TUKWILA, WASHINGTON – The Seattle Seawolves have announced their preseason match schedule at Starfire Stadium in Tukwila, WA ahead of the 2023 MLR season. The Seawolves will take on the American Raptors on Sunday, February 5th at 7:30pm. They will also face Seattle Rugby Club on Wednesday, February 8th at 7:30pm, and Seattle Rugby Club’s Women’s Program will be showcased as the curtain raiser before kickoff.
Preseason matches will offer fans a first look at Director of Rugby and Head Coach Allen Clarke’s squad as they aim to go one step further in 2023. Coming off last season that culminated in bringing home the 2022 MLR Western Conference trophy, the Seawolves look to pick up where they left off, and are hunting for their third MLR shield.
“Preseason matches are a great occasion for the fans to meet the players and for the full squad to showcase their talents,” said Seawolves Director of Rugby and Head Coach Allen Clarke.
“The boys obviously work hard in training, but ultimately, you’re testing your own attack and defense systems against one other. The games against the Raptors & Seattle Rugby Club provide an opportunity to put that under more pressure and provide us with a realistic picture of where we are physically & cohesively as a team.”
vs American Raptors 2/5
Sunday, February 5th will see the 2022 return of Seawolves Rugby to Starfire Stadium as we welcome the American Raptors from Glendale, CO. Formerly the Raptors were an inaugural MLR team in 2018, but switched their mission to develop players for the USA Eagles competition. Athletes that make up the Raptors have competed at the highest level of their respective sports. Coming from backgrounds in football, basketball, baseball, wrestling, soccer, and track & field, these athletes possess all the necessary skills to excel at the game of rugby. By placing them in a full-time rugby training environment, the goal is to expedite their development to provide the United States national team with elite talent to compete on the global stage.
vs Seattle Rugby Club 2/8
Wednesday, February 8th, the Seawolves welcome local athletes from Seattle Rugby Club to Starfire Stadium. Seattle Rugby Club is an elite amateur rugby club in Seattle founded in 1966 that offers training and competition for Men’s and Women’s Rugby programs in the Seattle area.
“Seattle Seawolves and Seattle Rugby Club have been connected closely since the Seawolves inception. Many club players have played for the Seawolves, including Ina Futi and Kellen Gordon, our current Director of Rugby. We are excited and thankful to the Seawolves for providing an opportunity to develop and compete alongside athletes who have played at the highest level. These games help develop up and coming athletes and brings our community closer together,” said Kevin Flynn, President of Seattle Rugby Club and Team Manager for the Seawolves.
Tickets for preseason matches and February 4 Pack Deals are available HERE.
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