Rugby New York vs Dallas Jackals Match Preview

Rugby New York hosts the Dallas Jackals on Sunday, June 4 at Memorial Stadium in Mt. Vernon, New York. Kickoff is at 3 pm ET and tickets are still available, but the team’s largest crowd is expected. The match will be broadcast on MSG Networks, as well as streamed on The Rugby Network domestically and internationally.

The Ironworkers will travel to Rugby ATL next Saturday and their final regular season home match will be on June 18 against the Utah Warriors.

The Jackals finish their regular season at home the next two Saturdays against NOLA Gold and the Chicago Hounds.

As it is important to encourage fan attendance, this article will be published using the MLR App for the Dallas Jackals squad. Should there be changes, the article will be updated.

MLR Eastern Conference Playoff Race

The Ironworkers will enter the match with a bonus point victory needed to position themselves for another playoff run. The team is currently in third place in the Eastern Conference with a 6-7 record and 32 points. The team travels to face Rugby ATL next Saturday and finishes at home on June 18 against the Utah Warriors, who are currently in a battle with the Houston SaberCats for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

On Friday, the first-place New England Free Jacks (58 points) beat Rugby ATL 35-14. While the Free Jacks had already clinched home-field advantage in the Conference, Rugby ATL did not pick up a bonus point and remains in fourth place with 27 points. ATL will host the Ironworkers next Saturday and Old Glory DC in two weeks.

The team will be following the Saturday night scoreboard with fifth-place NOLA Gold (26 points) hosting second-place Old Glory DC (33 points). A NOLA Gold win could be the springboard the team needs to make the playoffs for the first time should they finish with wins over Dallas and Toronto.

Old Glory can also make the playoffs for the first time with a bonus point win over NOLA Gold if NOLA Gold does not gain two bonus points. Old Glory then travels to play the Houston SaberCats before hosting Rugby ATL in two weeks.

Rugby New York Ironworkers

Head Coach James Semple has made one change in the starters and four in the reserves. The team has had a number of injuries this season and sees several players returning in the nick of time to attempt to secure a playoff spot.

Nic Mayhew, who plays both prop positions, returns as a starter a loosehead prop. He replaced Chance Wenglewski during the first half of last week’s match against San Diego. Hopefully, the apparent injury is a minor one for Chance.

Three of the reserve changes are due to availability after recovering from injuries. Tevita Langi, Conor McManus, and Brendon O’Connor return at loosehead prop, scrumhalf, and back row, respectively. Nick Feakes missed last week’s match and is available in the back three. The team has had to juggle props, back rows, and scrumhalf due to injuries this season, so it is good to have them back. Brendon, was one of the leading tacklers last year and is a team leader, so his return will be important.

The Ironworkers have also missed Jack Heighton at flyhalf, but Jason Emery has been a catalyst there with Sam Windsor entering in the second half.

The team will need to find creative ways to pierce the Jackals’ defense early, as a bonus point win is important if the team wants to be in the playoffs. The team will need to contest at the breakdown and minimize penalties.

Dallas Jackals

Head Coach Agustin Cavalieri has made three changes in the starters and three in the reserves since the team’s 27-19 road win over Rugby ATL two weeks ago. The team is in fifth place with a 2-12 record in the Western Conference and is coming off a bye week. The team is not to be taken lightly and will be very competitive.

The three starter changes include Alejandro Torres, Lui Sitama, and Tomas Cubilla at flyhalf, left-wing, and inside center, respectively, with Marcos Moroni shifting from left wing to fullback.

The reserve changes include Alex Tucci, Herman Agenbag, and James Viafale at loosehead prop, tighthead prop, and wing/center, respectively. Tucci is listed as number 16, which is the traditional hooker number, while Connor Robinson at hooker is number 17.

The Jackals will be interested in gaining additional wins to close out their 2023 season at home against NOLA Gold next Saturday and finish against the Chicago Hounds on June 17.