Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
The second half of the 2024 Major League Rugby season starts in Tukwila, where the Seawolves play host to Anthem on Friday night. Seattle return from a bye week with only one point separating them from Western Conference leaders Houston, while the Charlotte-based visitors are still in search of their first franchise victory after last week’s heavy defeat to NOLA.
| CURRENT STANDINGS |
7-1-0 (W4) West 2nd
0-8-0 (L8) East 6th
| LINEUP CHANGES |
2 DaQuan Perry rotates with 16 Joe Taufete’e
3 Olive Kilifi replaces Sam Matenga
4 Taylor Krumrei replaces Rhyno Herbst
5 Mahonri Ngakuru replaces Jean Droste
9 Ryan Rees rotates with 21 JP Smith
10 Sam Windsor rotates with 22 Mack Mason
11 Jade Stighling replaces Toni Pulu
12 Tavite Lopeti replaces Dan Kriel
15 Duncan Matthews replaces Divan Rossouw
17 Cameron Orr replaces Kellen Gordon
19 Isaia Lotawa replaces Taylor Krumrei
20 Huw Taylor replaces Pago Haini
23 Lauina Futi replaces Tavite Lopeti
4 James Rivers rotates with 19 Lucas Gramlick
13 Dom Iacovino replaces David Still (suspension, No11 vs NOLA)
15 Tomasi Alosio replaces Oscar Koller (No10 vs NOLA)
20 Graeme Pedegana replaces Logan Weidner
21 Siaosi Nai replaces Sean Yacoubian
22 Shane Barry replaces Dom Iacovino
23 Tyren Al-Jiboori replaces Tomasi Alosio
| CAPPED INTERNATIONALS |
(8) – Kilifi, Hattingh, Rees, Lopeti, Taufete’e, Wenglewski, Futi (USA), Kuridrani (Australia)
(4) – Turnbull (USA), Apikotoa (Tonga), Loubser (Namibia), Alosio (Samoa)
| CLUB DEBUTS |
(1) – Graeme Pedegana*
* – MLR debut
| NOTABLE ABSENTEES |
– Peter Malcolm (HO), Sam Matenga (TH), Rhyno Herbst (LO), Dan Kriel (CE), Toni Pulu (WI), Divan Rossouw (FB)
– Oscar Koller (FH), David Still (WI)
| NOTES |
- Anthem have lost winger David Still to a five-game suspension after he was cited for a dangerous tackle on his NOLA opposite Taniela Filimone last week… Dom Iacovino will get his first MLR start in the midfield with Te Rangatira Waitokia bumped to the wing
- there is a first Anthem start for Samoan international Tomasi Alosio at fullback, who make his MLR debut as a replacement last week… Cliven Loubser moves up to flyhalf with Oscar Koller left out of the match day squad for the first time this season
- Graeme Pedegana is set for his pro debut as a replacement… the flanker is from Cape Town but is Eagles-eligible and was this week named in the USA squad for the u20 Trophy qualifiers vs Canada… Dylan Fortune, Tevita Kutu, and Braemar Murray from Anthem were also selected
- Anthem skipper Jake Turnbull played for the Seawolves in 2023… he was acquired in a trade just prior to the season… Shane Barry and Tyren Al-Jiboori joined Anthem from Seattle via the expansion draft
- Seattle welcomes back Duncan Matthews, Mahonri Ngakuru, Cameron Orr, and Lauina Futi from injury… Huw Taylor is in the squad after completing his suspension
- Taylor Krumrei gets his first start of the campaign at lock… aside from a brief spell with NOLA in 2022, he has been part of the Seawolves squad since their inaugural season in 2018
| PREDICTION |
Damp weather is on the forecast which is nothing out of the ordinary for the home side, but it will slow down Anthem’s attack. The short turnaround and long travel also count against the visitors. Advantage at the set piece should be strongly in favor of the Seawolves. Seattle are heavy favorites at home.
| LINEUPS |
SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Dewald Donald, 2 DaQuan Perry, 3 Olive Kilifi, 4 Taylor Krumrei, 5 Mahonri Ngakuru, 6 Charles Elton, 7 Kara Pryor, 8 Riekert Hattingh (capt.), 9 Ryan Rees, 10 Sam Windsor, 11 Jade Stighling, 12 Tavite Lopeti, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 14 Conner Mooneyham, 15 Duncan Matthews
Replacements: 16 Joe Taufete’e, 17 Cameron Orr, 18 Chance Wenglewski, 19 Isaia Lotawa, 20 Huw Taylor, 21 JP Smith, 22 Mack Mason, 23 Lauina Futi
ANTHEM CAROLINA
1 Jake Turnbull (capt.), 2 Connor Robinson, 3 Joe Apikotoa, 4 James Rivers, 5 Reagan Leslie, 6 Shneil Singh, 7 Joe Basser, 8 Dylan Fortune, 9 Conor McManus, 10 Cliven Loubser, 11 Te Rangatira Waitokia, 12 Junior Gafa, 13 Dom Iacovino, 14 Cael Hodgson, 15 Tomasi Alosio
Replacements: 16 Jack Manzo, 17 Dan Hanson, 18 Stephan Bernal-Wendt, 19 Lucas Gramlick, 20 Graeme Pedegana, 21 Siaosi Nai, 22 Shane Barry, 23 Tyren Al-Jiboori
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Friday, May 3
Venue: Starfire Stadium, Tukwila
Kickoff: 19:30 local (22:30 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: cloudy with showers, 55°F (13°C), wind SW 6-9mph (10-14km/h)
Broadcasts: Fox 13+ Seattle, The Rugby Network
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: Chris Assmus (Canada)
Assistants: Robin Kaluzniak (Canada) & Brad Schwalger (Canada)
TMO: Derek Summers (USA)
| HISTORY |
HEAD-TO-HEAD (0) – first match
