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Old Glory DC will wrap up their spring exhibition campaign with a match against the Ontario Blues at Cardinal Stadium on Sunday afternoon. After dropping the first two matches to Shannon RFC and Scotland u20, Old Glory got their first franchise victory against the USA South Panthers and will be looking to make it two in a row against their visitors.
Previous incarnations of the Blues would have posed a formidable challenge. Six-time winners of the Canadian Rugby Championship, the bulk of the squad has now graduated to the Toronto Arrows in Major League Rugby. With the CRC not taking place in 2019, the Blues have shifted gears and selected a youthful side with an eye to preparing the next generation of Arrows contenders.
To be sure, there are future MLR players in the lineup. Tightead prop Emerson Prior is a recent Canada u20 graduate and highly rated in Ontario circles. Equally ranked is emerging eightman Matt Fish, a dominant athlete in Ontario’s university division who has played for the Arrows academy side.
The backs feature the creative Nathan Boeyenga at flyhalf, a McCormick Cup champion with the Brantford Harlequins. His backup, Steve Commerford, is another national u20 select. Miguel Palij comes with a reputation for speed, a track athlete who has since gained Canada u19 selection in rugby.
Andrew Douglas has made several changes to his forward pack, with a new front row named in Jack Iscaro, Mo Katz, and Dante Lopresti. It’s the first start for Iscaro, a Junior All-American and Cal Golden Bears standout who is equally familiar with hooker though it’s loosehead prop where he will line up.
Former Green Bay Packers tight end Ryan Smith gets a start at lock with Tyler Barberi moving to the blindside flank. Dacoda Worth shifts to openside in a physically imposing loose forward trio along with captain Josh Brown.
Chris Kunkel has been selected at flyhalf, the third player to start at the position for Old Glory. John Sage gets a run in the midfield beside Darien Pickett, an age-grade international front rower who impressed with several powerful runs against the Panthers. The outside back trio remains unchanged.
Kickoff is set for 3pm local time, Noon Pacific. A live broadcast has yet to be confirmed.
EDIT: A YouTube stream via Next Level Rugby has now been confirmed.
OLD GLORY DC
1 Jack Iscaro, 2 Mo Katz, 3 Dante Lopresti, 4 Ayemere Oiyemhonlan, 5 Ryan Smith, 6 Tyler Barberi, 7 Dacoda Worth, 8 Josh Brown (capt.), 9 Michael Reid, 10 Chris Kunkel, 11 Ryan Burroughs, 12 Darien Pickett, 13 John Sage, 14 Vetekina Malafu, 15 Nick Kuhl
Replacements: 16 Oisin O’Neill, 17 Wale Williams, 18 Cullen Barelka, 19 Mason McIlwee, 20 Guy Lopresti, 21 Sean Hartig, 22 Selby Niu, 23 John Davis
ONTARIO BLUES
1 Jeff Wood, 2 Dan Cooper, 3 Emerson Prior, 4 Charles Oulton, 5 Hank Stevenson, 6 John Stoneham, 7 George Manoukas, 8 Matt Fish, 9 Nate Roberts, 10 Nathan Boeyenga, 11 Miguel Palij, 12 Mitch Voralek, 13 Josh Bald, 14 Jordan Henstra, 15 Paul Schroeder
Replacements: 16 Owen Lavado, 17 Graeme Francolini, 18 Aaron Sommerhalder, 19 Levi Konecny, 20 Zach Zorbas, 21 Andrew Wilson, 22 Steve Commerford, 23 Ethan Hager
Date: Sunday, June 9
Venue: Cardinal Stadium, Washington
Kickoff: 15:00 local (12:00 Pacific)
Broadcasts: Next Level Rugby (YouTube)
