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Week 2 of the 2025 Major League Rugby season begins in Charlotte on Friday night. Frigid temperatures await the San Diego Legion, the honored guests for Anthem’s home opener at American Legion Stadium. The two sides are at the opposite ends of their respective divisions but the hosts have boosted their lineup with two USA internationals this week.
| CURRENT STANDINGS |
0-1-0 (L1) East 6th
1-0-0 (W1) West 1st
| STARTING LINEUP CHANGES |
|
IN | OUT |
| 2 | Connor Robinson | Ethan Howard |
| 4 | Puna Vuli | Shawn Clark |
| 5 | Mikey Grandy | Alby O’Shannessey |
| 14 | Conner Mooneyham | Ashawnty Staples |
|
IN | OUT |
| 1 | Djustice Sears-Duru | Payton Telea-Ilalio |
| 2 | Shilo Klein | Hugh Roach |
| 5 | Vili Helu | Brandon Harvey |
| 7 | Paddy Ryan | Brad Wilkin |
| 8 | Tavite Tameilau | Jimmy Hokafonu |
| 13 | Marcel Brache | Tiaan Loots |
| CAPPED INTERNATIONALS |
(8) – Turnbull, Grandy, Golla, Storti, Mooneyham, Wilson, Maughan (USA), Apikotoa (Tonga)
(10) – Sears-Duru (Canada), Klein, Helu, Ryan, Tameilau, James, Lopeti, Brache, Sylvia (USA), Holloway (Australia)
| CLUB DEBUTS |
(4) – Vuli, Grandy*, Mooneyham, Maughan
(3) – Chan-Tung*, To’omalatai*, Pohla
* – MLR debut
| NOTABLE ABSENTEES |
– Declan Moore (HO), Cliven Loubser (FH/FB)
– Payton Telea-Ilalio (LH), Hugh Roach (HO)
| PREDICTION |
The extra muscle in the pack is welcome for Anthem, while Conner Mooneyham adds punch out wide. He could be chasing numerous kicks given the weather. While calm, it will be chilly and that might slow down the Legion’s attack somewhat. That said the visitors dominated Seattle last weekend while Anthem had a disappointing start against NOLA. San Diego are clear favorites on the road.
| LINEUPS |
ANTHEM CAROLINA
1 Jake Turnbull (co-capt.), 2 Connor Robinson, 3 Joe Apikotoa, 4 Puna Vuli, 5 Mikey Grandy, 6 Sam Golla (capt.), 7 Makeen Alikhan, 8 Dylan Fortune, 9 Karl Keane, 10 Line Latu, 11 Jason Tidwell, 12 Junior Gafa, 13 Erich Storti, 14 Conner Mooneyham, 15 Mitch Wilson
Replacements: 16 Ethan Howard, 17 Dan Hanson, 18 Alex Maughan, 19 Colin Turner, 20 Shawn Clark, 21 Graeme Pedegana, 22 Watson Filikitonga, 23 Carlo de Nysschen
SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Djustice Sears-Duru, 2 Shilo Klein, 3 Darcy Breen, 4 Jed Holloway, 5 Vili Helu, 6 Christian Poidevin (capt.), 7 Paddy Ryan, 8 Tevita Tameilau, 9 Richard Judd, 10 Lincoln McClutchie, 11 Ryan James, 12 Tavite Lopeti, 13 Marcel Brache, 14 Tomas Aoake, 15 Ethan Grayson
Replacements: 16 Liki Chan-Tung, 17 Nathan Sylvia, 18 Brook To’omalatai, 19 Charlie Hewitt, 20 Brad Wilkin, 21 Connor Tupai, 22 Tiaan Loots, 23 Alesana Pohla
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Friday, February 21
Venue: American Legion Memorial Stadium, Charlotte
Kickoff: 19:30 local (16:30 Pacific)
Weather Forecast: clear, 36°F (2°C), wind SW 2-4mph (4-6km/h)
Broadcasts: ESPN+, KUSI, Sky Sports NZ, The Rugby Network
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: Kat Roche (USA)
Assistants: Jarrod Ford (USA) & Alex Hedquist (USA)
TMO: Derek Summers (USA)
| HISTORY |
HEAD-TO-HEAD (1) – San Diego 1, Carolina 0
2024-06-09 – San Diego Legion 34, Anthem Carolina 24 (Snapdragon Stadium)
