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,[2] the top-level rugby 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)Kees Lensing
Phil Mack[1] (Assistant)
Captain(s)Riekert Hattingh
Top scorerBrock Staller (313)
Most triesRiekert Hattingh (14)
League(s)Major League Rugby
2019Champions
2nd place (regular season)
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.[2] The Seawolves won the inaugural MLR Grand Final in 2018,[3] 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.[4]

Home field

The Seattle Seawolves play at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila.[5] The team offered 1,800 season tickets for their inaugural season, which sold out prior to the first match.[6]

Broadcasts

Home games for 2019 were shown on Root Sports Northwest, an AT&T SportsNet affiliate.[7] Dan Power and Kevin Swiryn were the on-air talent.[8]

Sponsorship
Season Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
2018–2019 XBlades
2020–present Paladin Sports Krusteaz

Players and personnel

Current squad
For player movements before and during the 2021 season, see List of 2020–21 Major League Rugby transfers § Seattle Seawolves.

The Seattle Seawolves squad for the 2021 Major League Rugby season is:[9]

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
Stephan Coetzee Hooker South Africa
Mike Shepherd Hooker United States
Vili Tolutaʻu Hooker United States
Kellen Gordon Prop United States
Jake Ilnicki Prop Canada
Tim Metcher Prop Australia
Djustice Sears-Duru Prop Canada
Taylor Krumrei Lock United States
FP Pelser Lock South Africa
Brad Tucker Lock New Zealand
Eric Duechle Flanker United States
Andrew Durutalo Flanker United States
Nakai Penny Flanker Canada
Riekert Hattingh* (c) Number 8 South Africa
Player Position Union
Devereaux Ferris Scrum-half United States
JP Smith Scrum-half South Africa
Ben Cima Fly-half United States
Aaron Matthews Fly-half United States
JP Aguirre* Centre Argentina
George Barton Centre Canada
Joey Iosefa Centre American Samoa
Ross Neal Centre England
Nick Taylor Centre United States
David Busby Wing Ireland
Brock Staller Wing Canada
Sitiveni Tamaivena* Wing Fiji
Suliasi Tamaivena* Wing Fiji
Mathew Turner Fullback England
  • Senior 15s and senior 7s 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) [10]
  • Anton Moolman (2019) did not take up post due to visa difficulties [11]
  • Richie Walker (2019)
  • Kees Lensing (2020–)

Captains

  • Riekert Hattingh (2018–present) 

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 5104138162-2448  Season cut short due to Coronavirus Pandemic

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.[12] It was cancelled the following week[13]

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

References
  1. http://www.seattleseawolves.com/players/phil-mack
  2. "Seattle has a brand new sports team". KIRO 7 News. September 21, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  3. Arthur, Ben (May 16, 2019). "The driving force of the Seattle Seawolves". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  4. "'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.
  5. "About the Seattle Seawolves". Seattle Seawolves. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
  6. 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.
  7. http://www.seattleseawolves.com/news/major-league-rugby-s-seattle-seawolves-extend-television-partnership-with-root-sports
  8. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10510446
  9. "Seattle Seawolves". Americas Rugby News. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  10. "Seawolves win first game as pro rugby makes Seattle debut". The Seattle Times. April 22, 2018. Archived from the original on May 2, 2018.
  11. "Anton Moolman new Head Coach of Seattle Seawolves". Americas Rugby News. September 9, 2018. Archived from the original on October 25, 2018.
  12. Anonymous, "MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY SUSPENDS 2020 SEASON FOR 30 DAYS," www.majorleague.rugby, March 12, 2020 Retrieved March 14, 2020
  13. "Major League Rugby cancels remainder of 2020 campaign". Yahoo! Sports. AFP. March 19, 2020. Retrieved March 19, 2020.


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