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Old Glory DC will celebrate their home opener on Saturday afternoon, but it’s their opponents who are stealing the spotlight. After what has been a whirlwind couple months since they were formally confirmed by Major League Rugby, the Chicago Hounds will play their first competitive match.
In large part an amalgamation of ex-Austin and LA players, the Hounds also feature a couple newcomers to North American rugby. Second row Duke Krishnan becomes the first Malaysian international to play in MLR, and former Scotland u20 prop George Thornton has arrives from a stint in Australia.
Otherwise Chicago’s lineup is largely predictable, particularly so given their minimalist senior playing roster. There are two notable absentees from the backline. Argentine winger Julián Domínguez is yet to formally join the squad, and star midfielder Billy Meakes is currently training with the Australian Sevens squad. It has not been revealed when exactly either will arrive.
For the home side it’s something of a rebirth with a new-look staff in place led by Head Coach Josh Syms. On the pitch there is some continuity though US Eagles international Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz has taken over the captaincy from scrumhalf Danny Tusitala.
New names featuring in the DC lineup include Kiwi hooker Nic Souchon, West Point flanker Collin Grosse, and former Argentina XV captain Lautaro Bavaro. Former Free Jacks prop Quentin Newcomer is on the bench alongside Canadian draft pick Cali Martinez and another Argentine flanker, Alejo Daireaux. Top off-season signing Ramiro Herrera is yet to arrive.
There is a Pumas presence at flyhalf as Tito Díaz Bonilla is set to make his MLR bow, with Canada’s Gradyn Bowd among the reserves. Fermín Martínez, like Daireaux a US-eligible Argentine, gets the nod in the midfield. Player-coach Kurt Baker starts at fullback and utility back Marcos Young is on the bench, where there is no specialist scrumhalf cover.
Sunny skies and reasonably mild temperatures are on the forecast come game time. Old Glory will be hoping for a strong crowd after enjoying a sold-out preseason friendly against New York. Chicago’s midfield pairing of captain Bryce Campbell and Mark O’Keeffe is formidable, but they will have to contend with Thretton Palamo at full tilt. This should be a close and entertaining contest but DC’s continuity and confident showing against the Arrows gives them the favorites tag at home.
Kickoff is set for 2pm local time, 1pm Central, 11am Pacific. Local broadcasts will be available on Marquee Sports in Chicago and MASN 2 in the nation’s capital. Viewers located elsewhere can watch a live stream on The Rugby Network.
OLD GLORY DC
1 Jack Iscaro, 2 Nic Souchon, 3 Kyle Stewart, 4 Stan South, 5 Tevita Naqali, 6 Collin Grosse, 7 Lautaro Bavaro, 8 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz (capt.), 9 Danny Tusitala, 10 Joaquín Díaz Bonilla, 11 Junior Sa’u, 12 Fermín Martínez, 13 Thretton Palamo, 14 Mike Dabulas, 15 Kurt Baker
Replacements: 16 Facundo Gattas, 17 Quentin Newcomer, 18 Cali Martinez, 19 Fintan Coleman, 20 Alejo Daireaux, 21 Gradyn Bowd, 22 Marcos Young, 23 John Rizzo
CHICAGO HOUNDS
1 George Thornton, 2 Lindsey Stevens, 3 Charlie Abel, 4 Duke Krishnan, 5 Luke White, 6 Luke Beauchamp, 7 Maclean Jones, 8 Michael de Waal, 9 Michael Baska, 10 Luke Carty, 11 Caleb Strum, 12 Bryce Campbell (capt.), 13 Mark O’Keeffe, 14 JP Eloff, 15 Chris Mattina
Replacements: 16 Hugh Roach, 17 LaRome White, 18 Paddy Ryan, 19 Mike Matarazzo, 20 Sam Peri, 21 Dacoda Worth, 22 Sean Yacoubian, 23 Kevin Morgan
Date: Saturday, February 18
Venue: Segra Field, Leesburg
Kickoff: 14:00 local (11:00 Pacific, 13:00 Central)
Referee: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
Assistants: Craig Sakowski (USA) & Ian Seaton (USA)
TMO: Nick Hannon (USA)
Broadcasts: MASN 2, Marquee Sports, The Rugby Network
HISTORICAL RESULTS
n/a
