Match Preview – Old Glory DC vs Rugby ATL

A pair of Major League Rugby expansion sides will go head-to-head in Springfield on Sunday in their final tune-ups ahead of the regular season. Old Glory DC and Rugby ATL collide for the first time at The St. James in an indoor contest with both opting for near full-strength lineups.

Gordon Fullerton runs out at tighthead prop in one of three changes to the Old Glory pack. Api Naikatini tags in for Dylan Pieterse at lock, and Travis Larsen is named on the blindside flank. Mungo Mason continues at openside and is nominated as co-captain with Thretton Palamo.

There are also three personnel changes in the backs. Danny Tusitala gets the start at scrumhalf with Palamo coming into the midfield and Doug Fraser pushing out to the right wing. Renata Roberts-Te Nana is named on the left side. Eagles pair Mike Sosene-Feagai and Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz are set to debut for DC from the bench.

ATL are coming off a mini-camp in Vegas and feature six changes to the starting side that beat NOLA two weeks ago. Alex Maughan and Duane Aholelei come into the front row, with Marno Redelinghuys getting the nod ahead of Ross Deacon at No8.

With Kurt Coleman yet to see action, Duncan van Schalkwyk will fill in at No10 with Kurt Werner his halfback partner. There is plenty of gas in the outside backs as the two Harleys – Wheeler and Davidson – start on the wing with Rory van Vugt at fullback.

Kickoff is set for 6pm local time, with the limited capacity completely sold out. There are no plans for a live broadcast.

OLD GLORY DC
1 Jake Turnbull, 2 Max Lum, 3 Gordon Fullerton, 4 Tevita Naqali, 5 Api Naikatini, 6 Travis Larsen, 7 Mungo Mason (co-capt.), 8 Josh Brown, 9 Danny Tusitala, 10 Mike Dabulas, 11 Renata Roberts-Te Nana, 12 Ciaran Hearn, 13 Thretton Palamo (co-capt.), 14 Doug Fraser, 15 Dylan Taikato-Simpson

Replacements: 16 Mike Sosene-Feagai, 17 Jack Iscaro, 18 Will Vakalahi, 19 Dylan Pieterse, 20 Nic Mirhashem, 21 Michael Reid, 22 Jason Robertson, 23 Ryan Burroughs, 24 Jack McLean, 25 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz, 26 Vetekina Malafu

RUGBY ATL
1 Chance Wenglewski, 2 Alex Maughan, 3 Duane Aholelei, 4 Johan Momsen, 5 Conor Keys, 6 Vili Helu, 7 Matt Heaton, 8 Marno Redelinghuys, 9 Kurtis Werner, 10 Duncan van Schalkwyk, 11 Harley Wheeler, 12 Ryan Nell (capt.), 13 Jeremy Misailegalu, 14 Harley Davidson, 15 Rory van Vugt

Replacements: 16 Amro Gouda, 17 Jamie Ferrante, 18 Cronan Gleeson, 19 Harry Higgins, 20 Ross Deacon, 21 Jason Damm, 22 Martini Talapusi, 23 Zander van Schalkwyk

Date: Sunday, January 26
Venue: The St. James, Springfield
Kickoff: 18:00 local (15:00 PT)
Broadcasts: n/a