The Warriors Team Named for Rugby ATL MLR Opener

Salt Lake City, UT -– Utah Warriors Head coach Chris Latham has named the team that will kickoff the Utah Warriors’ 2020 regular season when they take on Rugby ATL, which will be playing their first Major League Rugby (MLR) game Warriors head to Lupo Field at Life University in Marietta, Georgia to face one of the MLR’s three 2020 expansion teams in Rugby ATL. The Warriors selected 23 for Sunday’s battle in Atlanta includes a mixture of new, and veteran Warriors.

The front row will be manned by MLR 2nd year veteran and South African prop Franco Van Den Berg, USA Eagle prop Angus MacLellan and Fijian international Ratu Veremalua Vugakoto at hooker. Coach Latham will look to have a steady scrum from the start. With all 3 men representing their respective countries on the international stage, they carry a wealth of experience to solidify the ever-important scrum.

The Warriors’ second row are both Warrior veterans, representing the four stripes since the Warriors’ inaugural year in 2018 with John Cullen and Matt Jensen slotting in at the #4 and #5 jersey respectively. Both Cullen and Jensen have local ties to the state of Utah with Jensen claiming two-time National Championships with BYU’s rugby program, while. Cullen starred as an offensive lineman with the University of Utah football program before moving on to rugby.

The Warriors blindside flanker sees local newcomer Bailey Wilson make his first appearance in the four stripes. A Utah transplant from Sydney, Australia at age 14, played for United Rugby in high school and captained the USA U20s. Local Men’s Premier Division product from the Utah Misfits.Vice-captain Saia ‘Uhila, from Pelehake, Tonga will man the number 7 jersey. ‘Uhila is a third-year Warrior. He has played for the Oceanside Chiefs and East Palo Alto Bulldogs before moving to Utah to play in the Men’s Premier Division with the Utah Brothers.

Jurie Van Vuuren will be the number 8 for the Warriors. Van Vuuren is born from Bloemfontein, South Africa. Van Vuuren has played for the Stormers, Western Province and Southern Kings to name a few before joining as a first-year player for the Warriors.

Recently announced captain, Dwayne Polataivao will run the offense as scrum half for the Warriors. Polataivao recently represented Samoa in the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

At fly-half will be Hagen Schulte, a native from Christchurch, New Zealand but most notably played with the Glasgow Warriors and represented the German international team.

Making his debut for the Warriors after a storied high school, collegiate and USA U20s career, is United Rugby and Park City Haggis alum, Calvin Whiting who will run left wing. Whiting earned his first cap with the USA Eagles in 2017 after starring on the local and national scene in both 7s and 15s.

Running right wing will be second year Warrior, Gannon Moore. As a Kansas City Blue, Moore won the Rugby Town 7s tournament in 2015 and 2017 before moving to Orewa, New Zealand to play for the Silverdale Rugby Club. Moore has gone on to claim his spot in the USA Eagles squad and was part of the Eagle’s 2019 Rugby World Cup qualifying campaign.

From Kaitaia, New Zealand is Blake Hohaia. A first year Warrior will play inside center. Hohaia most recently played provincial rugby for Wanganui and Taranaki Rugby. He also played for Northland in the Mitre 10 Cup before signing with the Warriors. Tyler Fisher will run outside

center. Hailing from Durban, South Africa, Fisher has played for the Sharks in the Vodacom Cup and then moved on to play with the Leopards in the Currie Cup. Both Hohaia and Fisher will be making their Warriors debut this Sunday.

Fullback will be third-year Warrior, Josh Whippy. Having won multiple national championships at BYU and a high school national championship with United rugby, Whippy is no stranger to Utah and will be looking to claim his spot in a USA jersey again after injuries have hampered his chances since 2018.

Ricky Tu’ihalangingie will wear the 16 jersey. Tu’ihalangingie is from Kolomotu’a, Tongatapu. He captained the BYU rugby squad during the 2017-2018 season. Wearing the 17 jersey is HuluholoMo’ungaloa from Kolovai, Tonga. Mo’ungaloa is a second year Warrior. He most recently toured with the USA Eagles, earning caps in 2017 and 2018.

The 18 jersey will go to Kalolo Tuiloma of Auckland, New Zealand. Tuiloma played in the Mitre10 Cup with Counties Manukau and in 2018 joined the Super Rugby ranks with the Highlanders before making his way to Utah as a first-year Warrior. Puna Vuli of Suva City, Fiji will wear the 19 jersey. Before coming to the Warriors, Vuli played with the Lomaiviti Barbarians in the 2017 Rugbytown 7s. He also played in Fiji for QVSOB Rugby and SGSOB Rugby.

Charlie Hola, from Mesa, Arizona is a first year Warrior. He is a USA All American and will wear the 20 jersey. At 21 is Michael Baska. A first-year Warrior from Overland Park, Kansas. Most recently, Baska has played with the Kansas City Blues and was on the AIG Men’s Collegiate All-American Squad in 2017. He played for NOLA Gold as well before making the move to become a Warrior.

Fetu’u Vainikolo will wear the 22 jersey. A third-year Warrior from Ha’alalo, Tonga. Vainikolo has played for the Highlanders in Super Rugby for 3 years. He earned his first cap for Tonga in 2011 and has played in 28 tests. He is currently the leading try scorer in Tongan test history with 17 trys. Robbie Povey of Northampton, England is jersey 23. Povey has represented the Wolf Pack in the Canadian Rugby Championship since 2017. He also played for Sale FC beforejoining the Warriors in 2020.

Warriors Team vs. Rugby ATL—February 9, 2020

1. Franco Van Den Berg (16)
2. Ratu Veremalua Vugakoto (1)
3. Angus MacLellan (28)
4. John Cullen (21)
5. Matt Jensen (28)
6. Bailey Wilson (0)
7. Saia Uhila (28) {VC}
8. Jurie Van Vuuren (0)
9. Dwayne Polataivao (0) {C}
10. Hagen Schulte (0)
11. Calvin Whiting (0)
12. Blake Hohaia (0)
13. Tyler Fisher (0)
14. Gannon Moore (10)
15. Josh Whippy (13)
16. Ricky Tu’ihalangingie (0)
17. Huluholo Moungaloa (12)
18. Kalolo Tuiloma (0)
19. Puna Vuli (0)
20. Charlie Hola (0)
21. Michael Baska (0)
22. Fetu’u Vainikolo (26)
23. Robbie Povey (0)

( ) = Caps Earned

MATCH DETAILS

Date: February 9, 2020
Time: 1:00 PM MST
Stadium/City: Lupo Field at Life University, Marietta, GA
Expected Weather: Partly Cloudy with a high of 59°F
Viewing/Broadcast Options: ESPN+, MLR Facebook Live

The Utah Warriors are a professional rugby team and are 1 of 12 teams competing in Major League Rugby. The Warriors are comprised of individuals from 9 different countries and many with local ties to the state of Utah. The team is built upon 4 core values of Community, Family, Tradition and Respect.