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The first ‘rematch’ of the 2022 Major League Rugby season sees Old Glory DC hosting Rugby ATL at Segra Field on Sunday evening. It was a one-sided win for the Ratlers back in Round 1 and suffice to say things have not gone well for DC since, with zero competition points from six games played.
There were some positive signs for Old Glory in the second half of their match against San Diego, though they ultimately fell short. A bye week will have given Andrew Douglas and his men a chance to regroup, and the arrival of Felix Kalapu from New Zealand helps bolster the forward pack.
Kalapu makes his Major League Rugby debut on the blindside flank, one of just two personnel changes to the run-on side. The other comes in the front row where Kyle Stewart switches to loosehead prop to fill in for the injured Jack Iscaro. Filling the tighthead role is Jake Ilnicki.
ATL are at the top of the Eastern Conference table and come into the match on the back of a statement win over Western Conference leaders Austin. Stephen Brett is taking the opportunity to rest some of his senior players with eight of the starting XV different this week.
Alex Maughan and John Sullivan will bookend the front row, with Conor Keys in at lock for Johan Momsen. Vili Helu starts on the blindside flank with Daemon Torres coming in at No8. Two notable inclusions on the bench are back row pair Frederick Henry-Ajudua and Jason Damm. The former makes his professional debut and the latter has recovered from a long-term knee injury.
Back after a week on the sidelines is Kurt Coleman, who replaces Martini Talapusi at flyhalf. Kian Meadon is primed for his club debut at fullback, arriving on loan from the Houston SaberCats. Eamonn Matthews and Lui Sitama are the only back reserves.
The week off should at see an energetic DC side take the field, and defense will surely have been a priority in training. On paper they certainly have the firepower to threaten with ball in hand. ATL are renowned for their own defense, however, and have stronger reserves to call on in the second half. Look for a closer result than their first encounter but the visitors remain clear favorites.
Kickoff is set for 7pm local time, 4pm Pacific. Fox Sports 1 will broadcast nationwide with The Rugby Network streaming to viewers located abroad.
OLD GLORY DC
1 Kyle Stewart, 2 Rob Irimescu, 3 Jake Ilnicki, 4 Api Naikatini, 5 Stan South, 6 Felix Kalapu, 7 Cory Daniel, 8 Luke Campbell, 9 Danny Tusitala (capt.), 10 Rohan Saifoloi, 11 Doug Fraser, 12 Junior Sa’u, 13 William Talataina, 14 Peni Lasaqa, 15 Renata Roberts-Te Nana
Replacements: 16 Mo Katz, 17 Will Vakalahi, 18 Dante Lopresti, 19 Fintan Coleman, 20 Dom Bailey, 21 John LeFevre, 22 Mike Dabulas, 23 Owen Sheehy
RUGBY ATL
1 Alex Maughan, 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 3 John Sullivan, 4 Justin Basson, 5 Conor Keys, 6 Vili Helu, 7 Connor Cook, 8 Daemon Torres, 9 Rowan Gouws, 10 Kurt Coleman, 11 Harley Davidson, 12 Will Leonard, 13 Ryan Nell (capt.), 14 Austin White, 15 Kian Meadon
Replacements: 16 Tiaan Erasmus, 17 Jonas Petrakopoulos, 18 John-Roy Jenkinson, 19 Evan Mintern, 20 Frederick Henry-Ajudua, 21 Jason Damm, 22 Eamonn Matthews, 23 Lui Sitama
Date: Sunday, March 20
Venue: Segra Field, Leesburg
Kickoff: 19:00 local (16:00 Pacific)
Referee: Derek Summers (USA)
Assistants: Gavin McCandless (USA) & Aaron Davis (USA)
TMO: Amelia Luciano (USA)
Broadcasts: Fox Sports 1, The Rugby Network
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2022-02-05 – Rugby ATL 55, Old Glory DC 22 (Silverbacks Park)
2021-06-26 – Rugby ATL 32, Old Glory DC 12 (Lupo Family Field)
2021-03-27 – Old Glory DC 30, Rugby ATL 23 (Segra Field)
2020-03-08 – Old Glory DC 31, Rugby ATL 29 (Cardinal Stadium)
