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The 2023 Major League Rugby regular season wraps up with a classic clash between the San Diego Legion and the Seattle Seawolves on Sunday afternoon. Snapdragon Stadium serves as the venue for the 12th contest between the two sides. When they met in April it was a narrow victory for the Legion. This occasion looks likely to have a markedly different result.
San Diego have now set new MLR records for most consecutive victories with a dozen on the trot, and most wins in a regular season with 14. After a poor start in Toronto they put a half-century on the Arrows and are now in refinement mode with a bye week before the Western Conference Final against either Seattle or Houston.
It’s a mix of first choice and reserve players this week with only two starters retained. The new front row is Nate Sylvia, Sama Malolo, and Chris Baumann with Isaac Ross returning at lock. Michael Smith, Blair Cowan, and Finn Kearns comprise the back row. USA Hawks prop Oliver Kane is set to make his pro debut as a replacement.
Jason Higgins and Josh Henderson are the starting halfbacks, with Ma’a Nonu and Filimoni Waqainabete forming a heavyweight midfield partnership. Mikey Te’o shifts to the left wing with Ryan Matyas on the right and Alex Horan getting his first MLR start at fullback.
The Seawolves saw their six-game winning streak come to an end against New England last week, but have already clinched home field advantage for the playoff against the SaberCats. With several players nursing various bumps and bruises, Allen Clarke has opted to field an entirely different starting lineup this week with six debutantes in the match day squad.
Dewald Donald, James Malcolm, and Mason Pedersen are the front row with Ben Mitchell and Isaia Lotawa in the engine room. It’s a first start for Lotawa, and a pro debut for flanker Adam Page. Nakai Penny and co-captain Ronan Foley complete the back row. Page is one of three call-ups from the Seattle Rugby Club along with reserve forwards Brandon Tupufia and Jamie Demers. Reserve hooker Alex Glover is also on debut, having spent some time with the Hawks in Charlotte.
Reid Watkins plays scrumhalf with Devereaux Ferris running out at flyhalf. Lopeti Aisea gets his first MLR start alongside co-captain David Busby in the midfield. The outside backs are Jeremiah Sio, Cole Zarcone, and Shane Barry. Sio and Barry are making their pro debuts with Zarcone getting his first start of the season. Barry and Zarcone also suited up with the Hawks.
As usual weather won’t be a factor but the extreme disparity in experience between the two sides will be. The Seawolves might be able to hang on until halftime, but at some point the floodgates will open. San Diego are certain winners, the only question is by how much.
Kickoff is set for 4pm local time, 7pm Eastern. Fox Sports 1 will broadcast nationwide with The Rugby Network streaming for those located in Canada and abroad.
SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Nathan Sylvia, 2 Sama Malolo, 3 Chris Baumann, 4 Tom Franklin, 5 Isaac Ross, 6 Michael Smith, 7 Blair Cowan (capt.), 8 Finn Kearns, 9 Jason Higgins, 10 Josh Henderson, 11 Mikey Te’o, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 13 Filimoni Waqainabete, 14 Ryan Matyas, 15 Alex Horan
Replacements: 16 Shilo Klein, 17 Faka’osi Pifeleti, 18 Oliver Kane, 19 Chris Turori, 20 Ben Grant, 21 Christian Poidevin, 22 Nate Augspurger, 23 Will Hooley
SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Dewald Donald, 2 James Malcolm, 3 Mason Pedersen, 4 Isaia Lotawa, 5 Ben Mitchell, 6 Alex Page, 7 Nakai Penny, 8 Ronan Foley (co-capt.), 9 Reid Watkins, 10 Devereaux Ferris, 11 Jeremiah Sio, 12 Lopeti Aisea, 13 David Busby (co-capt.), 14 Cole Zarcone, 15 Shane Barry
Replacements: 16 Alex Glover, 17 Jake Turnbull, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Brandon Tupufia, 20 Jamie Demers, 21 Karl Keane, 22 Adriaan Carelse, 23 Tavite Lopeti
Date: Sunday, June 18
Venue: Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego
Kickoff: 16:00 local (19:00 Eastern)
Broadcasts: Fox Sports 1, The Rugby Network
Referee: Mike Lash (New Zealand)
Assistants: Jack Gohl (USA) & Marquise Goodwin (USA)
TMO: Nick Hannon (USA)
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2023-04-08 – Seattle Seawolves 20, San Diego Legion 23 (Starfire Stadium)
2022-06-12 – Seattle Seawolves 43, San Diego Legion 19 (Starfire Stadium)
2022-04-16 – Seattle Seawolves 34, San Diego Legion 32 (Starfire Stadium)
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)
