Seattle Seawolves

Seattle Seawolves
Founded2017 (2017)
LocationTukwila, Washington
Ground(s)Starfire Sports (Capacity: 4,500)
Coach(es)Allen Clarke
Captain(s)Riekert Hattingh
Most capsJP Smith (92)
Top scorerAJ Alatimu (321)
Most triesRiekert Hattingh (39)
League(s)Major League Rugby
2024Conference champion
2nd (Western Conference)
1st kit
2nd kit
Official website
seawolves.rugby

The Seattle Seawolves are an American professional rugby union team based in the Seattle metropolitan area that competes in Major League Rugby (MLR). The team was founded in 2017. The Seawolves won two MLR championships in 2018 and 2019, and lost in the 2022 final and 2024 final. They play home matches at the 4,000-seat main stadium at Starfire Sports in Tukwila, a suburb south of Seattle.

History

The team was founded in 2017 by an investor group led 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]

The Seawolves hired Kees Lensing as their head coach for the 2020 season and started with a 1–4 record. The season was cancelled in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic and did not resume.[4]

Stadium

A Seawolves game at Starfire Sports in 2022

The Seattle Seawolves play at the main stadium at Starfire Sports, which has a seating capacity of 4,000, in the suburb of Tukwila.[5] The team offered 1,800 season tickets for their inaugural season, which sold out prior to the first match.[6] In 2024, Seawolves team president Tom Barden stated that the team was "in discussions" to move to the redeveloped Memorial Stadium on the Seattle Center campus. The stadium is planned to be rebuilt with a capacity of 6,500 to 8,000 seats.[7]

Broadcasting

The local broadcasts for the Seawolves were carried by Root Sports Northwest, a regional AT&T SportsNet affiliate, from 2019 to 2021.[4][6] Dan Power and Kevin Swiryn were the on-air talent for the first season. As of the 2024 season, national broadcasts were shown on Fox, FS1, and FS2; regional broadcasts were available on Root Sports and Fox 13+.[8]

Kit history

Home 2018–19
Away 2018
Away 2022–23
Home 2023–23

Kit 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
City of Tukwila

USI Envorso

2024 Kappa
2025 Macron

Players and personnel

Current squad

The Seattle Seawolves squad for the 2025 Major League Rugby season is:[9]

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

Player Position Union
Dewald Kotze Hooker Canada Canada
Jesse MacKail Hooker Canada Canada
Kerron van Vuuren Hooker South Africa South Africa
Dewald Donald Prop South Africa South Africa
Njabulo Gumede Prop South Africa South Africa
Cameron Orr Prop Australia Australia
Mason Pedersen Prop United States United States
Chance Wenglewski Prop United States United States
Connor Williams Prop Canada Canada
Juan Pablo Zeiss Prop Argentina Argentina
Rhyno Herbst* Lock South Africa South Africa
Isaia Lotawa Lock United States United States
Taylor Krumrei Lock United States United States
Siaosi Mahoni Lock United States United States
Malembe Mpofu Lock South Africa South Africa
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
OJ Noa Back row Samoa Samoa
Devin Short Back row United States United States
Huw Taylor Back row England England
Player Position Union
Nick Boyer Scrum-half United States United States
Brock Gallagher Scrum-half Canada Canada
JP Smith Scrum-half United States United States
Rhys Jones Scrum-half United States United States
Jamie Armstrong Fly-half Canada Canada
Eddie Fouche Fly-half South Africa South Africa
Rodney Iona Fly-half Samoa Samoa
David Busby Centre Ireland Ireland
Dan Kriel Centre South Africa South Africa
Mika Kruse Centre United States United States
Calvin Liulamaga Centre United States United States
Lauina Futi Wing United States United States
Malachi Esdale 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) [10]
  • South Africa Anton Moolman (2019) did not take up post due to visa difficulties [11]
  • 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 — 2nd 8 6 0 2 232 188 +44 5 29 2 2 0 61 43 +18 Won Semifinal (San Diego Legion) 38–24
Won Major League Rugby final (Glendale Raptors) 23-19
2019 — 2nd 16 11 1 4 498 407 +91 12 58 2 2 0 56 40 +16 Won Semifinal (Toronto Arrows) 30–17
Won Major League Rugby final (San Diego Legion) 26-23
2020[a] Western 4th 5 1 0 4 138 162 -24 4 8 - - - - - - Cancelled
2021 Western 5th 16 4 0 12 343 461 -118 10 26 - - - - - - Did not qualify
2022 Western 4th 16 9 0 7 435 354 +73 6 46 3 2 1 104 76 +28 Won 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 2nd 16 12 0 4 509 348 +161 11 59 1 1 1 69 36 +33 Won West Conference Eliminator (Houston SaberCats) 37–26
Lost West Conference Final (San Diego Legion) 32-10
2024 Western 2nd 16 11 0 5 498 373 +125 13 57 3 2 1 69 73 -4 Won West Conference Eliminator (San Diego Legion) 30–28
Won West Conference Final (Dallas Jackals) 28-25
Lost Major League Rugby final (New England Free Jacks) 11-20
Totals 93 54 1 38 2,653 2,106 +547 61 283 12 9 3 359 268 +91 5 postseason appearances

Notes

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

Honors

2018 season

Regular season

Date Opponent Home/Away Result
April 22 San Diego Legion Home Won, 39–23
April 28 Glendale Raptors Home Lost, 15–19
May 12 New Orleans Gold Away Won, 31–29
May 20 Utah Warriors Home Won, 41–32
May 27 New Orleans Gold Home Won, 55–26
June 2 Houston SaberCats Away Won, 20–7
June 8 Austin Elite Away Won, 20–19
June 16 Glendale Raptors Away Lost, 11–33

Postseason

Date Opponent Home/Away Result
June 30 San Diego Legion Home Won, 38-24
June 16 Glendale Raptors Neutral Won, 23–19

2019 season

Exhibition

Date Opponent Home/Away Result
December 22 (2018) Crimson Tide Away Won, 48–7
January 5 SFGG Away Won, 45–0
January 17 Seattle Saracens Home Won, 74–3

Regular season

Date Opponent Home/Away Result
January 27 Glendale Raptors Home Won, 20-18
February 2 San Diego Legion Away Lost, 13-17
February 10 New Orleans Gold Away Lost, 31-41
February 17 Toronto Arrows Home Won, 35–30
February 24 Rugby United New York Home Won, 33-21
March 10 Houston SaberCats Home Won, 27-14
March 16 Austin Elite Away Won, 29-17
March 31 San Diego Legion Home Lost, 22-28
April 5 Utah Warriors Away Won, 48-36
April 13 Houston SaberCats Away Won, 52–10
April 21 New Orleans Gold Home Won, 25–24
April 28 Toronto Arrows Away Lost, 7-29
May 11 Rugby United New York Away Won, 38-31
May 18 Glendale Raptors Away Won, 53-36
May 26 Utah Warriors Home Draw, 27-27
June 2 Austin Elite Home Won, 38–26

Postseason

Date Opponent Home/Away Result
June 9 Toronto Arrows Home Won, 30-17
June 16 San Diego Legion Away Won, 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.[13] It was cancelled the following week[14]

Regular season

Date Opponent Home/Away Result
February 9 San Diego Legion Away Lost, 24–33
February 16 Old Glory DC Away Lost, 22–28
February 22 Toronto Arrows Home Lost, 17–39
February 29 New England Free Jacks Home Won, 44–29
March 7 Utah Warriors Home Lost, 31–33
March 15 Rugby United New York Away Cancelled
March 21 Houston SaberCats Home Cancelled
March 29 Colorado Raptors Home Cancelled
April 4 Austin Gilgronis Away Cancelled
April 12 San Diego Legion Home Cancelled
April 25 Utah Warriors Away Cancelled
May 2 Houston SabreCats Away Cancelled
May 10 Rugby ATL Away Cancelled
May 17 New Orleans Gold Home Cancelled
May 24 Colorado Raptors Away Cancelled
May 31 Austin Gilgronis Home Cancelled

2021 season

Regular season

Date Opponent Home/Away Result
March 20 Houston SaberCats Away Lost, 24–30
March 28 LA Giltinis Away Lost, 26–57
April 10 Utah Warriors Away Won, 20–15
April 17 Toronto Arrows Away Lost, 7-52
April 25 Austin Gilgronis Away Lost, 15-42
May 2 Rugby United New York Home Lost, 23-21
May 9 San Diego Legion Home Won, 21-15
May 16 Old Glory DC Away Lost, 18-22
May 23 Rugby ATL Home Lost, 6-25
June 6 Utah Warriors Home Lost, 28-29
June 13 New England Free Jacks Away Lost, 21-25
June 20 Austin Gilgronis Home Lost, 31-36
June 27 LA Giltinis Home Lost, 14-29
July 3 San Diego Legion Away Lost, 21-34
July 11 New Orleans Gold Home Won, 30-6
July 15 Houston SaberCats Home Won, 40-21

2022 season

Exhibition

Date Opponent Home/Away Result
January 22 Seattle Rugby Club Home Won, 76-8
January 28 Hartford Harpooners Home Won, 50-0

Regular season

Date Opponent Home/Away Result
February 6 Toronto Arrows Home Won, 21-8
February 10 Utah Warriors Home Won, 20-17
February 20 San Diego Legion Away Won, 31-28
February 26 Austin Gilgronis Home Lost, 25-18
March 4 New Orleans Gold Home Lost, 25-24
March 12 Houston SaberCats Away Lost, 21-19
March 19 Dallas Jackals Away Won, 34-12
March 26 LA Giltinis Home Lost, 12-31
April 9 New England Free Jacks Away Lost, 22-24
April 16 San Diego Legion Home Won, 34-32
April 23 Utah Warriors Away Won, 20-14
May 1 Austin Gilgronis Away Lost, 6-17
May 8 Dallas Jackals Home Won, 74-7
May 15 Rugby United NY Away Lost, 22-30
May 27 Houston SaberCats Home Won, 43-36
June 5 LA Giltinis Away Won, 35-27

Post season

Round Date Opponent Home/Away Result
West Eliminator June 12 San Diego Legion Home Won, 43–19
West Conference Finals June 18 Houston SaberCats Away Won, 46–27
MLR Championship June 25 Rugby United NY Away Lost, 15–30

2023 season

Exhibition

Date Opponent Home/Away Result
February 5 American Raptors Home Won, 47-0
February 8 Seattle Rugby Club Home Won, 49-0

Regular Season

Date Opponent Home/Away Result
February 18 New York Ironworkers Home Won, 25-11
February 24 Rugby ATL Home Won, 28-22
March 4 Dallas Jackals Away Won, 35-10
March 11 Houston Sabercats Home Won, 24-12
March 24 Chicago Hounds Away Won, 27-5
April 2 New Orleans Gold Away Won, 36-35
April 8 San Diego Legion Home Lost, 20-23
April 14 Utah Warriors Away Lost, 35-41
April 22 Toronto Arrows Away Won, 36-27
April 28 Dallas Jackals Home Won, 61-19
May 13 Houston Sabercats Away Won, 34-17
May 20 Chicago Hounds Home Won, 35-13
May 27 Old Glory DC Away Won, 41-19
June 4 Utah Warriors Home Won, 27-20
June 11 New England Free Jacks Home Lost, 26-34
June 18 San Diego Legion Away Lost, 19-40

Post-Season

Round Date Opponent Home/Away Result
West Conference Playoff June 24 Houston SaberCats Home Won, 37-26
West Conference Final July 2 San Diego Legion Away Lost, 19–40

2024 season

Exhibition

Date Opponent Home/Away Result
February 16 Pacific Pride Home Won, 79-7
February 21 Canada Selects Home Won, 54-7

Regular Season

Date Opponent Home/Away Result
March 2 San Diego Legion Home Won, 25–19
March 9 Miami Sharks Home Won, 29–18
March 16 Utah Warriors Away Won, 23–13
March 23 Houston SaberCats Home Lost, 40–42
March 30 Chicago Hounds Away Won, 32–26
April 6 Dallas Jackals Home Won, 34–32
April 13 RFC Los Angeles Away Won, 36–5
April 20 New England Free Jacks Away Won, 29–21
April 27 Anthem Rugby Carolina Home Won, 29–13
May 4 NOLA Gold Away Lost, 31–32
May 11 Dallas Jackals Away Lost, 7–14
May 18 Old Glory DC Home Won, 26–24
May 25 Utah Warriors Home Won, 68–29
June 1 Houston SaberCats Away Lost, 25–28
June 8 RFC Los Angeles Home Won, 29–12
June 15 San Diego Legion Away Lost, 33–45

Post-Season

Round Date Opponent Home/Away Result
West Conference Semi-Final July 21 San Diego Legion Home Won, 30-28
West Conference Final July 28 Dallas Jackals Home Won, 28-25
MLR Championship August 4 New England Free Jacks Away Lost, 11–20

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. ^ Monahan, Terry (June 16, 2019). "'I can't explain this feeling': Seawolves repeat as Major League Rugby champions with try as time expires". The Seattle Times. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
  4. ^ a b Hanson, Scott (March 18, 2021). "Seawolves begin defense of 2019 title with five straight road matches". The Seattle Times. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
  5. ^ Baker, Geoff (March 5, 2018). "Inside Sports Business: Can a rugby team prosper in our market? The Seawolves will try". The Seattle Times. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
  6. ^ a b 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.
  7. ^ Morgan, Rick (November 6, 2024). "New Memorial Stadium draws interest from potential sports tenant". Puget Sound Business Journal. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  8. ^ "2024 Broadcast Schedule" (Press release). Seattle Seawolves. February 29, 2024. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
  9. ^ "Seattle Seawolves". Americas Rugby News. Retrieved January 11, 2025.
  10. ^ "Seawolves win first game as pro rugby makes Seattle debut". The Seattle Times. April 22, 2018. Archived from the original on May 2, 2018.
  11. ^ "Anton Moolman new Head Coach of Seattle Seawolves". Americas Rugby News. September 9, 2018. Archived from the original on October 25, 2018.
  12. ^ Ackermann, Dylan (August 2, 2024). "Seawolves head to Major League Rugby title game looking for third title". The Seattle Times. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
  13. ^ Anonymous, "MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY SUSPENDS 2020 SEASON FOR 30 DAYS," www.majorleague.rugby, March 12, 2020 Retrieved March 14, 2020
  14. ^ "Major League Rugby cancels remainder of 2020 campaign". Yahoo! Sports. AFP. March 19, 2020. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
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