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Closing out the 2024 Major League Rugby season is a classic West Coast clash between San Diego and Seattle. The long-time rivals will square off in a match of much greater importance on July 21 in the conference semi final, but neither will be willing to give up this result for free. This could be the final home game of the season for the Legion if they don’t make to the championship final.
| CURRENT STANDINGS |
10-5-0 (W1) West 3rd
11-4-0 (W1) West 2nd
| STARTING LINEUP CHANGES |
2 Hugh Roach replaces Chris Mickelson
4 Jay Tuivaiti replaces Brandon Harvey
5 Charlie Hewitt replaces Greg Peterson
7 Blair Cowan replaces Paddy Ryan
8 Tevita Tameilau replaces Tupou Afungia
9 Danny Christensen replaces Connor Tupai
11 James Vaifale replaces Ryan James
13 Filimoni Waqainabete replaces Tiaan Loots
15 Mikey Te’o replaces Marcel Brache
2 DaQuan Perry replaces Jackson Zabierek
4 Isaia Lotawa replaces Rhyno Herbst
5 Mahonri Ngakuru replaces Jean Droste
9 Ryan Rees replaces JP Smith
12 Tavite Lopeti replaces Dan Kriel
14 Jeremiah Sio replaces Conner Mooneyham
| CAPPED INTERNATIONALS |
(9) – Helu, Tameilau, Te’o, Pifeleti, Ryan, Boyer (USA), Cowan (Scotland), Giteau (Australia), Nonu (New Zealand)
(6) – Akuei (Kenya), Rees, Futi, Lopeti, Wenglewski (USA), Rossouw (Namibia)
| CLUB DEBUTS |
(1) – Rhys Jones*
* – MLR debut
| NOTABLE ABSENTEES |
– Greg Peterson (LO), Christian Poidevin (FL), Connor Tupai (SH), Tiaan Loots (CE), Marcel Brache (CE/FB), Ryan James (WI)
– Joe Taufete’e (HO), Peter Malcolm (HO), Rhyno Herbst (LO), Charles Elton (FL), Kara Pryor (FL), Riekert Hattingh (N8), Dan Kriel (CE), Toni Pulu (WI), Jade Stighling (WI)
| NOTES |
- Angus Mabey will referee his first Major League Rugby match… the New Zealander has been on the senior Super Rugby panel since 2022… he will take charge of the USA vs Romania test in Chicago next week and then head south to preside over Uruguay vs France XV in Montevideo
- Matt Giteau has shaken off concerns about his fitness to again wear the No10 shirt for the Legion… he was forced off early against Houston after taking a heavy shot to the midsection
- Charlie Hewitt gets his first start for the Legion since late March… the USA Falcons lock was in good form before a shoulder injury derailed his campaign
- Filimoni Waqainabete will wear the No13 shirt for the first time this season… his previous starts for San Diego have been on the wing, though he did log some minutes in the midfield as a replacement
- the Seawolves have rested some of their leading men with an eye towards the playoffs… Jean Droste and Conner Mooneyham was initially named in the 23 but were late scratches
- Mack Mason assumes the Seattle captaincy for the first time with JP Smith left on the bench this week… he’s the fourth Seawolves captain in 2024 with Riekert Hattingh and Charles Elton both injured
- former Central Washington flyhalf Rhys Jones could make his pro debut as a replacement… he has most recently been suiting up with the local Seattle Rugby Club
| PREDICTION |
Both teams have named competitive lineups with a mix of first choice players and second stringers. Conditions look to be ideal which should make for an entertaining spectacle of running rugby. On paper there’s little to choose between the two, and form is almost identical. The Legion are perhaps slightly closer to full strength than the Seawolves and will want to leave a good impression on their fans. San Diego are slight favorites at home.
| LINEUPS |
SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Payton Telea-Ilalio, 2 Hugh Roach, 3 Luke Green, 4 Jay Tuivaiti, 5 Charlie Hewitt, 6 Vili Helu, 7 Blair Cowan (capt.), 8 Tevita Tameilau, 9 Danny Christensen, 10 Matt Giteau, 11 James Vaifale, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 13 Filimoni Waqainabete, 14 Tomas Aoake, 15 Mikey Te’o
Replacements: 16 Cyrille Cama, 17 Faka’osi Pifeleti, 18 Darcy Breen, 19 Brandon Harvey, 20 Isaac Ross, 21 Paddy Ryan, 22 Nick Boyer, 23 Lincoln McClutchie
SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Cameron Orr, 2 DaQuan Perry, 3 Sam Matenga, 4 Isaia Lotawa, 5 Mahonri Ngakuru, 6 Devin Short, 7 Monate Akuei, 8 Huw Taylor, 9 Ryan Rees, 10 Mack Mason (capt.), 11 Lauina Futi, 12 Tavite Lopeti, 13 Divan Rossouw, 14 Jeremiah Sio, 15 Duncan Matthews
Replacements: 16 Jackson Zabierek, 17 Dewald Donald, 18 Chance Wenglewski, 19 Taylor Krumrei, 20 Pago Haini, 21 JP Smith, 22 Sam Windsor, 23 Rhys Jones
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Saturday, June 29
Venue: Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego
Kickoff: 19:00 local (22:00 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: sunny, 70°F (21°C), wind NW 7-11mph (11-18km/h)
Broadcasts: Fox Sports 2, The Rugby Network
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: Angus Mabey (New Zealand)
Assistants: Marquise Goodwin (USA) & Kirk Swanner (USA)
TMO: Austin Reed (USA)
| HISTORY |
HEAD-TO-HEAD (14) – San Diego 7, Seattle 7, STREAK Seattle +1
2024-03-02 – Seattle Seawolves 25, San Diego Legion 19 (Snapdragon Stadium)
2023-07-02 – San Diego Legion 32, Seattle Seawolves 10 (Snapdragon Stadium)
2023-06-18 – San Diego Legion 40, Seattle Seawolves 19 (Snapdragon Stadium)
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)
