Sports stats



MLR Utah Warriors

Utah Warriors Announce 2022 Roster

December 2, 2021 - Major League Rugby (MLR)
Utah Warriors News Release


HERRIMAN, UT (Dec. 2, 2021) - The Utah Warriors have announced their full roster for the 2022 Major League Rugby Season. The roster includes 22 returning players from the 2021 team that set Utah's record for most wins in a single season, along with six free agent signings and three 2021 MLR Draft Selections. The Warriors will kick off the franchise's Five Year Anniversary when the regular season begins on February 6, 2022.

"We had a few objectives this off-season," said Warriors GM Brandon Sparks. "First, we wanted to get younger without sacrificing our senior leadership. Second, we wanted to get more athletic to compliment Shawn's desired style of play. I'm confident we accomplished both of those objectives while also adding some serious X-Factors to the squad."

The Utah Warriors' roster is made up of 31 players, representing ten countries from around the World; South Africa, United States, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Canada, Tonga and Namibia. Additionally, the Warriors' roster features 13 players hailing from eight U.S. States and one U.S. Territory.

Joining the 31 players that have been named to the Utah Warriors 2022 Roster will be 10 players who participated with the Warriors' development side, the Utah Selects, this past fall. These players will compete for a spot on the Utah Warriors Roster throughout the preseason. Signings of these players will be announced as they happen.

Showing the strategic value in the Warriors' pathway development plan, six past Utah Selects players have made the Warriors' 2022 roster, including Joe Mano, Thomas Tu'avao, Logan Tago, Danny Christensen, Mike Geiselman and James Vaifale.

The Utah Warriors will kick off the 2022 Major League Rugby Regular Season on February 6, 2022 when they travel to San Diego to take on the Legion. Professional rugby will make its return to Utah when the Warriors host the newest MLR Expansion team, the Dallas Jackals, at Zions Bank Stadium on March 5, 2022.

Full Roster:

Franco van den Berg - South Africa - Loosehead Prop

'Olive Kilifi - Washington, USA - Loosehead Prop

Emerson Prior - Canada - Loosehead Prop*

Ratu Tuvere Vugakoto - Fiji - Hooker

Chad Gough - Utah, USA - Hooker

Joey Backe - Illinois, USA - Hooker*

Angus MacLellan - Michigan, USA - Tighthead Prop

Paul Mullen - Ireland - Tighthead Prop

Elijah Hayes - Louisiana, USA - Tighthead Prop

Reagan Leslie - Australia - Lock*

Jamie Lane - New Zealand - Lock*

Saia 'Uhila - Tonga - Lock

Bailey Wilson - Australia - Flanker

Jurie Van Vuuren - South Africa - Flanker

Lance Williams - Hawaii, USA - Flanker

Thomas Tu'avao - England - Flanker

Mike Geiselman - Michigan, USA - Flanker

Niall Saunders - England - Scrum Half*

Jone Vatuwaliwali - Fiji - Scrum Half*

Danny Christensen - Utah, USA - Scrum Half

Cliven Loubser - Namibia - Flyhalf

Mick O'Gara - Ireland - Flyhalf*

Tyler Fisher - South Africa - Center

Calvin Whiting - South Africa - Center

James Vaifale - Arizona, USA - Center

Logan Tago - American Samoa - Wing

Mikey Te'o - California, USA - Wing

Joe Mano - Hawaii, USA - Wing

Mika Kruse - California, USA - Wing

Caleb Makene - New Zealand - Fullback*

Connor Burns - England - Fullback*

Head Coach: Shawn Pittman

Assistant Coach (Forwards): Robbie Abel

Assistant Coach (Backs): Shaun Davies

*indicates new player signing or draft selection



Major League Rugby Stories from December 2, 2021


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central