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HERRIMAN — Rugby fans in Utah don’t have to wait long for pro rugby.
Less than two months, in fact.
The Utah Warriors will open the 2018 Major League Rugby schedule March 30 at home against historic U.S. club Glendale Raptors. The game, which will be played on the Warriors' home field at Real Salt Lake’s Herriman-based academy complex, will kick off at 7 p.m. MST.
It will be the first-ever top-flight rugby game in Utah, and the first in a three-game homestand to open Major League Rugby’s inaugural season.
"This is it, Major League Rugby is here in the United States, and Utah is at the epicenter," Warriors general manager Kimball Kjar said in a statement from the club. "We are eager to bring one of the world’s most watched and fastest sports to our backyard.
"We are confident that we will be contenders for the title and given the rugby community here in Utah, that the Warriors will be a bright new entertainment destination and team for Utah to support."
Select Major League Rugby games will be televised on the CBS Sports Network.
PART 2. What does it mean to "Stand Strong"? Support your Utah Warriors #Rugby Team and #standstrongstandasone
— Utah Warriors (@warriorsrugbyut) February 8, 2018
Retweet 👊 if you’re standing with your #Warriors this 2018 season! pic.twitter.com/vM8bWxexWp
Founded in 2007 and based in the Glendale suburb of Denver, the Raptors have the first-ever rugby-specific stadium in the United States in Infinity Park. One of the standard-bearers of North American pro rugby with youth teams in college and the women’s game, Glendale has boasted an impressive lineup of former collegiate and international rugby standouts, including former BYU scrumhalf and USA Eagles international Shaun Davies.
After the March 30 opener, the Warriors will host Canadian squads Ontario Arrows and Alberta Wolfpack at 7 p.m. MST April 6 and April 20, respectively.
They’ll return to Major League Rugby play April 29 at San Diego Legion, followed by back-to-back home games against Glendale and Austin Elite.
After a Texas road trip to play Austin and the Houston Sabercats, the season ends with back-to-back home games, including the June 23 match at 2 p.m. MST against Houston.
All players in Major League Rugby are contracted by the league and assigned to each team. Utah’s roster includes international rugby players from Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Zimbabwe, South Africa and England, as well as USA Eagles internationals and former collegiate standouts former BYU football player and NFL fullback Paul Lasike.
Ticket information can be found at warriorsrugby.com.
Utah Warriors rugby 2018 schedule
| Date | Opponent | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar. 30 | Glendale Raptors | 7PM | Herriman, Utah |
| April 6 | Ontario Arrowheads | 7PM | Herriman, Utah |
| April 20 | Alberta Wolfpack | 7PM | Herriman, Utah |
| April 29 | San Diego Legion | 5PM | San Diego, Calif. |
| May 5 | Glendale Raptors | 1:30PM | Herriman, Utah |
| May 11 | Austin Elite | 7PM | Herriman, Utah |
| May 20 | Seattle Seawolves | 6PM | Seattle, Wash. |
| May 26 | Houston Sabercats | 1PM | Houston, Texas |
| June 3 | Austin Elite | 6PM | Austin, Texas |
| June 16 | New Orleans Gold | 2PM | Herriman, Utah |
| June 23 | Houston Sabercats | 2PM | Herriman, Utah |
