LANGLEY, B.C. – Trinity Western University's men's rugby team will host its first home match since the program re-launched this past fall, as the Spartans welcome Western Washington University to the Langley Events Centre | Northwest Field Friday at 6 p.m. 

SCHEDULE
Jan. 31 @ Western Washington University – Langley Events Centre | Northwest Field | 6 p.m. (PT) 

The Spartans are coming off back-to-back road wins against the University of Washington and the University of Oregon. TWU previously played WWU in a 10s tournament hosted by the Vikings last fall, with the Spartans 'A' side going 4-0 to win the tournament, including a 22-10 victory over WWU in the final. 

TWU's lineup will feature an unchanged front five compared to last week's starting unit in Eugene, Ore. 

Ben Graci (Edmonton) and Mackenzie Nordli (Nanaimo, B.C.) will once again slot in as props, with Scott Bowers (New Westminster, B.C.) hooking. 

Erik Niebuhr (Surrey, B.C.) and Nick Halladay (White Rock, B.C.) also return in the second row. 

Brian Carlson (Langley) is back in the starting lineup at blind side flanker, with Daniel Clement (Edmonton) moving to the open side. Caleb Gerth (Langley) will captain the team from No. 8. 

Scrum half Ethan Kelt (Port Coquitlam, B.C.) and fly half Keegan Marengo (Edenvale, South Africa) will start together for the third straight match. Ben Adkins (Nairobi, Kenya) and Markus Rauch (Abbotsford, B.C.) will patrol the wings, with Sam Wegert (Langley) and Nate Schroeder (West Kelowna, B.C.) – the latter of which moves over from his regular starting role at open side flanker – playing in the centre. 

As has been the case throughout the year, Khyree Poole (El Cajon, Calif.) starts at fullback. 

TWU's return home marks the first Spartans men's rugby game to be played in Langley since the previous iteration of the program folded in 2004. 

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. Brian Carlson – Langley, B.C. | D.W. Poppy
7. Daniel Clement – Edmonton, Alta. | Edmonton Clansmen 
8. Caleb Gerth (C) – Langley, B.C. | Brookswood 
9. Ethan Kelt – Port Coquitlam, B.C. | United Rugby Club
10. Keegan Marengo – Edenvale, South Africa | Golden Lions
11. Ben Adkins – Nairobi, Kenya | Rift Valley Academy
12. Sam Wegert – Langley, B.C. | R.E. Mountain
13. Nate Schroeder – West Kelowna, B.C. | Mount Boucherie Secondary 
14. Markus Rauch – Abbotsford, B.C. | Robert Bateman Secondary
15. Khyree Poole – El Cajon, Calif. | OMBAC Rugby

16. J.P. O'Gorman – St. Charles, Miss. | Francis Howell Central
17. Josh Halladay – White Rock, B.C.
18. Nate Lieuwen – Langley, B.C.
19. James Aalhus – Langley, B.C. | Langley Rugby Club
20. Logan Magnan – Redmond, WA 
21. Jacob Sousa – Langley, B.C. | R.E. Mountain Secondary
22. Benedict Makwarimba - Harare, Zimbabwe | St. George's College
23. Samuel Holinaty – Summerland, B.C.
24. Tim Bamgbade – Surrey, B.C.
25. Ethan Bernardin – Langley, B.C. | R.E. Mountain Secondary

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.

-TW-