MLR Off-Season Update – Utah Warriors

It’s been a busy and memorable off-season across the board in Major League Rugby, and in particular for the Utah Warriors. Of the nine established teams, only Colorado can challenge in terms of improvement from 2019 though ultimately the winner will be decided by on-field results. The team’s adopted hashtag for the year – ‘reloaded’ – is slightly cringe-inducing while at the same time undeniably accurate.

2019 CAMPAIGN

This past season was not good for Utah. After bashing their way into the Semi Finals in 2018, the team slumped to a dismal 2-12-2 record in 2019 with only the winless Austin worse off. Despite boasting numerous attacking threats, the team often looked disorganized and they conceded a league-high 517 points, an average of 32 per game.

Rare positives included the play of captain Tim O’Malley, who has now departed, while forwards Saia Uhila, Matt Jensen, and Lance Williams stood out but were often worked to the point of exhaustion. Selections were questionable at times and the reluctance to use tactical substitutions was a major failing of coach Alf Daniels.

HOME VENUE

Utah will continue to play at the scenic Zions Bank Stadium, a 5,000 seat turf field attached to the Real Salt Lake academy. Both playing and training facilities are top notch. Community support remains strong though inclement weather damaged attendance figures early in the season.

COACHING STAFF

Daniels was shown the door within days of the season’s end with forwards coach Stevie Scott packing his bags for London Scottish. Player-coach James Semple was originally to stay on but has since returned to his native New Zealand to take over at Hamilton Old Boys. CEO Kimball Kjar stepped down from his rugby management role to concentrate on the business side of the organization.

The turning point came in October when majority ownership was taken over by a group also invested in the San Diego Legion. Former Warriors player Ben Nicholls had been mooted as the new Head Coach but he was instead cast in an assistant role with former Australia star and Samoa assistant Chris Latham handed the reins for 2020.

Installed as the new Director of Rugby is Brandon Sparks, the founder of Legacy Rugby Academy who had previously stepped in to help the Seawolves in 2018. USA forwards coach Shawn Pittman was brought in to replace Scott, and recently-retired World Cup scrumhalf Shaun Davies adds his tactical expertise.

2020 ROSTER

There will be no less than 15 new players on board in 2020, with almost every position now accounted for. A similar number have left with all five hookers who took the field in 2019 now gone. Starting scrumhalf Johnny Ika followed Semple back to New Zealand with O’Malley taking up a contract in Japan. Brazil internationals Arthur Bergo and Josh Reeves will play in the new South American league.

Other prominent names who have left include bruising No8 Les Soloai and man-mountain lock Maikeli Naromaitoga, the latter joining the Austin Herd after moving there on loan mid-season. Jeremy ‘The Missile’ Misailegalu is now with Rugby ATL and outside backs Josh Anderson and Don Pati won’t be back. Prop Alex Tucci and midfielder AJ Tu’ineau are not listed on the current roster but may become available if needed during the season.

Reinforcements have streamed through the door from the Southern Hemisphere. Promising Fiji hooker Veremalua Vugakoto bolsters the front row along with enormous Super Rugby prop Kalolo Tuiloma. Jurie van Vuuren comes in from South Africa with Australian Richard Stanford also bringing an experienced option at lock or loose forward.

Former All Blacks flanker Adam Thomson was signed in the spring but has opted to pursue personal business interests. Mitigating that letdown is the unexpected return of vice-captain John Cullen who had initially indicated his retirement at season’s end.

Scrumhalf has been a problem for the team since Day One but in Manu Samoa starter Dwayne Polataivao they should finally have stability at the key position. Capped internationals Hagen Schulte, Robbie Povey, and Calvin Whiting join the backline along with new midfield pair Blake Hohaia and Tyler Fisher.

WHAT’S MISSING

The new-look roster is a significant improvement in both quality and depth, but there are still a couple gaps to be filled. Most notable is the lack of a third hooker. Inexperienced BYU backup Ricky Tu’ihalangingie is the only man currently in place behind Vugakoto with Uruguay’s Germán Kessler, a potential addition, opting to take up a contract in France.

Another big body up front would do, though the versatile Kenny Scott remains on the roster. He is strangely listed as a winger, but the 6’4″ (1.93m) Kansas City product has played all his rugby for Utah to date as a flanker. With more than enough cover in the backs, he could be roped back into forwards meetings sooner than later.

RE-SIGNED (19):

Franco van den Berg, LH
Huluholo Mo’ungaloa, LH
Frikkie de Beer, LH
Angus MacLellan, TH
Matt Jensen, LO
Saia Uhila, LO
Ara Elkington, FL
Jackson Kaka, FL
Lance Williams, FL
John Cullen, N8
Joseph Nicholls, SH
Jared Whippy, FH/CE
Gannon Moore, CE/WI
Tonata Lauti, WI
Kenny Scott, WI/FL
Nolan Tuamoheloa, WI
Fetu’u Vainikolo, WI
Vatemo Ravouvou, WI/FB
Josh Whippy, FB

IN (15):

Ricky Tu’ihalangingie, HO, BYU
Veremalua Vugakoto, HO, Fijian Latui (FI)
Kalolo Tuiloma, TH, Counties Manukau (NZ)
Michael Payne, TH, BYU
Richard Stanford, LO, Randwick (AU)
Jurie van Vuuren, LO/FL, Eastern Province (SA)
Caleb Meyer, FL, NOLA Gold
Bailey Wilson, N8, Utah Valley
Michael Baska, SH, NOLA Gold
Dwayne Polataivao, SH, Doncaster Knights (UK)
Hagen Schulte, FH, CSM Bucuresti (RO)
Robbie Povey, FH/FB, Sale FC (UK)
Tyler Fisher, CE, West Harbour (AU)
Blake Hohaia, CE, Northland (NZ)
Calvin Whiting, CE, BYU

OUT (18):

Blake Burdette, HO, retired
Logan Daniels, HO
Jeremy Leber, HO
Metai Tu’imoala, HO
Alex Vorster, HO
Maikeli Naromaitoga, LO, Austin Herd
Arthur Bergo, FL, Corinthians (BR)
Tom Kacor, FL, Chicago Lions
Les Soloai, N8
Johnny Ika, SH, Hawke’s Bay (NZ)
Ian Luciano, SH
Josh Reeves, FH, Corinthians (BR)
James Semple, FH/FB, retired (Hamilton Old Boys coach)
Tim O’Malley, FH/CE, NEC Green Rockets
Iniki Fa’amausili, CE
Josh Anderson, WI
Jeremy Misailegalu, WI, Rugby ATL
Don Pati, FB