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The Cayman Islands will host the USA South Panthers on Saturday afternoon in the Butterfield Rugby Challenge. With neither side participating in the Rugby Americas North competition this year, the friendly will serve as a warm-up for the Caymans ahead of their first appearance at the Americas Rugby Challenge.
Experienced prop Peter de Vere is named captain with Welsh flyhalf Morgan Hayward lending his goal-kicking prowess to the side and acting as vice-captain. There are five members of the Westin family included – with starts going to Shane at hooker, Joseph at lock, and Ed in the midfield.
The Panthers have yet to confirm their starting XV but have traveled with four forwards who appeared in Major League Rugby during the 2019 season. Prop Doc Irey, second row Billy Stewart, and back row John Sullivan all suited up for NOLA Gold while Amro Gouda was the backup hooker for the Houston SaberCats. Midfielder Irving Carcamo was named on the bench twice for Houston and played in the preseason but did not make a regular season appearance.
Cayman will be competing against Colombia, Paraguay, and Mexico at the ARCh. The tournament runs from August 25-31 and will be hosted by Colombia.
Kickoff for Saturday’s match is set for 4pm local time, 2pm Pacific, 5pm Eastern. A live stream will be available via Cayman Rugby TV.
CAYMAN ISLANDS
1 Michael Crothers, 2 Shane Westin, 3 Peter de Vere (capt.), 4 Dylan Bostock, 5 Joseph Westin, 6 Hugo Tyson, 7 Cameron Bridgemann, 8 Randy Henderson, 9 Clive O’Mahony, 10 Morgan Hayward, 11 Darien Montague, 12 Cameron Galloway, 13 Ed Westin, 14 Danny Link, 15 Andy Spilsbury
Replacements: 16 Shane Aquart, 17 Ernest Bennett, 18 Duane Ebanks, 19 Rupert Stanning, 20 Paul Westin, 21 Marcus Cubillo, 22 Matt Westin, 23 Theo Edmans
USA SOUTH PANTHERS
FORWARDS: Doc Irey (New Orleans), Zach Jessell (Pittsburgh Harlequins), Ian Lehn (Atlanta Old White), Matt Fontana (Atlanta Renegades), Amro Gouda (Houston SaberCats), Oliver Hire (Miami Tridents), Billy Stewart (NOLA Gold), Calvin Storey (Raleigh Vipers), Austin Grant (Atlanta Old White), Colby Pearl (MTSU), John Sullivan (NOLA Gold), Cameron Tompkins (Nashville), Michael Young (Atlanta Old White)
BACKS: Reid Watkins (Birmingham Vulcans), Patrick Audino (NOVA), Lucas Baistrocchi (Atlanta Old White), Irving Carcamo (West Houston Lions), David Caswell (Little Rock), Richard Shore (Atlanta Old White), Youself Ali (Atlanta Renegades), Michael Martinez (Nashville), Darrin Oliver (Boca Raton Buccaneers), Nathan Ring (Nashville)
Date: Saturday, August 10
Venue: South Sound Rugby Ground, George Town
Kickoff: 16:00 local (14:00 Pacific, 17:00 Eastern)
Broadcasts: Live Stream
