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The final game of Week 11 is an Eastern Conference clash between Old Glory DC and Rugby United New York. It’s the second time they have met this season, the first a high-scoring affair in Jersey City won by New York. Leesburg provides the backdrop on Sunday as DC look to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Old Glory have won two in a row since their last-second loss to Utah earlier this month. New York is a clear step up in competition from either Seattle or Houston, however, and the team have now lost two of their first choice back row as a suspended Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz joins injured co-captain Mungo Mason on the sidelines.
Josh Brown returns from a week’s absence to fill in at No8 while Tevita Naqali starts on the blindside flank for the first time. Cory Daniel drops to the bench with Callum Gibbins switching to openside. He will be the sole skipper this week with no sign of Thretton Palamo in the midfield.
Ciaran Hearn is the man who runs out at inside center in his first start since the opening week of the season. Otherwise the backline is unchanged though there is a notable return for winger Sam Cusano from a shoulder injury on the bench.
EDIT: Additional late changes see Jamie Dever and Max Lum ruled out with injury. Jack Iscaro starts at loosehead prop with James King and Jack Carroll called up to the bench.
New York were dominant winners at home over New England last weekend and now share the top record in the East but trail Rugby ATL by two bonus points. With the Ratlers facing overall leaders LA on Saturday, there is a chance for New York to jump ahead if they can pull off a result on the road.
A shoulder injury will keep Nick Civetta out of the lineup this week so Evan Mintern moves up to lock. Kara Pryor fills the vacancy at No8, and there is a return for Zak Taulafo at tighthead prop with Samu Tawake dropping to the bench. Charlie Hewitt takes the reserve spot of Kyle Sumsion as specialist lock cover.
There are two rotations in the backline. Quinn Ngawati and Chris Mattina start at inside center and right wing respectively. Moving to the replacements are Will Leonard and Joel Miranda. Harry Bennett continues at flyhalf with Dan Hollinshead again forced to sit out with his own shoulder knock.
The loss of Civetta is significant for New York though Bennett proved a more-than-capable replacement for Hollinshead last week. On the other side DC are without three of their best players in Mason, Fa’anana-Schultz, and Palamo. The potential of rain likely benefits New York’s forward strength. Take the visitors against a game but outgunned Old Glory.
Kickoff is set for 1pm local time, 10am Pacific. Local broadcasts will be available on NBC Sports Washington in DC and MSG Network in New York, with The Rugby Network streaming worldwide.
OLD GLORY DC
1 Jack Iscaro, 2 Mike Sosene-Feagai, 3 Steven Longwell, 4 Api Naikatini, 5 Stan South, 6 Tevita Naqali, 7 Callum Gibbins (capt.), 8 Josh Brown, 9 Danny Tusitala, 10 Jason Robertson, 11 Renata Roberts-Te Nana, 12 Ciaran Hearn, 13 Doug Fraser, 14 Mike Dabulas, 15 Dylan Taikato-Simpson
Replacements: 16 James King, 17 Jack Carroll, 18 Dante Lopresti, 19 Casey Renaud, 20 Cory Daniel, 21 Danny Thomas, 22 D’Montae Noble, 23 Sam Cusano
RUGBY UNITED NEW YORK
1 James Rochford, 2 Dylan Fawsitt (capt.), 3 Zak Taulafo, 4 Nate Brakeley, 5 Evan Mintern, 6 Hanco Germishuys, 7 Benjamín Bonasso, 8 Kara Pryor, 9 Andy Ellis, 10 Harry Bennett, 11 Apenisa Cakaubalavu, 12 Quinn Ngawati, 13 Fa’asiu Fuatai, 14 Chris Mattina, 15 Ben Foden
Replacements: 16 Wilton Rebolo, 17 Anthony Parry, 18 Samu Tawake, 19 Charlie Hewitt, 20 Rob Irimescu, 21 Conor McManus, 22 Will Leonard, 23 Joel Miranda
Date: Sunday, May 30
Venue: Segra Field, Leesburg
Kickoff: 13:00 local (10:00 Pacific)
Referee: Scott Green (USA)
Assistants: Mike O’Brien (USA) & Gavin McCandless (USA)
Broadcasts: MSG Network, NBC Sports Washington, The Rugby Network
Historical Results
2021-04-18 – Rugby United New York 38, Old Glory DC 34 (Cochrane Stadium)
