Utah Warriors

The Utah Warriors are a professional rugby union team that competes in Major League Rugby, the top-level rugby union competition in the United States and Canada that played its first season in 2018.[1] The team is based in Salt Lake City, Utah, and was founded in 2010 as Utah Warriors (Rugby Super League) and re-refounded in 2017 by Rugby Utah Ventures.

For other uses, see Utah Warriors (disambiguation).
Utah Warriors
UnionUSA Rugby
Founded2017 (2017)
Ground(s)Zions Bank Stadium
Herriman, Utah
CEOKimball Kjar
Coach(es)Shawn Pittman
Captain(s)Bailey Wilson
Top scorerTim O'Malley (134)
Most triesTonata Lauti (10)
League(s)Major League Rugby
2021Semi-finalists
2nd (Western Conference)
Team kit
Official website
warriorsrugby.com

Home field

The Utah Warriors play at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, Utah, which has a seating capacity of 5,000.[2] The adjacent training facility includes two full-sized indoor turf fields. The Warriors share the venue with Real Monarchs, a USL Championship team affiliated with Real Salt Lake.[3]

Broadcasts

2019 home games were shown on KMYU a CBS affiliate station owned by the Sinclair Broadcast Group. Jarom Jordan and Jonny Linehan were the on air talent.

Sponsorship
Season Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
2018-2019 XBlades Nui
2020–2021 Paladin Sports None
2022 Intermountain Healthcare

Players and personnel

Current squad
For player movements before and during the 2022 season, see List of 2021–22 Major League Rugby transfers § Utah Warriors.

The Utah Warriors squad for the 2022 Major League Rugby season is:[4]

Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.

Player Position Union
Joey Backe Hooker United States
Chad Gough Hooker United States
Tuvere Vugakoto Hooker Fiji
Elijah Hayes Prop United States
Olive Kilifi Prop United States
Angus MacLellan Prop United States
Paul Mullen Prop United States
Emerson Prior Prop Canada
Franco van den Berg Prop South Africa
Jamie Lane Lock New Zealand
James Mocke* Lock South Africa
Saia Uhila* Lock Tonga
Puna Vuli* Lock Fiji
Mike Gieselman Back row United States
Taris Schramm Back row United States
Thomas Tu’avao* Back row England
Jurie van Vuuren Back row South Africa
Lance Williams Back row United States
Bailey Wilson (c) Back row United States
Player Position Union
Danny Christensen Scrum-half United States
Zion Going* Scrum-half Australia
Niall Saunders Scrum-half Ireland
Jone Vatuwaliwali Scrum-half Fiji
Cliven Loubser Fly-half Namibia
Coleson Warner Fly-half United States
Tyler Fisher Centre South Africa
Paul Lasike Centre United States
Logan Tago Centre United States
Tomasi Tonga Centre United States
Calvin Whiting Centre United States
Mika Kruse Wing United States
Joseph Mano Wing American Samoa
Mike Te'o Wing United States
James Vaifale Wing American Samoa
Connor Burns* Fullback England
Caleb Makene Fullback New Zealand
  • Senior 15s internationally capped players are listed in bold.
  • * denotes players qualified to play for the United States on dual nationality or residency grounds.
  • MLR teams are allowed to field up to ten overseas players per match.

Head coaches

Captains

Honorary members
  • Josh Pray (2019–present)

Records

Season standings
Year Pos Pld W D L F A +/− BP Pts   Playoffs
2018 4th 8305269274–51022   Lost semi-final 21–34 to Glendale Raptors
2019 8th 162212381517−136921   Did not qualify
2020 7th 5212125134-9212  Season currtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021 2nd 161006506464+421757   Lost semi-final 13–17 to LA Giltinis

Honors

2018 season
DateOpponentHome/AwayVenueLocationResult
March 30Glendale Raptors°HomeRio Tinto StadiumSandy, UtahLost, 42–15
April 6Ontario Arrows°HomeRio Tinto StadiumSandy, UtahLost, 24–20
April 20Prairie Wolf Pack°HomeZions Bank StadiumHerriman, UtahWon, 80–12
April 29San Diego LegionAwayTorero StadiumSan Diego, CaliforniaLost, 24–31
May 5Glendale RaptorsHomeZions Bank StadiumHerriman, UtahLost, 29–36
May 11Austin EliteHomeZions Bank StadiumHerriman, UtahWon, 41–22
May 20Seattle SeawolvesAwayStarfire StadiumSeattle, WashingtonLost, 30–41
May 26Houston SaberCatsAwayDyer StadiumHouston, TexasWon, 36–30
June 1Austin EliteAwayRound Rock Multipurpose ComplexAustin, TexasLost, 33–41
June 16New Orleans GoldHomeZions Bank StadiumHerriman, UtahLost, 43–46
June 23Houston SaberCatsHomeZions Bank StadiumHerriman, UtahWon, 31–27
June 30Glendale Raptors°°AwayInfinity ParkGlendale, ColoradoLost, 21–34

° = Preseason game
°° = Playoff semifinal
     Matches won are colored green

2019 season

Exhibition
DateOpponentHome/AwayVenueResult
October 13, 2018Glendale RaptorsAwayInfinity ParkPostponed
October 20, 2018Glendale RaptorsHomePostponed
January 12, 2019Life WestHomeRSL Academy Indoor FieldWon, 25–10
February 9, 2019New England Free JacksHomeZions Bank Training CenterWon, 70–15

Regular season
DateOpponentHome/AwayVenueResult
February 1Austin EliteAwayDell DiamondWin, 17–9
February 17San Diego LegionAwayTorero StadiumLost, 10–21
February 23Glendale RaptorsHomeZions Bank StadiumDraw, 26–26
March 2New Orleans GoldHomeZions Bank StadiumLost, 19–21
March 9Rugby United New YorkHomeZions Bank StadiumLost, 21–47
March 23Houston SaberCatsAwayConstellation FieldLost, 27–29
March 30Toronto ArrowsHomeZions Bank StadiumLost, 31–64
April 5Seattle SeawolvesHomeZions Bank StadiumLost, 36–48
April 13New Orleans GoldAwayGold StadiumLost, 19–28
April 20Rugby United New YorkAwayMCU ParkLost, 22–24
April 27Austin EliteHomeZions Bank StadiumWon, 35–19
May 4Glendale RaptorsAwayInfinity ParkLost, 22–64
May 12Toronto ArrowsAwayYork StadiumLost, 21–28
May 18San Diego LegionHomeZions Bank StadiumLost, 21–31
May 26Seattle SeawolvesAwayStarfire SportsDraw, 27–27
June 1Houston SaberCatsHomeZions Bank StadiumLost, 27–31

2020 season

On March 12, 2020, MLR announced the season would go on hiatus immediately for 30 days due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[8] It was cancelled the following week.[9]

Regular season
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
February 9Rugby ATLAwayLost, 19–28
February 15New England Free JacksHomeWon, 39–33
February 22Austin GilgronisAwayDraw, 20–20
February 29Colorado RaptorsAwayLost, 14–22
March 7Seattle SeawolvesAwayWon, 33–31
March 13New Orleans GoldHomeCancelled
March 27San Diego LegionHomeCancelled
April 4Toronto ArrowsAwayCancelled
April 11Houston SaberCatsAwayCancelled
April 18Austin GilgronisHomeCancelled
April 25Seattle SeawolvesHomeCancelled
May 3Old Glory DCAwayCancelled
May 8Colorado RaptorsHomeCancelled
May 16Rugby United New YorkHomeCancelled
May 25San Diego LegionAwayCancelled
May 30Houston SaberCatsHomeCancelled

2021 season

Regular season
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
March 20Austin GilgronisAwayWon, 30–28
March 27Toronto ArrowsHomeWon, 39–24
April 3New England Free JacksAwayLost, 21–22
April 10Seattle SeawolvesHomeLost, 15–20
April 17San Diego LegionAwayLost 29-31
April 24Houston SaberCatsHomeWon, 50-43
May 8Old Glory DCHomeWon, 34-33
May 15LA GiltinisAwayLost, 27-38
May 22New Orleans GoldAwayLost, 29-24
May 29Austin GilgronisHomeWon, 45-24
June 6Seattle SeawolvesAwayWon, 29-28
June 12San Diego LegionHomeWon, 45-41
June 19Rugby United New YorkAwayWon, 29-28
June 26Houston SaberCatsAwayWon, 24-5
July 10Rugby ATLHomeLost, 31-41
July 17LA GiltinisHomeWon, 34-29

Post season
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
July 25LA GiltinisAwayLost, 13-17

2022 season

Regular season
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
February 6San Diego LegionAwayLost, 31-29
February 10Seattle SeawolvesAwayLost, 17-20
February 19Austin GilgronisAwayLost, 10-24
March 5Dallas JackalsHomeWon, 69-22
March 13LA GiltinisAwayWon, 28-19
March 19Toronto ArrowsHomeLost, 24-27
March 26Houston SaberCatsHomeLost, 12-28
April 1San Diego LegionHomeLost, 25-40
April 15Old Glory DCAwayLost, 21-22
April 23Seattle SeawolvesHomeLost, 14-20
April 30New England Free JacksAwayLost, 17-33
May 7Rugby ATLHome
May 14Houston SaberCatsAway
May 21Austin GilgronisHome
May 28LA GiltinisHome
June 4Dallas JackalsAway

See also

References
  1. "MLR Notes: Utah announces name, Seattle picks venue". This is American Rugby. 2017-09-25. Archived from the original on 2017-09-26. Retrieved 2017-09-26.
  2. "Utah Warriors Announce Home Venue for the Major League Rugby Season". Utah Warriors. 2018-01-25. Retrieved 2018-02-05. {{cite web}}: Check |archive-url= value (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. "Zions Bank Real Academy new home for Real Salt Lake development pyramid". Real Monarchs. May 24, 2017. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  4. "Utah Warriors". Americas Rugby News. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  5. "Utah Warriors Names Alf Daniels Head Coach". djcoilrugby. 2017-10-18. Archived from the original on 2017-11-19. Retrieved 2017-11-19.
  6. "Utah Warriors announce resignation of head coach Chris Latham". OurSports Central. January 14, 2021.
  7. "Warriors Hand Captaincy to Former USA U20 Captain & Vice-Captaincy to Veteran Eagle". Utah Warriors Rugby. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
  8. "MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY SUSPENDS 2020 SEASON FOR 30 DAYS". www.majorleague.rugby. March 12, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  9. "Major League Rugby cancels remainder of 2020 campaign". Yahoo! Sports. AFP. March 19, 2020. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.