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It’s a first-ever 10th meeting between two Major League Rugby teams as the Seattle Seawolves host the San Diego Legion on Saturday. The occasion is both historic and potentially pivotal in the playoff race, with Seattle trailing San Diego by four points for third spot in the Western Conference.
Seattle’s win at the Sports Deck in February nudged them ahead in the head-to-head battle which now stands at 5-4. Since then, however, it’s been a frustrating run of five losses and just a single victory over Dallas for the Seawolves. A defeat to the Legion would leave the postseason hopes in tatters.
Allen Clarke will look to Andrew Durutalo to lift his team this week. The former Eagles star has agreed to return for the Seawolves after suiting up for Oxford in the Varsity Match two weeks ago. He starts at openside flanker with Setefano Funaki joining the match day squad this week as extra lock or loose forward cover on the bench.
Martin Iosefo returns from parental leave to start on the left wing, and Duncan Matthews is recalled at fullback. AJ Alatimu is restored at flyhalf with scrumhalf Reid Watkins and the versatile David Busby the only backs in reserve this week.
San Diego are ahead in the standings but have also struggled with form in recent weeks. The second-half collapse against Austin means they have dropped three of their last four. Danny Lee has nonetheless kept the faith with only one enforced personnel change to the starting lineup.
Injury to Ben Grant sees Rohan O’Regan moving into the second row, with Dan Pryor jumping from the bench to the blindside flank. Chris Robshaw is fit to take a spot among the reserves where former Arrows prop Pat Lynott continues to provide emergency backup at hooker.
Light rain is expected at kickoff which could see the two sides resorting to tactical kicking early on. Starfire’s narrower pitch also leaves less room for the men out wide to exploit. Durutalo’s presence is a boost to the Seawolves pack while Grant is a big loss for the Legion. Neither are in great form, so give the favorites tag to the home team but not by much.
Kickoff is set for 3pm local time, 6pm Eastern. Local broadcasts will be available on Root Sports in Seattle and YurView in San Diego, with The Rugby Network streaming worldwide.
SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Mzamo Majola, 2 James Malcolm, 3 Tim Metcher, 4 Samu Manoa, 5 Rhyno Herbst, 6 Ben Landry, 7 Andrew Durutalo, 8 Riekert Hattingh (capt.), 9 JP Smith, 10 AJ Alatimu, 11 Martin Iosefo, 12 Tavite Lopeti, 13 Dan Kriel, 14 Lauina Futi, 15 Duncan Matthews
Replacements: 16 Mike Brown, 17 Kellen Gordon, 18 Sam Matenga, 19 Victor Comptat, 20 Travis Larsen, 21 Reid Watkins, 22 Setefano Funaki, 23 David Busby
SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Nathan Sylvia, 2 Peter Malcolm, 3 Paddy Ryan, 4 Ben Mitchell, 5 Rohan O’Regan, 6 Dan Pryor, 7 Michael Smith, 8 Tevita Tameilau, 9 Jason Higgins, 10 Joe Pietersen, 11 Tomas Aoake, 12 Ma’a Nonu (capt.), 13 Tiaan Loots, 14 Bjorn Basson, 15 Matías Freyre
Replacements: 16 Pat Lynott, 17 Joe Walsh, 18 Chris Baumann, 19 Chris Turori, 20 Chris Robshaw, 21 Nico Gilli, 22 Josh Thiel, 23 Ryan Matyas
Date: Saturday, April 16
Venue: Starfire Stadium, Tukwila
Kickoff: 15:00 local (18:00 Eastern)
Referee: George Selwood (England)
Assistants: Chris Assmus (Canada) & Brad Schwalger (Canada)
TMO: Shanda Assmus (Canada)
Broadcasts: Root Sports, The Rugby Network, YurView
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2022-02-20 – San Diego Legion 28, Seattle Seawolves 31 (SDSU Sports Deck)
2021-07-03 – San Diego Legion 34, Seattle Seawolves 21 (Elite Athlete Training Center)
2021-05-09 – Seattle Seawolves 21, San Diego Legion 15 (Starfire Stadium)
2020-02-09 – San Diego Legion 33, Seattle Seawolves 24 (Torero Stadium)
2019-06-16 – San Diego Legion 23, Seattle Seawolves 26 (Torero Stadium)
2019-03-31 – Seattle Seawolves 22, San Diego Legion 28 (Starfire Stadium)
2019-02-02 – San Diego Legion 17, Seattle Seawolves 13 (Torero Stadium)
2018-06-30 – Seattle Seawolves 38, San Diego Legion 24 (Infinity Park)
2018-04-22 – Seattle Seawolves 39, San Diego Legion 23 (Starfire Stadium)
