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The fifth season of Major League Rugby officially kicks off in Atlanta on Saturday afternoon. It’s an historic occasion for Rugby ATL as the defending Eastern Conference champions host Old Glory DC at their new home of Silverbacks Park.
There has been much turmoil for the Ratlers in recent weeks. Team founder and former owner Marcus Calloway passed away in December, Head Coach Scott Lawrence abruptly resigned during the preseason, and just days ago the contract of winger Jeremy Misailegalu was terminated.
Stephen Brett has been elevated to the lead coaching role and his first lineup features many familiar faces for ATL fans, but also six new names. There is continuity in leadership with Canadian flanker Matt Heaton and South African center Ryan Nell again sharing the captaincy. Nell is fit from the start this season after missing much of last year due to injury.
Justin Basson starts alongside 2021 MLR Forward of the Year Johan Momsen at lock, and there is a surprise selection in Daemon Torres at No8. Jason Damm is working his way back from injury while Ross Deacon settles for a spot on the bench. Reserve prop John Sullivan and utility forward Evan Mintern are set to make their club debuts after joining from NOLA and New York respectively.
There is another surprise at flyhalf with Duncan van Schalkwyk wearing the No10 shirt for the first time in MLR competition having previously been selected at scrumhalf. Will Leonard is another arrival from New York, and former Argentina u20 flyhalf Joaquín de la Vega Mendía makes his league bow at fullback. Nolan Tuamoheloa, formerly of Utah, covers the outside backs on the bench.
Old Glory were at the lower end of the Eastern Conference table last season and returning Head Coach Andrew Douglas will be asking for more from his charges in 2022. There is a new captain for the team as star scrumhalf Danny Tusitala takes the role from last year’s co-captains Mungo Mason and Thretton Palamo. Mason has since departed the team.
With off-season signing Rohan Saifoloi yet to arrive it’s new Eagles cap Mike Dabulas who runs out at flyhalf, and it’s an all-new center pairing in rugby league convert Junior Sa’u and Auckland export William Talataina. A pair of youngsters, scrumhalf John LeFevre and center LJ Koi-Larbi, await their pro debuts from the bench.
Former Collegiate All-American Mo Katz is handed his first professional start at hooker with just two replacement appearances to his name. New Zealander Kyle Stewart and Irish import Fintan Coleman play their first MLR games at tighthead prop and openside flanker respectively.
Among the forwards replacements there are club debuts for ex-New York hooker Rob Irimescu, former Seattle prop Jake Ilnicki, and flanker Dom Bailey who makes the move from Austin. Versatile forward Matt Gordon is set to make his first MLR appearance and prop Will Vakalahi returns from a season-long injury absence to cover loosehead prop.
The two sides have faced off on three previous occasions with Old Glory on the winning side twice, but it was the Ratlers who were convincing winners in their only prior meeting in Georgia. Despite the preseason chaos it’s ATL who enter as favorites based on their superior performance last season and home field advantage.
Kickoff is set for 3pm local time, noon Pacific, with cool but dry and sunny conditions on the forecast. A live broadcast will be available worldwide on The Rugby Network.
RUGBY ATL
1 Will Burke, 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 3 Wikus Groenewald, 4 Justin Basson, 5 Johan Momsen, 6 Connor Cook, 7 Matt Heaton (co-capt.), 8 Daemon Torres, 9 Rowan Gouws, 10 Duncan van Schalkwyk, 11 Austin White, 12 Will Leonard, 13 Ryan Nell (co-capt.), 14 Te Rangatira Waitokia, 15 Joaquín de la Vega Mendía
Replacements: 16 Alex Maughan, 17 Jonas Petrakopoulos, 18 John Sullivan, 19 Conor Keys, 20 Ross Deacon, 21 Evan Mintern, 22 Ryan Rees, 23 Nolan Tuamoheloa
OLD GLORY DC
1 Jack Iscaro, 2 Mo Katz, 3 Kyle Stewart, 4 Api Naikatini, 5 Stan South, 6 Tevita Naqali, 7 Fintan Coleman, 8 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz, 9 Danny Tusitala (capt.), 10 Mike Dabulas, 11 Doug Fraser, 12 Junior Sa’u, 13 William Talataina, 14 Renata Roberts-Te Nana, 15 Owen Sheehy
Replacements: 16 Rob Irimescu, 17 Will Vakalahi, 18 Jake Ilnicki, 19 Matt Gordon, 20 Dom Bailey, 21 John LeFevre, 22 LJ Koi-Larbi, 23 Simi Moala
Date: Saturday, February 5
Venue: Silverbacks Park, Atlanta
Kickoff: 15:00 local (12:00 Pacific)
Referee: Dave Edwards (USA)
Broadcasts: The Rugby Network
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2021-06-26 – Rugby ATL 32, Old Glory DC 12 (Lupo Family Field)
2021-03-27 – Old Glory DC 30, Rugby ATL 23 (Segra Field)
2020-03-08 – Old Glory DC 31, Rugby ATL 29 (Cardinal Stadium)
