Warriors Announce 2022 Roster

HERRIMAN, UT (Dec. 2, 2021) – The Utah Warriors have announced their full roster for the 2022 Major League Rugby Season. The roster includes 22 returning players from the 2021 team that set Utah’s record for most wins in a single season, along with six free agent signings and three 2021 MLR Draft Selections. The Warriors will kick off the franchise’s Five Year Anniversary when the regular season begins on February 6, 2022.

“We had a few objectives this off-season,” said Warriors GM Brandon Sparks. “First, we wanted to get younger without sacrificing our senior leadership. Second, we wanted to get more athletic to compliment Shawn’s desired style of play. I’m confident we accomplished both of those objectives while also adding some serious X-Factors to the squad.”

The Utah Warriors’ roster is made up of 31 players, representing ten countries from around the World; South Africa, United States, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Canada, Tonga and Namibia. Additionally, the Warriors’ roster features 13 players hailing from eight U.S. States and one U.S. Territory.

Joining the 31 players that have been named to the Utah Warriors 2022 Roster will be 10 players who participated with the Warriors’ development side, the Utah Selects, this past fall. These players will compete for a spot on the Utah Warriors Roster throughout the preseason. Signings of these players will be announced as they happen.

Showing the strategic value in the Warriors’ pathway development plan, six past Utah Selects players have made the Warriors’ 2022 roster, including Joe Mano, Thomas Tu’avao, Logan Tago, Danny Christensen, Mike Geiselman and James Vaifale.

The Utah Warriors will kick off the 2022 Major League Rugby Regular Season on February 6, 2022 when they travel to San Diego to take on the Legion. Professional rugby will make its return to Utah when the Warriors host the newest MLR Expansion team, the Dallas Jackals, at Zions Bank Stadium on March 5, 2022.

Full Roster:

Franco van den Berg – South Africa – Loosehead Prop
‘Olive Kilifi – Washington, USA – Loosehead Prop
Emerson Prior – Canada – Loosehead Prop*
Ratu Tuvere Vugakoto – Fiji – Hooker
Chad Gough – Utah, USA – Hooker
Joey Backe – Illinois, USA – Hooker*
Angus MacLellan – Michigan, USA – Tighthead Prop
Paul Mullen – Ireland – Tighthead Prop
Elijah Hayes – Louisiana, USA – Tighthead Prop
Jamie Lane – New Zealand – Lock*
Saia ‘Uhila – Tonga – Lock
Bailey Wilson – Australia – Flanker
Jurie Van Vuuren – South Africa – Flanker
Lance Williams – Hawaii, USA – Flanker
Thomas Tu’avao – England – Flanker
Mike Geiselman – Michigan, USA – Flanker
Niall Saunders – England – Scrum Half*
Jone Vatuwaliwali – Fiji – Scrum Half*
Danny Christensen – Utah, USA – Scrum Half
Cliven Loubser – Namibia – Flyhalf
Mick O’Gara – Ireland – Flyhalf*
Tyler Fisher – South Africa – Center
Calvin Whiting – South Africa – Center
James Vaifale – Arizona, USA – Center
Logan Tago – American Samoa – Wing
Mikey Te’o – California, USA – Wing
Joe Mano – Hawaii, USA – Wing
Mika Kruse – California, USA – Wing
Caleb Makene – New Zealand – Fullback*
Connor Burns – England – Fullback*

Head Coach: Shawn Pittman
Assistant Coach (Forwards): Robbie Abel
Assistant Coach (Backs): Shaun Davies

*indicates new player signing or draft selection

ABOUT THE UTAH WARRIORS
The Utah Warriors are a founding member of Major League Rugby and one of 13 professional rugby teams competing in the MLR. The organization is celebrating it’s Five Year Anniversary in 2022, marking five years since the team began play in 2018. The team is built upon four core values of Community, Family, Tradition and Respect. To learn about the Warriors 2022 schedule, or to purchase tickets, visit us online at www.warriorsrugby.com.