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Rugby New York will look to redeem last week’s home loss when they host the NOLA Gold at JFK Stadium on Sunday afternoon. With the Toronto Arrows just two points behind for third spot in the Eastern Conference, it’s a match of vital importance in the playoff race.
After a bright start to the season New York have now lost three of their last four, including the humiliating trip to Los Angeles. They remain without three players who were concussed during the game – winger Andrew Coe, second row Will Tucker, and front row Wilton Rebolo. Fans will also have to wait another week before a first appearance of new signing Waisake Naholo.
There are three changes to the tight five. Sakaria Taulafo comes in at loosehead prop, Dylan Fawsitt at hooker, and Nick Civetta at lock. Joe Basser returns to the squad as back row cover on the bench and the backs are exactly as they lined up against New England.
NOLA fell rather meekly at home to Austin last weekend and have now dropped four in a row and five of their last six. The club showed faith in their Head Coach with a two-year extension this week and Kane Thompson has shown faith in his charges with only one change to the starting lineup.
Dino Waldren returns at tighthead prop with Brian Nault dropping to the bench. Pat O’Toole is fit again to take up the reserve hooker spot with Kavika Peniata covering loosehead prop. William Waguespack is the backup lock, and winger Jack Webster has returned from his loan to Dallas to wear the No23 shirt.
When the two sides met earlier this year it was New York who took a convincing win. Oddly enough all three of NOLA’s wins this season have come on the road. Neither arrive in great form though the home side were more competitive last week. Take New York who have more at stake.
Kickoff is set for 3pm local time, 2pm Central, noon Pacific. Local broadcasts will be available on MSG+ in New York and YurView in New Orleans, with The Rugby Network streaming worldwide.
RUGBY NEW YORK
1 Sakaria Taulafo, 2 Dylan Fawsitt, 3 Kalolo Tuiloma, 4 Nate Brakeley (capt.), 5 Nick Civetta, 6 Benjamin Bonasso, 7 Brendon O’Connor, 8 Kara Pryor, 9 Andy Ellis, 10 Jack Heighton, 11 Ed Fidow, 12 Jason Emery, 13 Fa’asiu Fuatai, 14 Ishmail Shabazz, 15 Troy Lockyear
Replacements: 16 Kaleb Geiger, 17 Chance Wenglewski, 18 Nick Mayhew, 19 Charlie Hewitt, 20 Joe Basser, 21 Connor Buckley, 22 Sam Windsor, 23 Quinn Ngawati
NOLA GOLD
1 Kevin Sullivan, 2 Eric Howard, 3 Dino Waldren, 4 Ignacio Dotti, 5 Billy Stewart, 6 Moni Tonga’uiha, 7 Devin Short, 8 Cam Dolan (capt.), 9 Damian Stevens, 10 Robbie Coleman, 11 Nick Feakes, 12 JP du Plessis, 13 Juan Cappiello, 14 Harley Wheeler, 15 JP Eloff
Replacements: 16 Pat O’Toole, 17 Kavika Peniata, 18 Brian Nault, 19 William Waguespack, 20 Maciu Koroi, 21 Devereaux Ferris, 22 Ross Depperschmidt, 23 Jack Webster
Date: Sunday, May 1
Venue: John F. Kennedy Stadium, Hoboken
Kickoff: 15:00 local (12:00 Pacific, 14:00 Central)
Referee: Paulo Duarte (Portugal)
Assistants: Lex Weiner (USA) & Will Nelson (USA)
TMO: Miles McIvor (USA)
Broadcasts: MSG+, The Rugby Network, YurView
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2022-03-19 – NOLA Gold 19, Rugby New York 30 (The Gold Mine)
2021-07-17 – Rugby United New York 32, NOLA Gold 35 (Belson Stadium)
2021-03-27 – NOLA Gold 51, Rugby United New York 28 (The Gold Mine)
2019-05-26 – Rugby United New York 24, NOLA Gold 22 (MCU Park)
2019-02-16 – NOLA Gold 24, Rugby United New York 27 (Archbishop Shaw Stadium)
