Seattle Seawolves

The Seattle Seawolves are an American professional rugby union team based in Tukwila, Washington. The team was founded in 2017 and competes in Major League Rugby,[1] the top-level rugby union competition in the United States that played its first season in 2018.

Seattle Seawolves
Founded2017 (2017)
LocationTukwila, Washington
Ground(s)Starfire Sports (Capacity: 3,800)
Coach(es)Allen Clarke
Captain(s)Riekert Hattingh
Top scorerBrock Staller (313)
Most triesRiekert Hattingh (14)
League(s)Major League Rugby
20215th (Western Conference)
1st kit
2nd kit
Official website
seattleseawolves.com
Seawolves' home, Starfire Sports Complex

History

The team was founded in 2017 by an investor group headed by Adrian Balfour and Shane Skinner.[1] The Seawolves won the inaugural MLR Grand Final in 2018,[2] and defended the title in the 2019 Major League Rugby Championship. In the final on June 16, 2019, the Seattle Seawolves defeated San Diego Legion 26–23 at Torero Stadium on the campus of the University of San Diego.[3]

Home field

The Seattle Seawolves play at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila.[4] The team offered 1,800 season tickets for their inaugural season, which sold out prior to the first match.[5]

Broadcasts

Home games for 2019 were shown on Root Sports Northwest, an AT&T SportsNet affiliate.[6] Dan Power and Kevin Swiryn were the on-air talent.[7]

Sponsorship
Season Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
2018–2019 XBlades None
2020 Paladin Sports Krusteaz
2021-2022 WaFd Bank

Players and personnel

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

The Seattle Seawolves squad for the 2022 Major League Rugby season is:[8]

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
Mike Brown Hooker United States
Alex Glover Hooker United States
James Malcolm Hooker Scotland
Sean McNulty* Hooker Ireland
Dewald Donald Prop South Africa
Mzamo Majola Prop South Africa
Sam Matenga Prop New Zealand
Tim Metcher Prop Australia
Matt Duncan Prop United States
Kellen Gordon Prop United States
Henry Hall Prop United States
Tani Tupou Prop United States
Victor Comptat Lock United States
Setefano Funaki Lock Tonga
Rhyno Herbst Lock South Africa
Ben Landry Lock United States
Samu Manoa Lock United States
Tommy Clark Back row United States
Andrew Durutalo Back row United States
Riekert Hattingh (c) Back row United States
Travis Larsen Back row Canada
Nakai Penny Back row Canada
Brad Tucker Back row New Zealand
Player Position Union
JP Smith Scrum-half South Africa
Reid Watkins Scrum-half Canada
AJ Alatimu Fly-half Samoa
Tai Enosa Fly-half United States
Lopeti Aisea Centre United States
Martin Iosefo Centre United States
Kieran Joyce Centre Ireland
Dan Kriel Centre South Africa
Tavite Lopeti Centre United States
Jared Whippy* Centre Fiji
David Busby Wing Ireland
Lauina Futi Wing American Samoa
Ross Neal Wing England
Jeremiah Sio Wing United States
Darell Williams Wing United States
Cole Zarcone Wing United States
Duncan Matthews Fullback South Africa
Mathew Turner Fullback England
  • 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
  • Tony Healy (2018) did not take up post due to visa difficulties
  • Phil Mack (2018) [9]
  • Anton Moolman (2019) did not take up post due to visa difficulties [10]
  • Richie Walker (2019)
  • Kees Lensing (2020–April 2021)
  • Pate Tuilevuka (May-June 2021–)
  • Allen Clarke (May 2021–)

Captains

Records

Season standings
Year Pos Pld W D L F A +/− BP Pts   Playoffs
2018 2nd 8602232188+44529 Won championship final
2019 2nd 161114498407+911258 Won championship final
2020 10th 5104138162-2448Season cut short due to Coronavirus Pandemic
2021 11th 164012343461-1181026

Honors

2018 season

Regular season
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
April 22San Diego LegionHomeWon, 39–23
April 28Glendale RaptorsHomeLost, 15–19
May 12New Orleans GoldAwayWon, 31–29
May 20Utah WarriorsHomeWon, 41–32
May 27New Orleans GoldHomeWon, 55–26
June 2Houston SaberCatsAwayWon, 20–7
June 8Austin EliteAwayWon, 20–19
June 16Glendale RaptorsAwayLost, 11–33

Postseason
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
June 30San Diego LegionHomeWon, 38-24
June 16Glendale RaptorsNeutralWon, 23–19

2019 season

Exhibition
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
December 22 (2018)Crimson TideAwayWon, 48–7
January 5SFGGAwayWon, 45–0
January 17Seattle SaracensHomeWon, 74–3

Regular season
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
January 27Glendale RaptorsHomeWon, 20-18
February 2San Diego LegionAwayLost, 13-17
February 10New Orleans GoldAwayLost, 31-41
February 17Toronto ArrowsHomeWon, 35–30
February 24Rugby United New YorkHomeWon, 33-21
March 10Houston SaberCatsHomeWon, 27-14
March 16Austin EliteAwayWon, 29-17
March 31San Diego LegionHomeLost, 22-28
April 5Utah WarriorsAwayWon, 48-36
April 13Houston SaberCatsAwayWon, 52–10
April 21New Orleans GoldHomeWon, 25–24
April 28Toronto ArrowsAwayLost, 7-29
May 11Rugby United New YorkAwayWon, 38-31
May 18Glendale RaptorsAwayWon, 53-36
May 26Utah WarriorsHomeDraw, 27-27
June 2Austin EliteHomeWon, 38–26

Postseason
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
June 9Toronto ArrowsHomeWon, 30-17
June 16San Diego LegionAwayWon, 26–23

2020 season

On March 12, 2020, MLR announced the season would go on hiatus immediately for 30 days due to fears surrounding the 2019–2020 coronavirus pandemic.[11] It was cancelled the following week[12]

Regular season
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
February 9San Diego LegionAwayLost, 24–33
February 16Old Glory DCAwayLost, 22–28
February 22Toronto ArrowsHomeLost, 17–39
February 29New England Free JacksHomeWon, 44–29
March 7Utah WarriorsHomeLost, 31–33
March 15Rugby United New YorkAwayCancelled
March 21Houston SaberCatsHomeCancelled
March 29Colorado RaptorsHomeCancelled
April 4Austin GilgronisAwayCancelled
April 12San Diego LegionHomeCancelled
April 25Utah WarriorsAwayCancelled
May 2Houston SabreCatsAwayCancelled
May 10Rugby ATLAwayCancelled
May 17New Orleans GoldHomeCancelled
May 24Colorado RaptorsAwayCancelled
May 31Austiin GilgronisHomeCancelled

2021 season

Regular season
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
March 20Houston SaberCatsAwayLost, 24–30
March 28LA GiltinisAwayLost, 26–57
April 10Utah WarriorsAwayWon, 20–15
April 17Toronto ArrowsAwayLost, 7-52
April 25Austin GilgronisAwayLost, 15-42
May 2Rugby United New YorkHomeLost, 23-21
May 9San Diego Legion HomeWon, 21-15
May 16Old Glory DCAwayLost, 18-22
May 23Rugby ATLHomeLost, 6-25
June 6Utah WarriorsHomeLost, 28-29
June 13New England Free JacksAwayLost, 21-25
June 20Austin GilgronisHomeLost, 31-36
June 27LA GiltinisHomeLost, 14-29
July 3San Diego LegionAwayLost, 21-34
July 11New Orleans GoldHomeWon, 30-6
July 15Houston SaberCatsHomeWon, 40-21

2022 season

Exhibition
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
January 22Seattle Rugby ClubHomeWon, 76-8
January 28Hartford HarpoonersHomeWon, 50-0

Regular season
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
February 6Toronto ArrowsHomeWon, 21-8
February 10Utah WarriorsHomeWon, 20-17
February 20San Diego LegionAwayWon, 31-28
February 26Austin GilgronisHomeLost, 25-18
March 4New Orleans GoldHomeLost, 25-24
March 12Houston SaberCatsAwayLost, 21-19
March 19Dallas JackalsAwayWon, 34-12
March 26LA GiltinisHomeLost, 12-31
April 9New England Free JacksAwayLost, 22-24
April 16San Diego LegionHomeWon, 34-32
April 23Utah WarriorsAwayWon, 20-14
May 1Austin GilgronisAwayLost, 6-17
May 8Dallas JackalsHome
May 15Rugby United NYAway
May 27Houston SaberCatsHome
June 5LA GiltinisAway

References
  1. "Seattle has a brand new sports team". KIRO 7 News. September 21, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  2. Arthur, Ben (May 16, 2019). "The driving force of the Seattle Seawolves". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  3. "'I can't explain this feeling': Seawolves repeat as Major League Rugby champions with try as time expires". The Seattle Times. 2019-06-16. Retrieved 2019-06-17.
  4. "About the Seattle Seawolves". Seattle Seawolves. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
  5. Saul, John (April 13, 2018). "Seattle's hottest new startup is no tech company: Get to know the Seawolves and professional rugby". The Seattle Times. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  6. "MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY'S SEATTLE SEAWOLVES EXTEND TELEVISION PARTNERSHIP WITH ROOT SPORTS". www.seattleseawolves.com. Retrieved 2021-09-01.
  7. "San Diego Legion at Seattle Seawolves". IMDb. 31 March 2019.
  8. "Seattle Seawolves". Americas Rugby News. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  9. "Seawolves win first game as pro rugby makes Seattle debut". The Seattle Times. April 22, 2018. Archived from the original on May 2, 2018.
  10. "Anton Moolman new Head Coach of Seattle Seawolves". Americas Rugby News. September 9, 2018. Archived from the original on October 25, 2018.
  11. Anonymous, "MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY SUSPENDS 2020 SEASON FOR 30 DAYS," www.majorleague.rugby, March 12, 2020 Retrieved March 14, 2020
  12. "Major League Rugby cancels remainder of 2020 campaign". Yahoo! Sports. AFP. March 19, 2020. Retrieved March 19, 2020.


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