium in Hoboken, New Jersey. Tickets are available, and for those who can’t attend, the match will be streamed internationally on The Rugby Network and on delay on NBC Sports Washington (Delay).
Rugby New York is in third place in the Eastern Conference with a 5-2 record and 25 points, 1 point behind Rugby ATL, and 3 points behind the Free Jacks. Last week the team lost to the Toronto Arrows 14-10 with the Arrows scoring a try in the 78th minute. New York will look to rebound this week against Old Glory.
Old Glory DC sits in seventh place in the conference with 1 point. The team announced early in the week that their coach, Andrew Douglas, departed the team with immediate effect. The team has been among the league leaders in pathway development for the U.S. men and women, fielding Young Glory Under-23 teams and a Boys and Girls Academy.
The team is disappointed with their MLR winless record this season, which makes them a dangerous team, one that should not be taken lightly, as it is only a matter of time before they will reverse this trend.
Two Eastern Conference matches were played on Saturday, April 2, with Rugby ATL claiming a 20-14 road win over the Toronto Arrows. Rugby ATL’s record improved to 6-2 with 30 points for second place in the standings. Toronto’s record fell to 4-4 with 20 points and is in fourth place.
New England had a bonus-point 33-29 win over NOLA Gold and tops the Conference with a 7-1 record and 33 points. NOLA Gold’s record fell to 3-5 with 18 points, and are in fifth place.
Rugby New York
Rugby New York has a largely veteran team with some young U.S. and international players, as well. They are a team designed to play expansive rugby, yet have the forwards to play a physical game of rugby, as well.
Team strengths are in the set pieces, the breakdowns, the maul, defense, and as mentioned before, playing expansive rugby. Both Andrew Coe and Ed Fidow are among the try-scoring leaders with 4 apiece.
Last week, Chance Wenglewski was named to the MLR week 8 First XV team. He ran for 46 meters, made 16 tackles, and had 27 ruck arrivals.
Marty Veale has made seven changes in the starters swapping the front row with Nic Mayhew, Dylan Fawsitt, and Wilton Rebolo with Charlie Hewitt returning at lock, and Will Tucker shifting from lock to blindside flanker. Tighthead Kalolo Tuiloma is rested this week.
The halfback combination has also changed with Connor Buckley combining with Sam Windsor. Jason Emery also returns as the inside center.
With Rugby ATL and the New England Free jacks winning yesterday, Rugby New York can keep pace for the playoffs with a win. A bonus-point win of 17 point difference over Old Glory DC would be enough to move into second place in the Eastern Conference. In MLR that is a huge ask, but you never know!
Old Glory DC
Old Glory DC made a coaching change earlier in the week with head coach Andrew Douglas departing with immediate effect. The team named Nate Osborne interim head coach for the remainder of the season, beginning full-time on April 4.
Assistant Coaches Callum Gibbins and James Willocks have prepared the team for the match against Rugby New York and will be the co-coaches for the match with Nate Osborne in attendance.
Changes from last week’s loss to NOLA Gold include Uruguay international hooker, Facundo Gattas making his first MLR start after entering as a reserve last week, Cory Daniel at blindside flanker, while Tevita Naqali moves from blindside flanker to lock. Last year’s co-captain, Thretton Palamo, will make his season debut as a reserve.
Old Glory DC has contended in matches this season but needs to do that for 80 minutes. The team has played well against Rugby New York on the road, and hope that trend continues.
Team captain Danny Tuisitala was named to the MLR week 8 First XV and made seven ball carries, ran for 56 meters, and made 13 tackles.
Squads with Player Article Links
Rugby New York: 1 Nic Mayhew 2 Dylan Fawsitt 3 Wilton Rebolo 4 Nate Brakeley (C) 5 Charlie Hewitt 6 Will Tucker 7 Brendon O’Connor 8 Ben Bonasso 9 Connor Buckley 10 Sam Windsor 11 Ed Fidow 12 Jason Emery13 Faasiu Fuatai 14 Andrew Coe 15 Troy Lockyear 16 Kaleb Geiger 17 Chance Wenglewski 18 Sak Taulafo 19 Kara Pryor 20 Joe Basser 21 Conor McManus 22 Andy Ellis 23 Quinn Ngawati
Old Glory DC: 1 Kyle Stewart 2 Facundo Gattas 3 Jake Ilnicki 4 Tevita Naqali 5 Stan South 6 Cory Daniel 7 Dom Bailey 8 Luke Campbell 9 Danny Tusitala (C) 10 Mike Dabulas 11 Peni Lasaqa12 Junior Sa’u 13 William Talataina 14 Doug Fraser 15 Renata Roberts-Te Nana 16 Rob Irimescu 17 Jack Carroll 18 Dante Lopresti 19 Fintan Coleman 20 Apisai Naikatini 21 Danny Thomas 22 Jack Russell 23 Thretton Palamo
2022 Records
Rugby New York: Record 5-2, 25 points
- Houston SaberCats 7-10 Rugby New York, Match Preview
- Rugby ATL 31-36 Rugby New York, Match Preview
- Dallas Jackals 5-41 Rugby New York, Match Preview
- Rugby New York 29-38 New England Free Jacks, Match Preview
- Rugby New York 26-23 San Diego Legion, Match Preview
- NOLA Gold 19-30 Rugby New York Match Preview
- Rugby New York 10-14 Toronto Arrows Match Preview
- Rugby New York vs Old Glory DC (April 3)
- LA Giltinis vs Rugby New York (April 10)
- Rugby New York vs New England Free Jacks (April 24)
- Rugby New York vs NOLA Gold (May 1)
- Toronto Arrows vs Rugby New York (May 8)
- Rugby New York vs Seattle Seawolves (May 15)
- Rugby New York vs Rugby ATL (May 22)
- Old Glory vs Rugby New York (May 29)
- New England Free Jacks vs Rugby New York (June 3)
Old Glory DC: Record 0-7, 1 point
- Rugby ATL 55-22 Old Glory DC
- Austin Gilgronis 57-12 Old Glory DC
- Old Glory DC 25-41 New England Free Jacks
- Old Glory DC 5-29 Toronto Arrows
- San Diego Legion 24-12 Old Glory DC
- Old Glory DC 13-27 Rugby ATL
- Old Glory DC 22-31 NOLA Gold
- Rugby New York vs Old Glory DC – April 3
Other Articles
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