Seattle Seawolves

The Seattle Seawolves are an American professional rugby union team based in Tukwila, Washington. The team was founded in 2017 and competes in Major League Rugby (MLR), the top-level rugby union competition in the United States that began play in 2018. The Seawolves won two MLR championships in 2018 and 2019, and lost in the 2022 final. They play at Starfire Sports, a 4,500-seat stadium in Tukwila that primarily serves soccer teams.

Seattle Seawolves
Founded2017 (2017)
LocationTukwila, Washington
Ground(s)Starfire Sports (Capacity: 4,500)
Coach(es)Allen Clarke
Captain(s)Riekert Hattingh
Top scorerBrock Staller (313)
Most triesRiekert Hattingh (14)
League(s)Major League Rugby
2023Conference finalist
2nd (Western Conference)
1st kit
2nd kit
Official website
seawolves.rugby

History

The team was founded in 2017 by an investor group headed by Adrian Balfour and Shane Skinner.[1] The Seawolves won the inaugural MLR Grand Final in 2018,[2] and defended the title in the 2019 Major League Rugby Championship. In the final on June 16, 2019, the Seattle Seawolves defeated San Diego Legion 26–23 at Torero Stadium on the campus of the University of San Diego.[3]

Stadium
A Seawolves game at Starfire Sports in 2022

The Seattle Seawolves play at Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila.[4] The team offered 1,800 season tickets for their inaugural season, which sold out prior to the first match.[5]

Broadcasts

Home games for 2019 were shown on Root Sports Northwest, an AT&T SportsNet affiliate.[6] Dan Power and Kevin Swiryn were the on-air talent.[7]

Kit history
Home 2018–19
Away 2018
Away 2022–
Home 2023–

Sponsorship
Season Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor Other Shirt sponsor(s)
2018–2019 XBlades None None
2020 Paladin Sports Krusteaz None
2021–2022 WaFd Bank None
2023 Virginia Mason Franciscan Health
Tukwila
(ExperienceTukwila.com)

Players and personnel

Current squad

The Seattle Seawolves squad for the 2024 Major League Rugby season is:[8]

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union
Peter Malcolm Hooker United States United States
DaQuan Perry Hooker United States United States
Joe Taufeteʻe Hooker United States United States
Dewald Donald Prop South Africa South Africa
Kellen Gordon Prop United States United States
Olive Kilifi Prop United States United States
Sam Matenga Prop New Zealand New Zealand
Cameron Orr Prop Australia Australia
Mason Pedersen Prop United States United States
Chance Wenglewski Prop United States United States
Jean Droste Lock South Africa South Africa
Rhyno Herbst Lock South Africa South Africa
Taylor Krumrei Lock United States United States
Isaia Lotawa Lock United States United States
Mahonri Ngakuru Lock New Zealand New Zealand
Reid Davis Back row Canada Canada
Charles Elton Back row New Zealand New Zealand
Pago Haini Back row United States United States
Riekert Hattingh (c) Back row United States United States
Neal Moylett Back row Ireland Ireland
Kara Pryor Back row New Zealand New Zealand
Huw Taylor Back row England England
Player Position Union
Ryan Rees Scrum-half United States United States
JP Smith* Scrum-half South Africa South Africa
Rhys Jones Fly-half United States United States
Mack Mason Fly-half Australia Australia
Sam Windsor* Fly-half Australia Australia
David Busby Centre Ireland Ireland
Dan Kriel Centre South Africa South Africa
Tevita Kuridrani Centre Australia Australia
Tavite Lopeti Centre United States United States
Lauina Futi Wing United States United States
Conner Mooneyham Wing United States United States
Toni Pulu* Wing Niue Niue
Jeremiah Sio Wing United States United States
Jade Stighling Wing South Africa South Africa
Duncan Matthews Fullback South Africa South Africa
Divan Rossouw Fullback Namibia Namibia
  • 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
  • Canada Tony Healy (2018) did not take up post due to visa difficulties
  • Canada Phil Mack (2018) [9]
  • South Africa Anton Moolman (2019) did not take up post due to visa difficulties [10]
  • New Zealand Richie Walker (2019)
  • Namibia Kees Lensing (2020–April 2021)
  • United States Pate Tuilevuka (May–June 2021–)
  • Ireland Allen Clarke (May 2021–)

Captains
  • United States Riekert Hattingh (2018–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 - 2nd8602232188+445292206143+18Won Semifinal (San Diego Legion) 38–24
Won Major League Rugby final (Glendale Raptors) 23-19
2019 - 2nd161114498407+9112582205640+16Won Semifinal (Toronto Arrows) 30–17
Won Major League Rugby final (San Diego Legion) 26-23
2020[lower-alpha 1] Western 4th5104138162-2448------Cancelled
2021 Western 5th164012343461-1181026------Did not qualify
2022 Western 4th16907435354+7364632110476+28Won West Conference Eliminator (San Diego Legion) 43–19
Won West Conference Final (Houston SaberCats) 46–27
Lost Major League Rugby final (Rugby New York) 15-30
2023 Western 2nd161204509348+16111591116936+33Won West Conference Eliminator (Houston SaberCats) 37–26
Lost West Conference Final (San Diego Legion) 32-10
Totals77431332,1551,733+42248226872290192+954 postseason appearances

Notes
  1. 2020 regular season shortened and playoffs cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Honors

2018 season

Regular season
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
April 22San Diego LegionHomeWon, 39–23
April 28Glendale RaptorsHomeLost, 15–19
May 12New Orleans GoldAwayWon, 31–29
May 20Utah WarriorsHomeWon, 41–32
May 27New Orleans GoldHomeWon, 55–26
June 2Houston SaberCatsAwayWon, 20–7
June 8Austin EliteAwayWon, 20–19
June 16Glendale RaptorsAwayLost, 11–33

Postseason
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
June 30San Diego LegionHomeWon, 38-24
June 16Glendale RaptorsNeutralWon, 23–19

2019 season

Exhibition
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
December 22 (2018)Crimson TideAwayWon, 48–7
January 5SFGGAwayWon, 45–0
January 17Seattle SaracensHomeWon, 74–3

Regular season
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
January 27Glendale RaptorsHomeWon, 20-18
February 2San Diego LegionAwayLost, 13-17
February 10New Orleans GoldAwayLost, 31-41
February 17Toronto ArrowsHomeWon, 35–30
February 24Rugby United New YorkHomeWon, 33-21
March 10Houston SaberCatsHomeWon, 27-14
March 16Austin EliteAwayWon, 29-17
March 31San Diego LegionHomeLost, 22-28
April 5Utah WarriorsAwayWon, 48-36
April 13Houston SaberCatsAwayWon, 52–10
April 21New Orleans GoldHomeWon, 25–24
April 28Toronto ArrowsAwayLost, 7-29
May 11Rugby United New YorkAwayWon, 38-31
May 18Glendale RaptorsAwayWon, 53-36
May 26Utah WarriorsHomeDraw, 27-27
June 2Austin EliteHomeWon, 38–26

Postseason
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
June 9Toronto ArrowsHomeWon, 30-17
June 16San Diego LegionAwayWon, 26–23

2020 season

On March 12, 2020, MLR announced the season would go on hiatus immediately for 30 days due to fears surrounding the 2019–2020 coronavirus pandemic.[11] It was cancelled the following week[12]

Regular season
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
February 9San Diego LegionAwayLost, 24–33
February 16Old Glory DCAwayLost, 22–28
February 22Toronto ArrowsHomeLost, 17–39
February 29New England Free JacksHomeWon, 44–29
March 7Utah WarriorsHomeLost, 31–33
March 15Rugby United New YorkAwayCancelled
March 21Houston SaberCatsHomeCancelled
March 29Colorado RaptorsHomeCancelled
April 4Austin GilgronisAwayCancelled
April 12San Diego LegionHomeCancelled
April 25Utah WarriorsAwayCancelled
May 2Houston SabreCatsAwayCancelled
May 10Rugby ATLAwayCancelled
May 17New Orleans GoldHomeCancelled
May 24Colorado RaptorsAwayCancelled
May 31Austin GilgronisHomeCancelled

2021 season

Regular season
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
March 20Houston SaberCatsAwayLost, 24–30
March 28LA GiltinisAwayLost, 26–57
April 10Utah WarriorsAwayWon, 20–15
April 17Toronto ArrowsAwayLost, 7-52
April 25Austin GilgronisAwayLost, 15-42
May 2Rugby United New YorkHomeLost, 23-21
May 9San Diego LegionHomeWon, 21-15
May 16Old Glory DCAwayLost, 18-22
May 23Rugby ATLHomeLost, 6-25
June 6Utah WarriorsHomeLost, 28-29
June 13New England Free JacksAwayLost, 21-25
June 20Austin GilgronisHomeLost, 31-36
June 27LA GiltinisHomeLost, 14-29
July 3San Diego LegionAwayLost, 21-34
July 11New Orleans GoldHomeWon, 30-6
July 15Houston SaberCatsHomeWon, 40-21

2022 season

Exhibition
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
January 22Seattle Rugby ClubHomeWon, 76-8
January 28Hartford HarpoonersHomeWon, 50-0

Regular season
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
February 6Toronto ArrowsHomeWon, 21-8
February 10Utah WarriorsHomeWon, 20-17
February 20San Diego LegionAwayWon, 31-28
February 26Austin GilgronisHomeLost, 25-18
March 4New Orleans GoldHomeLost, 25-24
March 12Houston SaberCatsAwayLost, 21-19
March 19Dallas JackalsAwayWon, 34-12
March 26LA GiltinisHomeLost, 12-31
April 9New England Free JacksAwayLost, 22-24
April 16San Diego LegionHomeWon, 34-32
April 23Utah WarriorsAwayWon, 20-14
May 1Austin GilgronisAwayLost, 6-17
May 8Dallas JackalsHomeWon, 74-7
May 15Rugby United NYAwayLost, 22-30
May 27Houston SaberCatsHomeWon, 43-36
June 5LA GiltinisAwayWon, 35-27

Post season
RoundDateOpponentHome/AwayResult
West EliminatorJune 12San Diego LegionHomeWon, 43–19
West Conference FinalsJune 18Houston SaberCatsAwayWon, 46–27
MLR ChampionshipJune 25Rugby United NYAwayLost, 15–30

References
  1. "Seattle has a brand new sports team". KIRO 7 News. September 21, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  2. Arthur, Ben (May 16, 2019). "The driving force of the Seattle Seawolves". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  3. "'I can't explain this feeling': Seawolves repeat as Major League Rugby champions with try as time expires". The Seattle Times. June 16, 2019. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
  4. "About the Seattle Seawolves". Seattle Seawolves. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
  5. Saul, John (April 13, 2018). "Seattle's hottest new startup is no tech company: Get to know the Seawolves and professional rugby". The Seattle Times. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  6. "MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY'S SEATTLE SEAWOLVES EXTEND TELEVISION PARTNERSHIP WITH ROOT SPORTS". www.seattleseawolves.com. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
  7. "San Diego Legion at Seattle Seawolves". IMDb. March 31, 2019.
  8. "Seattle Seawolves". Americas Rugby News. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  9. "Seawolves win first game as pro rugby makes Seattle debut". The Seattle Times. April 22, 2018. Archived from the original on May 2, 2018.
  10. "Anton Moolman new Head Coach of Seattle Seawolves". Americas Rugby News. September 9, 2018. Archived from the original on October 25, 2018.
  11. Anonymous, "MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY SUSPENDS 2020 SEASON FOR 30 DAYS," www.majorleague.rugby, March 12, 2020 Retrieved March 14, 2020
  12. "Major League Rugby cancels remainder of 2020 campaign". Yahoo! Sports. AFP. March 19, 2020. Retrieved March 19, 2020.


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