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Old Glory return to action on Sunday afternoon when they square off against the New York Ironworkers at Memorial Field. During DC’s week off, the defending champions picked up their first win of the campaign with a blowout result over the Toronto Arrows at their new Mount Vernon home.
This is the fifth time the two sides have faced each other in Major League Rugby action. To date New York have won all four, and the Ironworkers also came away with a victory in their preseason meeting played at DC’s indoor training facility in Springfield.
Injury has deprived New York of Nic Mayhew and Benjamín Bonasso in the forwards. Sam Davies gets his first start at tighthead prop, with Brad Tucker replacing Bonasso on the blindside flank. Reserve prop Enrique Quinteros is set to become the first Paraguayan international to play in MLR, with Pago Haini making his return from a long-term injury.
The backline sees a re-shuffle with Jack Heighton shifted to flyhalf. It’s an attack-minded selection with Teihorangi Walden coming into the midfield, Fa’asiu Fuatai pushing out to the wing, and Andrew Coe starting at fullback. Sam Windsor drops to the bench.
DC won their home opener against newcomers Chicago in Round 1. They will be without vice-captain Stan South, ruled out with a short-term injury, but are able to call upon two internationals up front who did not feature against the Hounds.
Ex-Pumas tighthead Ramiro Herrera is ready to make his presence known as the scrum, taking the place of Kyle Stewart. Api Naikatini fills in for South at lock, and Cory Daniel is back in on the flank with Collin Grosse dropping to the bench.
In the backs there are two changes, both on the wing. Peni Lasaqa replaces Junior Sa’u on the left side, and Marcos Young gets the nod ahead of Mike Dabulas on the right. The latter settles for a spot among the reserves, where scrumhalf John LeFevre is set for his first appearance this season.
Cool but otherwise mild conditions are expected at game time. That should allow New York to set their revamped backline loose, though DC also looked threatening in their first match. The loss of South is significant to Old Glory’s lineout and an area where the Ironworkers excel. With historical results also in their favor, give the favorites tag to the home side.
Kickoff is set for 3pm local time, noon Pacific. Local broadcasts will be available on MASN in the Capital District and MSG Network in New York, with The Rugby Network streaming worlwide.
NEW YORK IRONWORKERS
1 Chance Wenglewski, 2 Dylan Fawsitt, 3 Sam Davies, 4 Nate Brakeley (capt.), 5 Hamish Dalzell, 6 Brad Tucker, 7 Brendon O’Connor, 8 Kara Pryor, 9 Connor Buckley, 10 Jack Heighton, 11 Ed Fidow, 12 Jason Emery, 13 Teihorangi Walden, 14 Fa’asiu Fuatai, 15 Andrew Coe
Replacements: 16 Kaleb Geiger, 17 Tevita Langi, 18 Enrique Quinteros, 19 Charlie Hewitt, 20 Pago Haini, 21 Eamonn Matthews, 22 Sam Windsor, 23 John Powers
OLD GLORY DC
1 Jack Iscaro, 2 Nic Souchon, 3 Ramiro Herrera, 4 Api Naikatini, 5 Tevita Naqali, 6 Lautaro Bavaro, 7 Cory Daniel, 8 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz (capt.), 9 Danny Tusitala, 10 Joaquín Díaz Bonilla, 11 Junior Sa’u, 12 Fermín Martínez, 13 Thretton Palamo, 14 Marcos Young, 15 Kurt Baker
Replacements: 16 Facundo Gattas, 17 Quentin Newcomer, 18 Cali Martinez, 19 Collin Grosse, 20 Fintan Coleman, 21 John LeFevre, 22 Mike Dabulas, 23 Gradyn Bowd
Date: Sunday, March 5
Venue: Memorial Field, Mount Vernon
Kickoff: 15:00 local (12:00 Pacific)
Referee: Scott Green (USA)
Assistants: Lex Weiner (USA) & Marty Steffens (USA)
TMO: Miles McIvor (USA)
Broadcasts: MASN, MSG Network, The Rugby Network
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2022-05-29 – Old Glory DC 49, Rugby New York 59 (Segra Field)
2022-04-03 – Rugby New York 35, Old Glory DC 31 (JFK Stadium)
2021-05-30 – Old Glory DC 10, Rugby United New York 46 (Segra Field)
2021-04-18 – Rugby United New York 38, Old Glory DC 34 (Cochrane Stadium)
