Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Two teams in the thick of the playoff race will square off at JFK Stadium in Hoboken on Sunday. Rugby New York are in prime position to take a firm grasp of second spot in the Eastern Conference, while the Seattle Seawolves are in desperate need of points to keep pace in the Western Conference.
New York enter the weekend a dozen points up on the Arrows after an impressive performance in Toronto last weekend. A win would put them beyond Rugby ATL and odds-on for home field advantage in the first round of the postseason.
Nehe Milner-Skudder won’t be making his debut just yet but Waisake Naholo is ready to make his Major League Rugby bow on the right wing, with Andrew Coe dropping to the bench. Andy Ellis gets a week off with Connor Buckley handed the No9 shirt.
Nic Mayhew takes over for Chance Wenglewski at loosehead prop, and Benjamín Bonasso is restored on the blindside flank. Will Tucker moves to lock and could face familiar opposition with brother Brad named on the Seawolves bench. Kaleb Geiger returns as reserve hooker after missing the trip north.
Seattle bounced back from a disappointing showing in Austin to set the new MLR scoring record against Dallas last weekend. As nice as that sounds, there will be no illusions as to the challenge that awaits on the other side of the country this week.
Allen Clarke has retained an identical match day 23 this week with only one alteration to the lineup. Sean McNulty is elevated to the No2 shirt for his first start in Seawolves colors after showing well in three replacement appearances since joining from LA. James Malcolm moves to the reserves.
Drizzly weather could hang around to game time which suggests the set piece will play a major role in the result. Seattle scrum has improved but they will be under pressure at the lineout where New York holds the advantage even without Nick Civetta. Add in the travel and the home side are favorites, but they can’t afford an off-day against a dangerous Seawolves side.
Kickoff is set for 3pm local time, noon Pacific. Local broadcasts will be available on MSG Network in New York and Root Sports Plus in Seattle, with The Rugby Network streaming worldwide.
EDIT: Late changes to New York’s lineup see Charlie Hewitt and Andrew Coe in for Nate Brakeley and Sam Windsor. Benjamín Bonasso is captain with Nick Civetta and John Powers added to the bench.
RUGBY NEW YORK
1 Nic Mayhew, 2 Dylan Fawsitt, 3 Kalolo Tuiloma, 4 Charlie Hewitt, 5 Will Tucker, 6 Benjamín Bonasso (capt.), 7 Brendon O’Connor, 8 Kara Pryor, 9 Connor Buckley, 10 Jack Heighton, 11 Ed Fidow, 12 Jason Emery, 13 Fa’asiu Fuatai, 14 Waisake Naholo, 15 Andrew Coe
Replacements: 16 Kaleb Geiger, 17 Chance Wenglewski, 18 Sakaria Taulafo, 19 Nick Civetta, 20 Antonio Kiri Kiri, 21 Conor McManus, 22 Quinn Ngawati, 23 John Powers
SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Mzamo Majola, 2 Sean McNulty, 3 Sam Matenga, 4 Samu Manoa, 5 Rhyno Herbst, 6 Andrew Durutalo, 7 Setefano Funaki, 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 James Malcolm, 17 Kellen Gordon, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Brad Tucker, 20 Tommy Clark, 21 Reid Watkins, 22 Lopeti Aisea, 23 Ross Neal
Date: Sunday, May 15
Venue: John F. Kennedy Stadium, Hoboken
Kickoff: 15:00 local (12:00 Pacific)
Referee: Mike Lash (New Zealand)
Assistants: Lex Weiner (USA) & Gavin McCandless (USA)
TMO: Miles McIvor (USA)
Broadcasts: MSG Network, Root Sports Plus, The Rugby Network
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2021-05-02 – Seattle Seawolves 21, Rugby United New York 23 (Starfire Stadium)
2019-05-11 – Rugby United New York 31, Seattle Seawolves 38 (MCU Park)
2019-02-24 – Seattle Seawolves 33, Rugby United New York 21 (Starfire Stadium)
