Utah Warriors

Last updated
Utah Warriors
Utah Warriors rugby logo 2018.png
Union USA Rugby
Founded2017;7 years ago (2017)
Ground(s) Zions Bank Stadium
Herriman, Utah
CEO Kimball Kjar
Coach(es) Greg Cooper
Captain(s) Bailey Wilson
Top scorer Tim O'Malley (134)
Most triesTonata Lauti (10)
League(s) Major League Rugby
2023 4th (Western Conference)
Kit left arm utah warriors.png
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Kit body.svg
Kit right arm utah warriors.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
1st kit
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm.svg
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Kit socks long.svg
2nd kit
Official website
warriorsrugby.com

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.

Contents

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, an MLS Next Pro 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

SeasonKit manufacturerShirt sponsor
2018-2019 XBlades Nui Social
2020–2021 Paladin Sports None
2022 Intermountain Healthcare
2023None

Players and personnel

Current squad

The Utah Warriors squad for the 2024 Major League Rugby season is: [4]

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

PlayerPositionUnion
Phil Bradford Hooker Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia
Nic Souchon Hooker Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand
Tuvere Vugakoto Hooker Flag of Fiji.svg Fiji
Tyler Wong Hooker Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
Zak Barker Prop Flag of the United States.svg United States
Tonga Kofe Prop Flag of the United States.svg United States
Angus MacLellan Prop Flag of the United States.svg United States
Paul Mullen Prop Flag of the United States.svg United States
Emerson Prior Prop Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
Franco van den Berg Prop Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa
Takaji Young Yen Prop Flag of the United States.svg United States
Louis Conradie Lock Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa
Jonah Dietenberger Lock Flag of the United States.svg United States
Matt Jensen Lock Flag of the United States.svg United States
Frank Lochore Lock Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand
Saia Uhila* Lock Flag of Tonga.svg Tonga
John DuPree Back row Flag of the United States.svg United States
Onehunga Havili Back row Flag of Tonga.svg Tonga
Ben Keith Back row Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
Kalisi Moli Back row Flag of the United States.svg United States
Dylan Nel Back row Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa
Jeremiah Noaese Back row Flag of the United States.svg United States
Thomas Tu’avao Back row Flag of the United States.svg United States
Bailey Wilson (c) Back row Flag of the United States.svg United States
PlayerPositionUnion
Zion Going* Scrum-half Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand
Kieran McClea Scrum-half Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand
Sam Reimer Scrum-half Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
Joel Hodgson Fly-half Flag of England.svg England
Robbie Povey Fly-half Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
Spencer Jones Centre Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
Mika Kruse Centre Flag of the United States.svg United States
Paul Lasike Centre Flag of the United States.svg United States
Alesana Pohla Centre Flag of Samoa.svg Samoa
Tomasi Tonga Centre Flag of the United States.svg United States
Noah Bain Wing Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Canada
Jesse Hamilton Wing Flag of the United States.svg United States
Isaia Kruse Wing Flag of the United States.svg United States
Joe Mano Wing Flag of the United States.svg United States
Michael Manson Wing Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand
Sione Mahe Fullback Flag of the United States.svg United States
Caleb Makene Fullback Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand

Head coaches

Captains

Honorary members

Records

Season standings

SeasonConferenceRegular seasonPostseason
PosPldWDLFA+/−BPPtsPldWLFA+/−Result
2018 -4th8305269274–510221012134-13Lost Semifinal (Glendale Raptors) 21–34
2019 -8th162212381517−136921------Did not qualify
2020 [lower-alpha 1] Western2nd5212125134-9212------Cancelled
2021 Western2nd161006506464+4217571011317-4Lost West Conference Final (LA Giltinis) 13-17
2022 Western6th165011424395+29633------Did not qualify
2023 Western4th161006445421+241050------Did not qualify
Totals77323422,1262,205-55541952023451-172 postseason appearances

Notes

  1. 2020 regular season shortened and playoffs cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Honors

2018 season

DateOpponentHome/AwayVenueLocationResult
March 30 Glendale Raptors°Home Rio Tinto Stadium Sandy, Utah Lost, 42–15
April 6 Ontario Arrows°HomeRio Tinto StadiumSandy, UtahLost, 24–20
April 20 Prairie Wolf Pack°Home Zions Bank Stadium Herriman, Utah Won, 80–12
April 29 San Diego Legion Away Torero Stadium San Diego, California Lost, 24–31
May 5Glendale RaptorsHomeZions Bank StadiumHerriman, UtahLost, 29–36
May 11 Austin Elite HomeZions Bank StadiumHerriman, UtahWon, 41–22
May 20 Seattle Seawolves Away Starfire Stadium Seattle, Washington Lost, 30–41
May 26 Houston SaberCats Away Dyer Stadium Houston, Texas Won, 36–30
June 1Austin EliteAwayRound Rock Multipurpose Complex Austin, Texas Lost, 33–41
June 16 New Orleans Gold HomeZions Bank StadiumHerriman, UtahLost, 43–46
June 23Houston SaberCatsHomeZions Bank StadiumHerriman, UtahWon, 31–27
June 30Glendale Raptors°°Away Infinity Park Glendale, Colorado Lost, 21–34

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

2019 season

Exhibition

DateOpponentHome/AwayVenueResult
October 13, 2018 Glendale Raptors Away Infinity Park Postponed
October 20, 2018Glendale RaptorsHomePostponed
January 12, 2019 Life West Home RSL Academy Indoor FieldWon, 25–10
February 9, 2019 New England Free Jacks HomeZions Bank Training CenterWon, 70–15

Regular season

DateOpponentHome/AwayVenueResult
February 1 Austin Elite Away Dell Diamond Win, 17–9
February 17 San Diego Legion Away Torero Stadium Lost, 10–21
February 23 Glendale Raptors Home Zions Bank Stadium Draw, 26–26
March 2 New Orleans Gold HomeZions Bank StadiumLost, 19–21
March 9 Rugby United New York HomeZions Bank StadiumLost, 21–47
March 23 Houston SaberCats Away Constellation Field Lost, 27–29
March 30 Toronto Arrows HomeZions Bank StadiumLost, 31–64
April 5 Seattle Seawolves HomeZions Bank StadiumLost, 36–48
April 13New Orleans GoldAwayGold StadiumLost, 19–28
April 20Rugby United New YorkAway MCU Park Lost, 22–24
April 27Austin EliteHomeZions Bank StadiumWon, 35–19
May 4Glendale RaptorsAway Infinity Park Lost, 22–64
May 12Toronto ArrowsAway York Stadium Lost, 21–28
May 18San Diego LegionHomeZions Bank StadiumLost, 21–31
May 26Seattle SeawolvesAway Starfire Sports Draw, 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 9 Rugby ATL AwayLost, 19–28
February 15 New England Free Jacks HomeWon, 39–33
February 22 Austin Gilgronis AwayDraw, 20–20
February 29 Colorado Raptors AwayLost, 14–22
March 7 Seattle Seawolves AwayWon, 33–31
March 13 New Orleans Gold HomeCancelled
March 27 San Diego Legion HomeCancelled
April 4 Toronto Arrows AwayCancelled
April 11 Houston SaberCats AwayCancelled
April 18Austin GilgronisHomeCancelled
April 25Seattle SeawolvesHomeCancelled
May 3 Old Glory DC AwayCancelled
May 8Colorado RaptorsHomeCancelled
May 16 Rugby United New York HomeCancelled
May 25San Diego LegionAwayCancelled
May 30Houston SaberCatsHomeCancelled

2021 season

Regular season

DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
March 20 Austin Gilgronis AwayWon, 30–28
March 27 Toronto Arrows HomeWon, 39–24
April 3 New England Free Jacks AwayLost, 21–22
April 10 Seattle Seawolves HomeLost, 15–20
April 17 San Diego Legion AwayLost 29-31
April 24 Houston SaberCats HomeWon, 50-43
May 8 Old Glory DC HomeWon, 34-33
May 15 LA Giltinis AwayLost, 27-38
May 22 New Orleans Gold AwayLost, 29-24
May 29Austin GilgronisHomeWon, 45-24
June 6Seattle SeawolvesAwayWon, 29-28
June 12San Diego LegionHomeWon, 45-41
June 19 Rugby United New York AwayWon, 29-28
June 26Houston SaberCatsAwayWon, 24-5
July 10 Rugby ATL HomeLost, 31-41
July 17LA GiltinisHomeWon, 34-29

Post season

DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
July 25 LA Giltinis AwayLost, 13-17

2022 season

Regular season

DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
February 6 San Diego Legion AwayLost, 31-29
February 10 Seattle Seawolves AwayLost, 17-20
February 19 Austin Gilgronis AwayLost, 10-24
March 5 Dallas Jackals HomeWon, 69-22
March 13 LA Giltinis AwayWon, 28-19
March 19 Toronto Arrows HomeLost, 24-27
March 26 Houston SaberCats HomeLost, 12-28
April 1San Diego LegionHomeLost, 25-40
April 15 Old Glory DC AwayLost, 21-22
April 23 Seattle Seawolves HomeLost, 14-20
April 30 New England Free Jacks AwayLost, 17-33
May 7 Rugby ATL HomeWon, 44-26
May 14Houston SaberCatsAwayLost, 27-31
May 21Austin GilgronisHomeWon, 22-8
May 28LA GiltinisHomeLost, 32-39
June 4Dallas JackalsAwayWon, 33-5

2023 season

Regular season

DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
February 19San Diego LegionAwayLost, 17-33
February 25Dallas JackalsHomeWon, 33-25
March 5Chicago HoundsAwayWon, 14-10
March 18NOLA GoldAwayLost, 37-14

See also

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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.
  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 31 December 2023.
  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.