Utah Warriors

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.

For other uses, see Utah Warriors (disambiguation).
Utah Warriors
UnionUSA Rugby
Founded2017 (2017)
Ground(s)Zions Bank Stadium
Herriman, Utah
CEOKimball Kjar
Coach(es)Greg Cooper
Captain(s)Bailey Wilson
Top scorerTim O'Malley (134)
Most triesTonata Lauti (10)
League(s)Major League Rugby
2023Western Conference: T-3rd
Overall: T-4th
Team kit
Official website
warriorsrugby.com

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, a USL Championship 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
Season Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
2018-2019 XBlades Nui Social
2020–2021 Paladin Sports None
2022 Intermountain Healthcare
2023 None

Players and personnel

Current squad
For player movements before and during the 2024 season, see List of 2023–24 Major League Rugby transfers § Utah Warriors.

The Utah Warriors squad for the 2024 Major League Rugby season is: Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union
Sam Faoagali Hooker United States United States
Chad Gough Hooker United States United States
Nic Souchon Hooker New Zealand New Zealand
Tuvere Vugakoto Hooker Fiji Fiji
Stephan Bernal-Wendt Prop United States United States
Elijah Hayes Prop United States United States
Gabe Kettering Prop United States United States
Olive Kilifi Prop United States United States
Angus MacLellan Prop United States United States
Paul Mullen Prop United States United States
Emerson Prior Prop Canada Canada
Franco van den Berg Prop South Africa South Africa
Takaji Young Yen Prop United States United States
Isaiah Caver Lock United States United States
Jonah Dietenberger Lock United States United States
Kaden Duguid Lock Canada Canada
Josh Halladay Lock Canada Canada
Onehunga Havili Lock Tonga Tonga
Greg Janowick Lock United States United States
Jamie Lane Lock New Zealand New Zealand
Saia Uhila* Lock Tonga Tonga
Michael Biagi Back row United States United States
John DuPree Back row United States United States
Jeremiah Noaese Back row United States United States
Thomas Tu’avao Back row United States United States
Abe Turpen Back row United States United States
Lance Williams Back row United States United States
Bailey Wilson (c) Back row United States United States
Player Position Union
Zion Going* Scrum-half New Zealand New Zealand
Tai Kauwe Scrum-half United States United States
Connor McLeod Scrum-half New Zealand New Zealand
Siaosi Nai Scrum-half Tonga Tonga
Danny Giannascoli Fly-half United States United States
Joel Hodgson Fly-half England England
Sione Mahe Fly-half United States United States
Coleson Warner Fly-half United States United States
Tyler Fisher Centre South Africa South Africa
Paul Lasike Centre United States United States
Siaosi Nauer Centre United States United States
Tomasi Tonga Centre United States United States
Jesse Hamilton Wing United States United States
Isaia Kruse Wing United States United States
Mika Kruse Wing United States United States
Joseph Mano Wing American Samoa American Samoa
Logan Tago Wing United States United States
Cliven Loubser Fullback Namibia Namibia
Caleb Makene Fullback New Zealand New Zealand
  • Senior 15s internationally capped players are listed in bold.
  • * denotes players qualified to play for the United States on dual nationality or residency grounds.
  • MLR teams are allowed to field up to ten overseas players per match.

Head coaches

Captains

Honorary members
  • Josh Pray (2019–present)

Records

Season standings
Season Conference Regular season Postseason
Pos Pld W D L F A +/− BP Pts Pld W L F A +/− Result
2018 - 4th8305269274–510221012134-13Lost Semifinal (Glendale Raptors) 21–34
2019 - 8th162212381517−136921------Did not qualify
2020[lower-alpha 1] Western 2nd5212125134-9212------Cancelled
2021 Western 2nd161006506464+4217571011317-4Lost West Conference Final (LA Giltinis) 13-17
2022 Western 6th165011424395+29633------Did not qualify
2023 Western 4th161006445421+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 30Glendale Raptors°HomeRio Tinto StadiumSandy, UtahLost, 42–15
April 6Ontario Arrows°HomeRio Tinto StadiumSandy, UtahLost, 24–20
April 20Prairie Wolf Pack°HomeZions Bank StadiumHerriman, UtahWon, 80–12
April 29San Diego LegionAwayTorero StadiumSan Diego, CaliforniaLost, 24–31
May 5Glendale RaptorsHomeZions Bank StadiumHerriman, UtahLost, 29–36
May 11Austin EliteHomeZions Bank StadiumHerriman, UtahWon, 41–22
May 20Seattle SeawolvesAwayStarfire StadiumSeattle, WashingtonLost, 30–41
May 26Houston SaberCatsAwayDyer StadiumHouston, TexasWon, 36–30
June 1Austin EliteAwayRound Rock Multipurpose ComplexAustin, TexasLost, 33–41
June 16New Orleans GoldHomeZions Bank StadiumHerriman, UtahLost, 43–46
June 23Houston SaberCatsHomeZions Bank StadiumHerriman, UtahWon, 31–27
June 30Glendale Raptors°°AwayInfinity ParkGlendale, ColoradoLost, 21–34

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

2019 season

Exhibition
DateOpponentHome/AwayVenueResult
October 13, 2018Glendale RaptorsAwayInfinity ParkPostponed
October 20, 2018Glendale RaptorsHomePostponed
January 12, 2019Life WestHomeRSL Academy Indoor FieldWon, 25–10
February 9, 2019New England Free JacksHomeZions Bank Training CenterWon, 70–15

Regular season
DateOpponentHome/AwayVenueResult
February 1Austin EliteAwayDell DiamondWin, 17–9
February 17San Diego LegionAwayTorero StadiumLost, 10–21
February 23Glendale RaptorsHomeZions Bank StadiumDraw, 26–26
March 2New Orleans GoldHomeZions Bank StadiumLost, 19–21
March 9Rugby United New YorkHomeZions Bank StadiumLost, 21–47
March 23Houston SaberCatsAwayConstellation FieldLost, 27–29
March 30Toronto ArrowsHomeZions Bank StadiumLost, 31–64
April 5Seattle SeawolvesHomeZions Bank StadiumLost, 36–48
April 13New Orleans GoldAwayGold StadiumLost, 19–28
April 20Rugby United New YorkAwayMCU ParkLost, 22–24
April 27Austin EliteHomeZions Bank StadiumWon, 35–19
May 4Glendale RaptorsAwayInfinity ParkLost, 22–64
May 12Toronto ArrowsAwayYork StadiumLost, 21–28
May 18San Diego LegionHomeZions Bank StadiumLost, 21–31
May 26Seattle SeawolvesAwayStarfire SportsDraw, 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.[7] It was cancelled the following week.[8]

Regular season
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
February 9Rugby ATLAwayLost, 19–28
February 15New England Free JacksHomeWon, 39–33
February 22Austin GilgronisAwayDraw, 20–20
February 29Colorado RaptorsAwayLost, 14–22
March 7Seattle SeawolvesAwayWon, 33–31
March 13New Orleans GoldHomeCancelled
March 27San Diego LegionHomeCancelled
April 4Toronto ArrowsAwayCancelled
April 11Houston SaberCatsAwayCancelled
April 18Austin GilgronisHomeCancelled
April 25Seattle SeawolvesHomeCancelled
May 3Old Glory DCAwayCancelled
May 8Colorado RaptorsHomeCancelled
May 16Rugby United New YorkHomeCancelled
May 25San Diego LegionAwayCancelled
May 30Houston SaberCatsHomeCancelled

2021 season

Regular season
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
March 20Austin GilgronisAwayWon, 30–28
March 27Toronto ArrowsHomeWon, 39–24
April 3New England Free JacksAwayLost, 21–22
April 10Seattle SeawolvesHomeLost, 15–20
April 17San Diego LegionAwayLost 29-31
April 24Houston SaberCatsHomeWon, 50-43
May 8Old Glory DCHomeWon, 34-33
May 15LA GiltinisAwayLost, 27-38
May 22New Orleans GoldAwayLost, 29-24
May 29Austin GilgronisHomeWon, 45-24
June 6Seattle SeawolvesAwayWon, 29-28
June 12San Diego LegionHomeWon, 45-41
June 19Rugby United New YorkAwayWon, 29-28
June 26Houston SaberCatsAwayWon, 24-5
July 10Rugby ATLHomeLost, 31-41
July 17LA GiltinisHomeWon, 34-29

Post season
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
July 25LA GiltinisAwayLost, 13-17

2022 season

Regular season
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
February 6San Diego LegionAwayLost, 31-29
February 10Seattle SeawolvesAwayLost, 17-20
February 19Austin GilgronisAwayLost, 10-24
March 5Dallas JackalsHomeWon, 69-22
March 13LA GiltinisAwayWon, 28-19
March 19Toronto ArrowsHomeLost, 24-27
March 26Houston SaberCatsHomeLost, 12-28
April 1San Diego LegionHomeLost, 25-40
April 15Old Glory DCAwayLost, 21-22
April 23Seattle SeawolvesHomeLost, 14-20
April 30New England Free JacksAwayLost, 17-33
May 7Rugby ATLHomeWon, 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

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 Names Alf Daniels Head Coach". djcoilrugby. 2017-10-18. Archived from the original on 2017-11-19. Retrieved 2017-11-19.
  5. "Utah Warriors announce resignation of head coach Chris Latham". OurSports Central. January 14, 2021.
  6. "Warriors Hand Captaincy to Former USA U20 Captain & Vice-Captaincy to Veteran Eagle". Utah Warriors Rugby. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
  7. "MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY SUSPENDS 2020 SEASON FOR 30 DAYS". www.majorleague.rugby. March 12, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  8. "Major League Rugby cancels remainder of 2020 campaign". Yahoo! Sports. AFP. March 19, 2020. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
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