Top Five ‘Must-See’ Warriors Matches of 2023

The 2023 Major League Rugby Schedule has dropped, which means rugby is right around the corner and we can officially start to look ahead to the upcoming season. There’s no better feeling than the excitement and anticipation that accompanies the start of a new season. With 2022 in the rearview mirror, we take a look at the matches you won’t want to miss this coming season.

The 2023 Schedule is HERE 🤩

For more info: https://t.co/xWdSWdQ2ax#ForTheNation pic.twitter.com/LCMwTTgWMA

— Utah Warriors Rugby (@utwarriorsrugby) November 15, 2022

5 – Utah Warriors vs. Dallas Jackals (Feb. 25)

The home opener for fans of sports teams is kind of like the Fourth of July, Christmas Morning and Thanksgiving all rolled into one, sports-filled experience. And this year, that day comes on February 25, 2023 when the Dallas Jackals come to town for a showdown against the Utah Warriors.

This marks the second time in two seasons that Utah hosts Dallas in the home opener. Last year, the Warriors cruised to a 69-22 victory in the two team’s first-ever meeting. Utah would go on to defeat the Jackals again on June 4, 2022 to close out the season. Both matches saw a Warrior finish with a hat trick, scoring three tries. So with Dallas set to visit Utah on February 25, fans can expect fireworks on the field as the Warriors play in front of Warrior Nation for the first time in 2023.

4 – Utah Warriors at Chicago (March 4)

Major League Rugby comes to the Windy City! The Warriors will travel to Chicago (team name TBA) on March 4 for the first-ever regular season MLR Match on the shores of Lake Michigan. With the excitement building of a new professional sports team in Chicago, the match will be a historic moment in MLR and Chicago sports history.

The Warriors, however exciting the moment may be, will look to play the role of villains as the team will try to spoil the moment for Chicago and their fans and send them home with a loss in the franchise’s first home match. However, the debut of Major League Rugby in Chicago will certainly be a moment fans will want to witness, either in person or on TV.

Are you ready? pic.twitter.com/4mT0bcVab4

— Major League Rugby (@usmlr) November 2, 2022

3 – Utah Warriors vs. San Diego Legion (May 6)

This offseason saw the Warriors make some changes in player personnel. One such move was trading 2021 MLR Player of the Year Mikey Te’o back home to San Diego in exchange for Jonah Dietenberger and salary cap considerations. That sets the stage for Te’o – who spent two seasons in Utah, scoring a franchise record 14 tries – to make his return to Utah when the Legion come to town on May 6.

The Warriors and Legion have always provided high-intensity matches since the teams first met in 2018, including the Warriors’ thrilling 45-41 victory in 2021. This year looks to be the same, with both teams poised to compete for a MLR Championship this season. With familiar faces on both sides, and two talented teams, the matchup between the Legion and the Warriors in May is going to be must-see TV.

2 – Utah Warriors at Seattle Seawolves (June 4)

A matchup against Seattle will always make this list as the two teams have developed a rivalry over the course of the past five seasons since the inaugural MLR Season. But the timing of the two team’s second meeting of the season may play a major role in the MLR Playoff Picture.

Seattle and Utah will first meet in Herriman on April 15, but a meeting in Seattle in Week 16 could determine which team makes the Playoffs. The defending MLR Western Conference Champions Seattle Seawolves are poised to defend their title, while a revamped Warriors team will look to show the league that they can compete for the franchise’s first championship. With this matchup coming late in the season, the winner of this game could punch their ticket to the Playoffs, and the loser could be left on the outside looking in.

So we tested NFL Draft Prospect Britain Covey on his MLR knowledge… 😆@brit_covey2 | #ForTheNation pic.twitter.com/XQnXhboAkG

— Utah Warriors Rugby (@utwarriorsrugby) April 21, 2022

1 – Utah Warriors vs. Chicago (June 10)

The number one game on any Warriors fan’s ‘must-see’ list has to be the final regular season home match of 2023. First off, the match will be Utahns’ first opportunity to see the league’s newest expansion team in person as Chicago makes the return trip to Utah. This will be the first, and potentially only, chance to see new – and some old – faces in Major League Rugby in 2023 for Warriors Nation.

But secondly, and more importantly, Utah’s home match against Chicago on June 10 will play host to the Warriors’ Community and Fan Appreciation Night. Fans who attend can not only expect fireworks on the field, but off of it as well as the team will allow fans onto the field after the match for autographs and a postgame fireworks display. Traditionally, the Warriors have also worn special, limited edition ‘city jerseys’ for Community Night, which fans can purchase after the match! With all the excitement on and off the field, it’s no surprise that the Warriors’ Community and Fan Appreciation Night typically sells out.

So don’t wait and secure your seats to see any of the Warriors eight home matches in 2023. Season Tickets, Flex Packages and Group Experiences are on sale now at warriorsrugby.com with single game tickets expected to go on sale in early January, 2023. Visit warriorsrugby.com or call the Warriors Ticket Office at 801.477.7652 today and don’t miss a second of the action this season.