Seattle_Seawolves
Seattle Seawolves
Professional rugby union team from Seattle, Washington
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.
Quick Facts Founded, Location ...
| Founded | 2017; 7 years ago (2017) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Tukwila, Washington | ||
| Ground(s) | Starfire Sports (Capacity: 4,500) | ||
| Coach(es) | Allen Clarke | ||
| Captain(s) | Riekert Hattingh | ||
| Top scorer | Brock Staller (313) | ||
| Most tries | Riekert Hattingh (14) | ||
| League(s) | Major League Rugby | ||
| 2023 | Conference finalist 2nd (Western Conference) | ||
| |||
| Official website | |||
| seawolves | |||
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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]
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]
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]
      Home 2018–19
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   Away 2018
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   Away 2022–
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 Home 2023–
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Current squad
For player movements before and during the 2024 season, see List of 2023–24 Major League Rugby transfers § Seattle Seawolves.
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.
More information Player, Position ...
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- 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
Tony Healy (2018) did not take up post due to visa difficulties- Phil Mack (2018) [9]
Anton Moolman (2019) did not take up post due to visa difficulties [10]
Richie Walker (2019)
Kees Lensing (2020–April 2021)
Pate Tuilevuka (May–June 2021–)
Allen Clarke (May 2021–)
Captains
- Riekert Hattingh (2018–present)
Season standings
More information Season, Conference ...
| 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[lower-alpha 1] | 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 | |
| Totals | 77 | 43 | 1 | 33 | 2,155 | 1,733 | +422 | 48 | 226 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 290 | 192 | +95 | 4 postseason appearances | |||
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Notes
- 2020 regular season shortened and playoffs cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Honors
Regular season
More information Date, Opponent ...
| 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 |
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Postseason
More information Date, Opponent ...
| Date | Opponent | Home/Away | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 30 | San Diego Legion | Home | Won, 38-24 |
| June 16 | Glendale Raptors | Neutral | Won, 23–19 |
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Exhibition
More information Date, Opponent ...
| 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 |
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Regular season
More information Date, Opponent ...
| 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 |
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Postseason
More information Date, Opponent ...
| Date | Opponent | Home/Away | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 9 | Toronto Arrows | Home | Won, 30-17 |
| June 16 | San Diego Legion | Away | Won, 26–23 |
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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
More information Date, Opponent ...
| 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 |
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Regular season
More information Date, Opponent ...
| 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 |
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Exhibition
More information Date, Opponent ...
| Date | Opponent | Home/Away | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 22 | Seattle Rugby Club | Home | Won, 76-8 |
| January 28 | Hartford Harpooners | Home | Won, 50-0 |
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Regular season
More information Date, Opponent ...
| 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 |
Close
Post season
See also: 2022 Major League Rugby playoffs
More information Round, Date ...
| 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 |
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- "Seattle has a brand new sports team". KIRO 7 News. September 21, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
- Arthur, Ben (May 16, 2019). "The driving force of the Seattle Seawolves". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
- "'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.
- "About the Seattle Seawolves". Seattle Seawolves. Retrieved November 6, 2017.
- 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.
- "MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY'S SEATTLE SEAWOLVES EXTEND TELEVISION PARTNERSHIP WITH ROOT SPORTS". www.seattleseawolves.com. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
- "San Diego Legion at Seattle Seawolves". IMDb. March 31, 2019.
- "Seattle Seawolves". Americas Rugby News. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
- "Seawolves win first game as pro rugby makes Seattle debut". The Seattle Times. April 22, 2018. Archived from the original on May 2, 2018.
- "Anton Moolman new Head Coach of Seattle Seawolves". Americas Rugby News. September 9, 2018. Archived from the original on October 25, 2018.
- "Major League Rugby cancels remainder of 2020 campaign". Yahoo! Sports. AFP. March 19, 2020. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
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