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The two-time defending Major League Rugby champions will dust off their boots on Thursday evening when the Seattle Seawolves host the Vancouver Island Crimson Tide at Starfire Stadium in an exhibition encounter. Championship rings for returning Seattle players are set to be doled out prior to the match with kickoff slated for 7pm.
A strong opening lineup has been named by the Seawolves containing 10 players who started in the 2019 Championship Final win over San Diego. No captain has been indicated on the team sheet but both Riekert Hattingh and Shalom Suniula are in their usual positions.
With Eagles prop Olive Kilifi set to miss the season in its entirety, John Hayden gets a run at loosehead prop with Jérémy Lenaerts given the first chance to partner Brad Tucker at lock. Fan favorite Eric Duechle is on the blindside flank and Nakai Penny retains his spot ahead of Vili Toluta’u at openside.
Two new Seawolves will suit up to start with UK imports Ross Neal and Harry Davies both named in the backline. The Tamaivena twins await their turn on the bench. Among the absentees are Canadians DJ Sears-Duru and Jeff Hassler, South African pair FP Pelser and Ryno Eksteen, Pumas flanker Juan Manuel Leguizamón, and Ulster recruit David Busby.
The Tide meanwhile show a number of backline changes from the squad announced last week. Dropping out are San Diego-bound Josh Thiel, Canada ‘A’ pair Anton Ngongo and Mike Nieuwenhuysen, and age-grade reps Logan Martin-Feek and Brennig Prevost.
Called up is Canada u20 select Thomas Isherwood who partners Crosby Stewart in an all-Pacific Pride halfback pairing. Former Arrows winger Kainoa Lloyd is the only capped player in the side with another u20 standout Gabriel Casey named at outside center.
The forward pack is largely intact with New Zealanders John Braddock, Tom Scanlan, and Tyler Symon-Burke all named in the run-on side. Nico Krawczyk is a surprise choice at hooker having played most of his senior rugby at prop, and UVic flanker James O’Neill skippers the side in a strong loose forward trio beside fellow u20 caps Mason Flesch and Siaki Vikilani.
Wintery conditions are expected to welcome the players in Tukwila though the game is set to continue as planned. A live broadcast will not be available with updates instead coming through Seattle’s Twitter account. The two teams last met at Langford in December 2018, with Seattle winning 48-7.
SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 John Hayden, 2 Stephan Coetzee, 3 Tim Metcher, 4 Jérémy Lenaerts, 5 Brad Tucker, 6 Eric Duechle, 7 Nakai Penny, 8 Riekert Hattingh, 9 JP Smith, 10 Ben Cima, 11 Brock Staller, 12 Shalom Suniula, 13 Ross Neal, 14 Mat Turner, 15 Harry Davies
Replacements: 16 Kellen Gordon, 17 Mike Shepherd, 18 Jake Ilnicki, 19 Taylor Krumrei, 20 Vili Toluta’u, 21 Jope Motokana, 22 Scott Dean, 23 Joey Iosefa, 24 Siti Tamaivena, 25 Suli Tamaivena, 26 George Barton
VANCOUVER ISLAND CRIMSON TIDE
1 John Braddock, 2 Nico Krawczyk, 3 Tom Scanlan, 4 Tyler Symon-Burke, 5 Quinn Horton, 6 Mason Flesch, 7 James O’Neill (capt.), 8 Siaki Vikilani, 9 Crosby Stewart, 10 Thomas Isherwood, 11 Kainoa Lloyd, 12 Mua Uluilelata, 13 Gabriel Casey, 14 Ty Benson, 15 Sam Reimer
Replacements: 16 Foster DeWitt, 17 Blake van Heyningen, 18 Ed Ilnicki, 19 Carter Filion, 20 Peyton Eagar, 21 Brandon Schellenberger, 22 Taylor de Souza, 23 Reid Watkins, 24 David Devillers
Date: Thursday, January 16
Venue: Starfire Stadium, Tukwila
Kickoff: 19:00 local (22:00 Eastern)
Broadcasts: n/a
