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A pair of Western Conference playoff hopefuls clash in the first of two Major League Rugby games on Sunday. The San Diego Legion will play their first game at the SDSU Sports Deck against the Utah Warriors. It comes in the wake of this past week’s announcement that the team will move to the brand new Snapdragon Stadium in 2023.
It was an even split between the two last season in a pair of nail-biters. The Legion held on for a two-point win in California but the Warriors came from behind to secure a sensational result at Zions Bank Stadium that ended San Diego’s playoff dreams.
Utah would eventually qualify for the Conference Final, exceeding preseason expectations. Shawn Pittman has shaken the interim tag from his Head Coach title but the off-season saw several leading players depart leaving big shoes to fill for both new arrivals and returning veterans.
Chad Gough won his first Eagles cap against New Zealand and he is rewarded with the first crack at the No2 shirt with Fijian international Tuvere Vugakoto settling for a reserve role. Jamie Lane is tasked with replacing Aston Fortuin at lock, with Saia Uhila preferred to Puna Vuli in the other slot. Canada u20 rep Emerson Prior is set to make his professional debut as backup for loosehead prop Franco van den Berg.
Danny Christensen jumps from third choice to starting scrumhalf with new signing Niall Saunders named on the bench. Cliven Loubser is asked to own the No10 shirt this season. Mike Te’o shifts from fullback to wing with former New Zealand u20 select Caleb Makene making his league debut at No15. Midfielder Tomasi Tonga could make his professional bow after being called up from the Warriors Selects.
Last season was a largely forgettable one for San Diego and there are significant changes as a result. Danny Lee is the new Head Coach and seven players make their first appearance in a match day squad for the club, with others gearing up for a full season after limited appearances in 2021.
Hencus van Wyk is the new tighthead prop with Ben Grant forming a towering second row partnership with Ben Mitchell. Chris Robshaw looks to shake off his injury-plagued campaign and is paired with late season arrival Dan Pryor on the flank. New hooker Matt Moulds will debut from the bench, with Eagles prop Paddy Ryan added to the squad during the week. Canadian flanker Michael Smith’s suspension is now over thanks to the preseason fixtures and he takes up a spot among the reserves.
The captain’s armband was worn by four different players in 2021 but inspirational scrumhalf Nate Augspurger will be hoping it stays in one spot this season. Eagles teammate Will Hooley makes his MLR debut at flyhalf, with Argentine addition Matías Freyre named on the wing after joining from Houston. Local product Nico Gilli could make his regular season debut as Augspurger’s backup, and fans will be counting the minutes before All Blacks legend Ma’a Nonu returns to the pitch as a replacement.
Picture-perfect conditions are expected at the Sports Deck on Sunday afternoon which should make for an exciting contest. Based on last year’s results one might favor the Warriors, but the Legion have named an impressive lineup that looks capable of challenging the best in the Western Conference. Utah have some questions marks in the lineup and with home field advantage, give the favorites tag to San Diego.
Kickoff is set for 2pm local time, 3pm Mountain, 5pm Eastern. Local broadcasts will be available on KMYU and the KSL Sports website in Utah, with The Rugby Network streaming worldwide.
SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Nathan Sylvia, 2 Peter Malcolm, 3 Hencus van Wyk, 4 Ben Mitchell, 5 Ben Grant, 6 Chris Robshaw, 7 Dan Pryor, 8 Tevita Tameilau, 9 Nate Augspurger (capt.), 10 Will Hooley, 11 Bjorn Basson, 12 Tiaan Loots, 13 Thomas Morani, 14 Matías Freyre, 15 Joe Pietersen
Replacements: 16 Matt Moulds, 17 Paddy Ryan, 18 Chris Baumann, 19 Chris Turori, 20 Michael Smith, 21 Nico Gilli, 22 Ryan Matyas, 23 Ma’a Nonu
UTAH WARRIORS
1 Franco van den Berg, 2 Chad Gough, 3 Paul Mullen, 4 Saia Uhila, 5 Jamie Lane, 6 Lance Williams, 7 Bailey Wilson (capt.), 8 Jurie van Vuuren, 9 Danny Christensen, 10 Cliven Loubser, 11 Mika Kruse, 12 Calvin Whiting, 13 Tyler Fisher, 14 Mike Te’o, 15 Caleb Makene
Replacements: 16 Tuvere Vugakoto, 17 Emerson Prior, 18 Angus MacLellan, 19 Puna Vuli, 20 Mike Gieselman, 21 Niall Saunders, 22 Tomasi Tonga, 23 James Vaifale
Date: Sunday, February 6
Venue: SDSU Sports Deck, San Diego
Kickoff: 14:00 local (15:00 Mountain, 17:00 Eastern)
Referee: Scott Green (USA)
Broadcasts: KMYU, KSL Sports, The Rugby Network
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2021-06-12 – Utah Warriors 45, San Diego Legion 41 (Zions Bank Stadium)
2021-04-17 – San Diego Legion 31, Utah Warriors 29 (Dignity Health Track Field)
2019-05-18 – Utah Warriors 21, San Diego Legion 31 (Zions Bank Stadium)
2019-02-17 – San Diego Legion 21, Utah Warriors 10 (Torero Stadium)
2018-04-29 – San Diego Legion 31, Utah Warriors 24 (Torero Stadium)
