Starfire Stadium in Tukwila to host Seawolves games in 2018, season tickets on sale now
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 22, 2017
SEATTLE –Three months out from the Seattle Seawolves inaugural season, set to kick off on April 22 at Starfire Stadium
in Tukwila, the franchise is preparing to celebrate the first-ever Major League Rugby (MLR) match in the Pacific Northwest. MLR is launching with seven
teams across the United States, including Seattle, with a regular season spanning April, May, and June.
“Seattle is a special sports city with a vibrant, passionate fan base,” said Seawolves co-owner Shane Skinner. “The rugby community is no exception, and
we are beyond thrilled to highlight the talent of the athletes competing in Major League Rugby and for the Seawolves with Pacific Northwest fans.”
In its inaugural season, the Seattle Seawolves will play a regular season of 8 matches, kicking off at home April 22 vs. San Diego. The team will play
a total of four regular-season matches at Starfire, including April 28 vs. Glendale, May 20 vs. Utah, and May 27 vs. New Orleans. The full Seawolves
slate is below.
MLR and CBS Sports Network have entered into exclusive, multi-year television partnership and CBS Sports Network will televise the inaugural MLR season,
marking the first national television partnership in the history of American professional rugby. CBS Sports Network will televise a 13-game package
with 10 weeks of regular season coverage – highlighted by a Major League Rugby Game of the Week – and two weeks of postseason coverage in 2018, including
the semifinals and the first MLR Championship Game. A full broadcast schedule, including the Seawolves coverage, will be announced at a later date.
The Seawolves will be outfitted in kits provided by XBlades through a league-wide apparel deal with the Australian-based company. XBlades will provide
all the on-pitch kits for all seven teams highlighted by custom-designed home and away jerseys. A leader in apparel and footwear technology, XBlades has over 25 years of experience in outfitting elite rugby athletes around the world. This season, MLR athletes will train and compete in high-performance
gear and apparel designed in collaboration with the teams for injury protection, comfort, and playing longevity. XBlades on-pitch merchandise will
be for sale to the general public soon.
Season tickets are on sale now, starting as low as $99 for all four matches, and can be purchased at SeattleSeawolves.com. The franchise is offering a
discount for military personnel and first responders.
“We are ready to show the country what a high level of rugby looks like in our first game at Starfire,” said head coach Tony Healy. “As the Seattle Seawolves,
we are looking forward to getting to know our fan base and growing the sport in the Northwest. Seattle is one of the biggest sports cities in the country
and the Northwest already has a strong presence in the rugby community, so we are excited to bridge the gap between new and old fans of the sport.”
“The Northwest has a lot to offer in terms of the existing rugby community and has a huge pool of untapped talent that will help grow the sport,” said
US National team and Seattle Seawolves prop Nick Wallace. “The level of rugby that the Seawolves will be playing is going to inspire the next generation
of youth rugby players. I am grateful for the opportunity to play elite rugby in my home state and for the chance to share this amazing sport with
our new fans.”
The team recently announced the majority of its inaugural season roster that includes a number of seasoned rugby veterans: Garrett Bender, Eric Duechle,
and Nick Wallace. Bender competed with Team USA with the return of Rugby 7s to the 2016 Olympics and will bring his explosive playstyle to 15s with
the Seawolves, while Air Force captain and former USA Eagle Eric Duechle has been affectionately named ‘The Beast’ in the rugby community for his imposing
frame at 6’5” and 250 lbs. Bellingham native Nick Wallace will also aid the Seawolves in their quest to win the first MLR championship, having begun
his rugby career with Chuckanut Bay Rugby Club and owning several years of experience with the US National Team under his belt.
Full 2018 Seattle Seawolves Schedule:
DATE OPPONENT LOCATION KICKOFF
4/22 San Diego Legion Starfire Stadium
5 p.m.
4/28 Glendale Raptors Starfire Stadium
7 p.m.
5/12 at NOLA Gold New Orleans, LA
TBA
5/20 Utah Warriors Starfire
Stadium 5 p.m.
5/27 NOLA Gold
Starfire Stadium 5 p.m.
6/2 at Houston SaberCats Houston, TX
6 p.m.
6/9 at Austin Elite
Austin TX 2 p.m.
6/16 at Glendale Raptors Glendale, CO
2 p.m.
All times Pacific.
All media wishing to cover Seawolves practices and games at Starfire should email Seawolves media relations coordinator Will Lytie at Will@SeattleSeawolves.com.
ABOUT THE SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
A founding member of Major League Rugby (MLR), the Seattle Seawolves kick off their inaugural season in 2018 at Starfire Stadium in Tukwila, Washington.
With an ownership group led by Seattle-based entrepreneurs Adrian Balfour and Shane Skinner, the organization strives to develop, cultivate and expand
the game of rugby in the U.S. while fostering discipline, duty, respect and a spirit of inclusion both on and off the pitch. Through community outreach
efforts, the Seattle Seawolves fulfill a key pillar of the franchise’s philosophy, enriching the Puget Sound region’s youth through engagement, leadership,
and service.
Select Major League Rugby games will be televised on the CBS Sports Network as part of an exclusive, multi-year television partnership between MLR and
the television network. Season tickets are now on sale; to purchase, please visit www.SeattleSeawolves.com.
Media Contact:
Will Lytle, Media Relations Coordinator
Seattle Seawolves
The post Seattle Seawolves Set to Kick Off First-Ever Major League Rugby Game April 22 appeared first on Seattle Seawolves Rugby.
