Utah Warrior News

I think about it way too much, winning the lottery, but it sure is fun. I also think a fair amount about how professional rugby is most likely to succeed in the United States. The two lines of thought are not mutually exclusive. I love the idea of professional 15s, as do probably most of you who will take the time to read this, but I don’t think it’s a commercially viable idea in the

Our selection for Youth Player of the Year was an easy choice. This year Maka Unufe crowned himself the next best thing in U.S.A. Rugby after his sensational play with the Utah Warriors and the U.S.A. 7′s team. Unufe’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric this year. Maka began the year playing with United (Utah) U-19 team. From there he had latched onto the Utah Warriors newly formed 7′s team. Together with Ben Nichols

There is plenty to be happy about following the announcement that Salesi Sika will be the Head Coach of the Utah Warriors this coming season. Sika is a smart guy with a long professional rugby career behind him. When he retired from rugby, I asked him about coaching, and he said he was certainly interested, but needed to settle back at home first. I am pleased to see that didn’t take too long. To have

Utah Warriors owner Sean Whalen introduced Salesi Sika as the Warriors new head coach Friday via Facebook. Sika replaces Jon Law, who served as the head man during the Warriors’ maiden Super League voyage. “His business is growing and he’s had to put a lot more time and attention into his business,” said Whalen of Law, “so it’s a good decision to have him focus on that.” Sika, formerly of French Top 14 Castres Olympique,

One of the revelations – although not a surprise – of the past two IRB Sevens World Series tournaments is that Mike Palefau is back. He never left, of course, and only had to pass on national team opportunities because of school, work, and family. Nobody ever said Palefau, who helped Las Vegas to a 2010 national DI club championship and the Utah Warriors to a successful launch in the Super League, couldn’t play. And

This Is American Rugby sitting down with Utah Warriors owner Sean Whalen to talk about the upcoming 2012 U.S. Rugby Super League: This Is American Rugby: The 2012 Super League schedule has come out and the teams will be playing an all-time high of 8 games. How important is it for you as an owner to have four (possibly more with playoffs) home games? Sean Whalen: The more games the better! I’d love to see even more

After taking a two-year hiatus from international competition, Mike Palefau, who will play with the 7s Eagles in Australia this weekend, made himself available for the last two stops of the 2010/2011 IRB 7s World Series in England and Scotland. He then made himself available for the 15s team for the first time during Eddie O’Sullivan’s tenure as coach. For a long time, family time and providing for his family took precedence over pursuing an

Sometimes it’s the little things that make you sit up and take notice. In one game for the USA 7s team, at a critical moment, the Eagles had the ball and started attacking through the backs. Out on the wing, Maka Unufe was ready for the pass and started creeping up level with center Mile Pulu. Pulu was slightly held up by the defense, and Unufe quickly changed his speed, fell back, and not only

The Utah Warriors, in partnership with PROSPEX Fitness, have announced the December opening of a state-of-the-art strength, conditioning, speed and agility fitness facility in Salt lake City. The 11,700 square foot facility has been designed for elite athlete training, and will offer an exclusive fitness program for the public. “The number one focus has been to design a state-of-the-art facility that is functional and not just another gym with bikes and treadmills,” said Warriors owner

Defending Men’s National 7s All-Star champions the Pacific Coast will bring a slightly different squad to the tournament August 26-27 in Chula Vista, Calif. Head Coach John Tyler will not bring Old Puget Sound Beach speedsters Isi Daveta or Fili Botitu, a decision perhaps influenced by the USA coach Al Caravelli’s request to not bring players who weren’t USA eligible. The squad has not been finalized, but it does appear that OPSB stalwarts Nu’u Punimata,

Sean Whalen, President and Founder of the Utah Warriors was kind enough to sit down with This Is American Rugby for a chat. He opens up about the Super League, 7′s, Highland High School, the Eagles, and more. This Is American Rugby: Now that you have completed your first year, how do you feel it is going on and off the field? Sean Whalen: I think everything is going fantastic. The Warriors have a few

The Utah Warriors, the first professional rugby team in Utah, announced their expansion into two additional leagues, as well as taking over coaching and management of the Highland High School rugby teams. In addition to the current Utah Warriors team in the Rugby Super League (RSL), the Warriors franchise will expand into the following teams during the remainder of 2011 and into the 2012 season: Division 1- Due to the large amount of players, and

What is it that American rugby needs at every level, yet struggles perhaps the most with? You could argue it’s outsiders. At seemingly every level, with every team or club, there’s some kind of effort thrust toward gaining the approval, understanding or partnership of a non-rugger, a non-parishioner. College teams often need the approving nod from a club sports director or student government official. For high school teams, it’s athletic directors, school officials and parents.