Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
It’s another must-win scenario for the Seawolves on Saturday night when they host the Legion in a classic West Coast confrontation. Seattle kept their postseason hopes alive with a stunning last-gasp win over Utah on Monday, and must now back that up on a short turnaround against a struggling San Diego side who were well-beaten by Houston last weekend.
| CURRENT STANDINGS |
5-6-1 (W1) West 5th
7-6-0 (L1) West 3rd
| STARTING LINEUP CHANGES |
|
IN | OUT |
| 11 | Mika Kruse | Toni Pulu |
| 14 | Malacchi Esdale | Lauina Futi |
|
IN | OUT |
| 2 | Shilo Klein | Hugh Roach |
| 7 | Hugh Roach | Christian Poidevin |
| 9 | Connor Tupai | Richard Judd |
| 10 | Steffan Crimp | Lincoln McClutchie |
| 13 | Tavite Lopeti | Ethan Grayson |
| 15 | Ethan Grayson | Steffan Crimp |
| CAPPED INTERNATIONALS |
(12) – Kotze, Mackail, Gallagher (Canada), Zeiss (Argentina), Hattingh, Boyer, Kruse, Wenglewski, Mahoni (USA), Noa, Iona (Samoa), Rossouw (Namibia)
(9) – Telea-Ilalio, Klein, Helu, James, Lopeti, Tameilau, Brache (USA), Holloway (Australia), Sears-Duru (Canada)
| NOTABLE ABSENTEES |
– Kerron van Vuuren (HO), JP Smith (SH), Toni Pulu (WI)
– Zak Farrance (LO), Christian Poidevin (FL), Richard Judd (SH)
| PREDICTION |
Damp conditions won’t suit the Legion at all, nor will the absence of star flanker Christian Poidevin. John Manenti has opted to field regular hooker Hugh Roach in the back row but it’s hardly ideal. They will also run out Steffan Crimp at flyhalf, a bold move given he has never started at No10 in MLR before. Seattle have kept the faith with their lineup with only the wings getting a refresh. It’s a close call but the momentum is suddenly with the Seawolves. Seattle are slight favorites at home.
| LINEUPS |
SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Cameron Orr, 2 Dewald Kotze, 3 Juan Pablo Zeiss, 4 Malembe Mpofu, 5 Rhyno Herbst, 6 Riekert Hattingh, 7 Charles Elton, 8 OJ Noa, 9 Nick Boyer, 10 Rodney Iona, 11 Mika Kruse, 12 Dan Kriel, 13 Divan Rossouw, 14 Malacchi Esdale, 15 Duncan Matthews
Replacements: 16 Jesse Mackail, 17 Chance Wenglewski, 18 Mason Pedersen, 19 Siaosi Mahoni, 20 Devin Short, 21 Brock Gallagher, 22 Eddie Fouché, 23 Jade Stighling
SAN DIEGO LEGION
1 Payton Telea-Ilalio, 2 Shilo Klein, 3 Darcy Breen, 4 Jed Holloway, 5 Vili Helu, 7 Brad Wilkin (capt.), 7 Hugh Roach, 8 Jimmy Hokafonu, 9 Connor Tupai, 10 Steffan Crimp, 11 Ryan James, 12 Cassh Maluia, 13 Tavite Lopeti, 14 Tomas Aoake, 15 Ethan Grayson
Replacements: 16 Liki Chan-Tung, 17 Djustice Sears-Duru, 18 Oliver Kane, 19 James Rivers, 20 Tevita Tameilau, 21 Lincoln McClutchie, 22 Marcel Brache, 23 Rhian Stowers
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Saturday, May 17
Venue: Starfire Stadium, Tukwila
Kickoff: 18:00 local (21:00 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: light rain, 54°F (12°C), wind NE 8-12mph (13-19km/h)
Broadcasts: ESPN+, KUSI, Fox 13+ Seattle, The Rugby Network
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: Lex Weiner (USA)
Assistants: Kahlil Harrison (USA) & Marty Steffens (USA)
TMO: Austin Reed (USA)
| HISTORY |
HEAD-TO-HEAD (18) – Seattle 9, San Diego 9
2025-02-16 – San Diego Legion 40, Seattle Seawolves 26 (Torero Stadium)
2024-07-21 – Seattle Seawolves 30, San Diego Legion 28 (Starfire Stadium)
2024-06-29 – San Diego Legion 45, Seattle Seawolves 33 (Snapdragon Stadium)
2024-03-02 – Seattle Seawolves 25, San Diego Legion 19 (Starfire Stadium)
2023-07-02 – San Diego Legion 32, Seattle Seawolves 10 (Snapdragon Stadium)
2023-06-18 – San Diego Legion 40, Seattle Seawolves 19 (Snapdragon Stadium)
2023-04-08 – Seattle Seawolves 20, San Diego Legion 23 (Starfire Stadium)
2022-06-12 – Seattle Seawolves 43, San Diego Legion 19 (Starfire Stadium)
2022-04-16 – Seattle Seawolves 34, San Diego Legion 32 (Starfire Stadium)
2022-02-20 – San Diego Legion 28, Seattle Seawolves 31 (SDSU Sports Deck)
2021-07-03 – San Diego Legion 34, Seattle Seawolves 21 (Elite Athlete Training Center)
2021-05-09 – Seattle Seawolves 21, San Diego Legion 15 (Starfire Stadium)
2020-02-09 – San Diego Legion 33, Seattle Seawolves 24 (Torero Stadium)
2019-06-16 – San Diego Legion 23, Seattle Seawolves 26 (Torero Stadium)
2019-03-31 – Seattle Seawolves 22, San Diego Legion 28 (Starfire Stadium)
2019-02-02 – San Diego Legion 17, Seattle Seawolves 13 (Torero Stadium)
2018-06-30 – Seattle Seawolves 38, San Diego Legion 24 (Infinity Park)
2018-04-22 – Seattle Seawolves 39, San Diego Legion 23 (Starfire Stadium)
