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The two bottom-ranked teams on the Major League Rugby ladder will go head-to-head at Segra Field on Saturday evening. Old Glory DC and the Dallas Jackals have a combined record of 1-19, with the only win coming just a week ago for DC against the Utah Warriors. Dallas will be hoping this is their chance to leave the goose-egg behind.
Injuries have ravaged the Jackals this season and once again their lineup has required adjusting after losing Alejandro Torres early in the match against Austin. There is better new that Asa Carter has been passed fit to start while Matt Frings makes a timely return from suspension.
Chris Pennell will step up into the flyhalf role as needs must, with Campbell Johnstone at fullback. Cael Hodgson moves into the midfield with Aaron Gray and Kelly Kolberg named on the wings. Kolberg, 37 years young, is set to play his first MLR game since the 2019 season and his first regular season game for his home town of Dallas.
Carter and Frings are on the flanks while Campbell Robinson makes his first Jackals start at lock in place of Charlie Hola. Lock-slash-flanker-slash-wing Shawn Clark is named on the bench this week where Daryl Bagley, a USA u20 rep as a prop, is set to debut as a loose forward.
Old Glory have had an extra day to recuperate from the victory celebrations and as expected show only minimal changes. Stan South is ruled out requiring a forward shuffle. Felix Kalapu moves to the second row, Luke Campbell to blindside flanker, and Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz is at No8. Api Naikatini joins the bench to fill South’s import slot.
Perfect conditions are expected at kickoff which should allow for an entertaining spectacle. This is the first ever meeting between the two sides but historical reference isn’t required to handicap this fixture. A revitalised Old Glory are stronger all-around and should be considered strong favorites to pick up their second win of this turbulent season.
Kickoff is set for 8pm local time, 7pm Central, 5pm Pacific. Fox Sports 2 will broadcast nationwide with The Rugby Network streaming live for viewers abroad.
EDIT: There are late changes to the Dallas roster with Chad London suffering injury at training. Campbell Johnstone moves to inside center, Hayden Hill makes his first MLR start at fullback, and Alex Tucci joins the bench.
OLD GLORY DC
1 Jack Iscaro, 2 Rob Irimescu, 3 Kyle Stewart, 4 Tevita Naqali, 5 Felix Kalapu, 6 Luke Campbell, 7 Cory Daniel, 8 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz, 9 Danny Tusitala (capt.), 10 Rohan Saifoloi, 11 Junior Sa’u, 12 Thretton Palamo, 13 William Talataina, 14 Peni Lasaqa, 15 Renata Roberts-Te Nana
Replacements: 16 Mo Katz, 17 Jack Carroll, 18 Jake Ilnicki, 19 Api Naikatini, 20 Fintan Coleman, 21 Danny Thomas, 22 Doug Fraser, 23 Owen Sheehy
DALLAS JACKALS
1 Ryan Bower, 2 Augusto Böhme, 3 Herman Agenbag, 4 Campbell Robinson, 5 Mike Matarazzo, 6 Asa Carter, 7 Matt Frings, 8 Conrado Roura, 9 Tom Brusati, 10 Chris Pennell (capt.), 11 Aaron Gray, 12 Campbell Johnstone, 13 Cael Hodgson, 14 Kelly Kolberg, 15 Hayden Hill
Replacements: 16 Brendan Rams, 17 Liam Murray, 18 Tommy Madaras, 19 Daryl Bagley, 20 Adriaan Booysen, 21 Kurtis Werner, 22 Alex Tucci, 23 Shawn Clark
Date: Saturday, April 23
Venue: Segra Field, Leesburg
Kickoff: 20:00 local (17:00 Pacific, 19:00 Central)
Referee: Marquise Goodwin (USA)
Assistants: Gavin McCandless (USA) & Aaron Davis (USA)
TMO: Luke Rogan (USA)
Broadcasts: Fox Sports 2, The Rugby Network
HISTORICAL RESULTS
n/a
