LANGLEY, B.C. – Trinity Western's men's rugby team returns to the pitch Saturday to take on the University of Oregon at Riverfront Field.
SCHEDULE
Jan. 25 @ University of Oregon – Riverfront Field | 12:30 p.m. (PT)
Coming off a 36-31 win over the University of Washington (Jan. 18) in Seattle, TWU is looking to improve on its 2-2 overall record in 15s action this year.
The Spartans will go with the same front row as last week, with hooker
Scott Bowers (New Westminster, B.C.) flanked by props
Ben Graci (Edmonton) back and Mackenzie Nordli (Nanaimo, B.C.). Similarly, TWU will roll the same second row that took on the Huskies, featuring
Erik Niebuhr (Surrey, B.C.) and
Nick Halladay (White Rock, B.C.).
The back row will see
Caleb Gerth (Langley) return to captain the side at No. 8, with
Daniel Clement (Edmonton) moving back to blindside flanker, where he's played most of the year.
Nate Schroeder (West Kelowna, B.C.) returns at open side flanker.
Ethan Kelt (Port Coquitlam, B.C.) is back at scrumhalf, while
Keegan Marengo (Edenvale, South Africa) returns at flyhalf after making his Spartans debut last week.
Tim Bamgbade (Surrey, B.C.) earns his first start of the year on the wing along with
Markus Rauch (Abbotsford, B.C.), who moves to the wing after playing at inside centre last week.
Sam Wegert (Langley) is back at inside centre while
Ethan Bernardin (Langley) moves from the wing to outside centre.
Khyree Poole (El Cajon, Calif.) will once again start at fullback.
ROSTER
1.
Ben Graci – Edmonton, Alta. | Nor'westers AA
2.
Scott Bowers – New Westminster, B.C. | Riverside
3. Mackenzie Nordli – Nanaimo, B.C. | Nanaimo
4.
Erik Niebuhr – Surrey, B.C. | Bayside Sharks
5.
Nick Halladay – White Rock, B.C.
6.
Daniel Clement – Edmonton, Alta. | Edmonton Clansmen
7.
Nate Schroeder – West Kelowna, B.C. | Mount Boucherie Secondary
8.
Caleb Gerth – Langley, B.C. | Brookswood
9.
Ethan Kelt – Port Coquitlam, B.C. | United Rugby Club
10.
Keegan Marengo – Edenvale, South Africa | Golden Lions
11.
Markus Rauch – Abbotsford, B.C. | Robert Bateman Secondary
12.
Sam Wegert (C) – Langley, B.C. | R.E. Mountain
13.
Oliver Feagin – Harbor City, Calif. | Carson
14.
Ethan Bernardin – Langley, B.C. | R.E. Mountain Secondary
15.
Khyree Poole – El Cajon, Calif. | OMBAC Rugby
16. J.P. O'Gorman – St. Charles, Miss. | Francis Howell Central
17.
Nate Lieuwen – Langley, B.C.
18.
Josh Halladay – White Rock, B.C.
19.
Brian Carlson – Langley, B.C. | D.W. Poppy
20. James Aalhus – Langley, B.C. | Langley Rugby Club
21.
Jacob Sousa – Langley, B.C. | R.E. Mountain Secondary
22.
Ben Adkins – Nairobi Kenya | Rift Valley Academy
About Spartan Athletics
As official members of U SPORTS, the Spartans currently compete in 11 sports in the Canada West conference, including women's and men's soccer, volleyball, basketball, cross country and track & field, as well as women's rugby sevens. TWU also competes in the British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League (BCIHL) in men's hockey and as an independent team in men's rugby. The men's and women's hockey programs will begin playing in Canada West and U SPORTS in 2020-21. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 12 U SPORTS team championships and 27 Canada West team championships and two BCIHL championships.
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