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Rugby United New York‘s maiden voyage in Major League Rugby comes on Sunday when the expansion franchise heads to the west coast to face the San Diego Legion at Torero Stadium. It’s been a long wait for New York fans, with the team fully confirmed for the 2019 season before a ball had even been kicked in the inaugural campaign.
Nominated for the historic fixture is an impressive lineup that features eight full internationals in the run-on side. A surprise choice sees former Eagles scrumhalf Mike Petri named as captain despite the presence of regular skipper Dylan Fawsitt. Petri, now 34, has won the starting role ahead of Marcus Walsh and partners Leinster import Cathal Marsh in the halfbacks.
There is another surprise in the midfield. The biggest acquisition in the off-season – England international Ben Foden – is named at outside center having played the vast majority of his professional career at fullback. He lines up outside another import on debut in Will Leonard.
More Irish influence comes in the forms of front row bookends James Rochford and Paddy Ryan, the latter looking to get back in Eagles contention. Trevor Cassidy returns from a two-year injury-enforced break from the sport to partner Nate Brakeley in the second row and John Quill wears the No7 jersey after joining the club from Glendale.
San Diego are keen to show their wares but will be without several leading names due to injury. Among the missing are five Eagles including lock Siaosi Mahoni, flanker Psalm Wooching, outside center Ryan Matyas, and versatile speedsters Nate Augspurger and Mike Te’o. The good news is that another Eagle – Dylan Audsley – is fit to take up a spot in the midfield beside JP du Plessis.
In a humorous twist of fate the Legion will start their own Paddy Ryan in the No3 shirt, their version a Waratahs centurion and Australia international. Dean Muir brings more Super Rugby experience at hooker and Eagles World Cup lock Louis Stanfill debuts in the engine room beside Keni Nasoqeqe.
Drew Gaffney acts as pack leader with Joe Pietersen wearing the captain’s armband. He will have a pair of Fijian game-breakers out wide with Olympic Gold Medallist Jasa Veremalua on the left wing and Save Totovosau on the right. Collegiate All-Americans Kyle Rogers and Marcus Tupuola are drafted in to provide backline cover on the bench.
As full strength there might have been a more convincing argument for San Diego and while they are still dangerous, this is likely New York’s strongest possible side. The presence of Petri and Marsh at halfback should mitigate any potential nerves from the newcomers, and Foden’s class should be apparent early. Jet lag might slow the visitors down by a step or two but New York have all the ingredients to make their MLR debut a successful one.
Kickoff is set for 2pm local time, 5pm Eastern. Local broadcasts will be available on Fox 5 San Diego and SNY, with ESPN+ providing coverage nationwide. Those located in Canada and elsewhere around the world can watch a live stream on the official MLR Facebook page.
SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Nathan Sylvia, 2 Dean Muir, 3 Paddy Ryan, 4 Louis Stanfill, 5 Keni Nasoqeqe, 6 Chris Turori, 7 Devin Short, 8 Drew Gaffney, 9 Nick Boyer, 10 Joe Pietersen (capt.), 11 Jasa Veremalua, 12 Dylan Audsley, 13 JP du Plessis, 14 Save Totovosau, 15 Conor Kearns
Replacements: 16 Kapeli Pifeleti, 17 Faka’osi Pifeleti, 18 Aaron Mitchell, 19 Sione Tu’ihalamaka, 20 Alec Barton, 21 Tai Enosa, 22 Kyle Rogers, 23 Marcus Tupuola
RUGBY UNITED NEW YORK
1 James Rochford, 2 Dylan Fawsitt, 3 Paddy Ryan, 4 Nate Brakeley, 5 Trevor Cassidy, 6 Kyle Sumsion, 7 John Quill, 8 Ross Deacon, 9 Mike Petri (capt.), 10 Cathal Marsh, 11 Connor Wallace-Sims, 12 Will Leonard, 13 Ben Foden, 14 Chris Mattina, 15 Luke Hume
Replacements: 16 Mike Brown, 17 Anthony Parry, 18 Kirk Hamilton, 19 Alex MacDonald, 20 Matt Hughston, 21 Marcus Walsh, 22 Seimou Smith, 23 Derek Lipscomb
Date: Sunday, January 27
Venue: Torero Stadium, San Diego
Kickoff: 14:00 local (17:00 Eastern)
Referee: Paul-Henri Courbier (USAR)
Assistants: Luke Rogan (USAR) & Moe Chaudhry (RC)
Broadcasts: ESPN+, Facebook, Fox 5 San Diego, SNY
