Wolf Pack ready for Utah battle

The Prairie Wolf Pack are on their way to Salt Lake City where they will play the Utah Warriors of Major League Rugby in the first ever match at Herriman’s Zions Bank Stadium on Friday. Their two-game American tour began on Sunday with a closed scrimmage at Starfire Field against the Seattle Seawolves.

Included the 24-man traveling squad are 13 who appeared in 2017 with four returning after missing out on last year’s campaign. Five Canadian internationals make the trip, all in the backline. Scrumhalf Jake Robinson, flyhalf Gradyn Bowd, midfielders Nick Blevins and Ben LeSage, and winger Duncan Maguire are all test veterans.

A number of notables did not make the trip. Americas Rugby Championship squad members Ryan Kotlewski, Gordon McRorie, and Cole Davis are unavailable as are fellow internationals Nanyak Dala and Clay Panga. Two of last year’s squad have joined MLR teams – prop Hubert Budyens (NOLA Gold), and midfielder Mozac Samson (Seattle Seawolves).

In June the Wolf Pack will host the Royal Air Force at Calgary Rugby Park before beginning their 2018 Canadian Rugby Championship regular season in July.

FORWARDS
Gareth Brown (Nor’westers), Logan Jones (Calgary Canucks), Nick McAuley (Calgary Saints), Simon Miller (Nor’westers), Robert Blunden (St. Albert), Gabriel Kajdy (Calgary Canucks), FJ Bronkhorst (Calgary Canucks), Riley Fahlman (Regina Campion Grads), Chris Line (Lep-Tigers), Grant Crowell (Calgary Rams), Connor Gilbert (Bow Valley Grizzlies), Wayde Hodgen (Calgary Hornets), Kyle Morrison (Nor’westers)

BACKS
Jake Robinson (St. Albert), Ruairi O’Farrell (Calgary Canucks), Gradyn Bowd (Red Deer Titans), Nick Blevins (Calgary Hornets), Adam Bontus (St. Albert), Ben LeSage (Calgary Canucks), Chad Spence (Calgary Canucks), Duncan Maguire (St. Albert), Ian Shoults (Bow Valley Grizzlies), Evan Thomas (Lep-Tigers), Carl Pocock (Calgary Rams)

STAFF
Director of Rugby – Graeme Moffatt
Coach – Tyler Hawes
Coach – Simon Dodd
Coach – Jeremy Kyne
Manager – Jim Kazakoff
Athletic Therapist – Mel Petryna