Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
It’s a classic Western Conference showdown at Torero Stadium on Saturday night when the Legion welcome long-time rivals Utah to town. San Diego are in desperate search of a positive result having now dropped three in a row since their 5-0 start. The Warriors meanwhile continued their perfect road record in LA last weekend and will be keen to take two-from-two out of California.
| CURRENT STANDINGS |
5-3-0 (L3) West 3rd
5-2-0 (W1) West 2nd
| STARTING LINEUP CHANGES |
|
IN | OUT |
| 5 | Charlie Hewitt | Zak Farrance |
| 7 | Paddy Ryan | Vili Helu |
| 8 | Jimmy Hokafonu | Brad Wilkin |
| 10 | Lincoln McClutchie | Rhian Stowers |
| 12 | Cassh Maluia | Marcel Brache |
|
IN | OUT |
| 5 | Matt Jensen | Gavin Thornbury |
| 13 | Cole Semu | Kyle Brown |
| CAPPED INTERNATIONALS |
(9) – Telea-Ilalio, Ryan, James, Lopeti, Klein, Sylvia, Tameilau, Helu (USA), Holloway (Australia)
(9) – Seiuli, Leuila (Samoa), Coltman (New Zealand), Jensen, Mano, MacLellan, Wilson, Lasike (USA), Benn (Canada)
| NOTABLE ABSENTEES |
– Zak Farrance (LO), Brad Wilkin (FL), Marcel Brache (CE)
– Gavin Thornbury (LO), Spencer Jones (CE), Kyle Brown (CE)
| PREDICTION |
Both teams are absent their regular skippers for this clash. San Diego are without Brad Wilkin, one of the casualties of last week’s woeful trip to New England. They have upped the straight-ahead power this week with Jimmy Hokafonu back in at No8 and Cassh Maluia getting a first start in Legion colors at center. Meanwhile the Warriors make due without Gavin Thornbury, and hand their own first start to Cole Semu. The form guide says Utah but the Legion have their backs against the wall on their spiritual stomping ground. San Diego are slight favorites at home.
| LINEUPS |
SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Payton Telea-Ilalio, 2 Hugh Roach, 3 Darcy Breen, 4 Jed Holloway, 5 Charlie Hewitt, 6 Christian Poidevin (capt.), 7 Paddy Ryan, 8 Jimmy Hokafonu, 9 Richard Judd, 10 Lincoln McClutchie, 11 Ryan James, 12 Cassh Maluia, 13 Tavite Lopeti, 14 Tomas Aoake, 15 Ethan Grayson
Replacements: 16 Shilo Klein, 17 Nathan Sylvia, 18 Oliver Kane, 19 Tevita Tameilau, 20 Vili Helu, 21 Connor Tupai, 22 Tiaan Loots, 23 Rhian Stowers
UTAH WARRIORS
1 Aki Seiuli, 2 Liam Coltman, 3 Tonga Kofe, 4 Frank Lochore, 5 Matt Jensen, 6 Tamarau McGahan, 7 Kalisi Moli, 8 Dylan Nel, 9 Zion Going, 10 Joel Hodgson, 11 Joe Mano, 12 D’Angelo Leuila, 13 Cole Semu, 14 Nic Benn, 15 Jordan Trainor (capt.)
Replacements: 16 Phil Bradford, 17 Fred Apulu, 18 Angus MacLellan, 19 Reid Davis, 20 Bailey Wilson, 21 Logan Crowley, 22 Paul Lasike, 23 Sione Mahe
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Saturday, April 19
Venue: Torero Stadium, San Diego
Kickoff: 19:00 local (20:00 Mountain, 22:00 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: sunny, 63°F (17°C), NW 9-13mph (14-21km/h)
Broadcasts: ESPN+, KUSI, KJZZ, Sky Sports NZ, The Rugby Network
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: Robin Kaluzniak (Canada)
Assistants: Shanda Assmus (Canada) & Kirk Swanner (USA)
TMO: Mike Kelly (USA)
| HISTORY |
HEAD-TO-HEAD (11) – San Diego 9, Utah 2
2024-06-01 – Utah Warriors 20, San Diego Legion 27 (Zions Bank Stadium)
2024-04-21 – San Diego Legion 32, Utah Warriors 33 (Snapdragon Stadium)
2023-05-06 – Utah Warriors 16, San Diego Legion 26 (Zions Bank Stadium)
2023-02-18 – San Diego Legion 33, Utah Warriors 17 (Snapdragon Stadium)
2022-04-01 – Utah Warriors 25, San Diego Legion 40 (Zions Bank Stadium)
2022-02-06 – San Diego Legion 31, Utah Warriors 29 (SDSU Sports Deck)
2021-06-12 – Utah Warriors 45, San Diego Legion 41 (Zions Bank Stadium)
2021-04-17 – San Diego Legion 31, Utah Warriors 29 (Dignity Health Track Field)
2019-05-18 – Utah Warriors 21, San Diego Legion 31 (Zions Bank Stadium)
2019-02-17 – San Diego Legion 21, Utah Warriors 10 (Torero Stadium)
2018-04-29 – San Diego Legion 31, Utah Warriors 24 (Torero Stadium)
