Selects return home for match against Northeast Rugby Academy

Salt Lake City — November 6, 2020. After a match on the road against Pathway 404 last weekend, the Selects will return home to Utah for a game Saturday, Nov. 7, against the Northeast Rugby Academy. The match will begin at 7pm MDT at Zions Bank Stadium.

After a tough 21-41 loss to MLR rival Rugby Atlanta’s development team, Pathway 404, the Selects return to their home turf with sights set on preparing for their remaining three home matches. This weekend’s opponent, Northeast Rugby Academy (NRA), is a development team located in the New England region of the United States. The NRA is a national program sanctioned by USA rugby and will provide a diverse pool of competition for the Selects. 

“We are going to apply lessons learned from the 404 game,” said Brandon Sparks, Director of Rugby for the Warriors. “We have a young starting XV eager to prove themselves and an experienced bench to support them.”

With all the uncertainty of the pandemic-driven times, Sparks addressed gratitude for the ability to still play a team from the other side of the country.

“I would like to thank the Northeast Rugby Academy for keeping their commitment to play this game,” Sparks said. “Tom Clark and his staff deserve a ton of credit for creating amazing protocols to protect their players.”

To purchase tickets for the upcoming match, as well as the remaining Selects fall season matches, visit www.warriorsrugby.com/warriors-selects-matches/. For more details on the 2020 Selects Fall Series schedule and all current Utah Warriors updates, go to www.WarriorsRugby.com. 

Utah Warriors Selects vs. Northeast Rugby Academy (Nov. 7, 2020 @ 7pm MDT):

1 Sam Ciancutti

2 Mike Payne

3 Elijah Hayes

4 Kal Kistner

5 Aelias McHam

6 Thomas Tu’avao

7 Mike Gieselman

8 Charlie Hola

9 Danny Christensen

10 Tosh Wilcox

11 Aaron Wade

12 Tomasi Tonga

13 O’Shea Settle

14 Logan Tago

15 James Vaifale

16 Sesili Taukiuvea

17 Alex Tucci

18 David Perez

19 Lance Williams

20 Nick Andiarena

21 Jacob Klingelsmith

22 Joe Mano

23 Bobby Tu’avao

Coaches: Brandon Sparks (Dir. of Rugby), Vaha Esikia (Backs/Attack), Derek Smith (Forwards/Defense)