Rugby 801

Former Pleasant Grove High and Genesis scrum half Tai Kauwe speaks with the Dubcast about winning a CRC national sevens championship at Kutztown University and returning home to play for the Utah Warriors, where he was the No. 9 overall pick in the 2022 MLR collegiate draft by the Utah Warriors.

New Utah Warriors coach Greg Cooper, 57, addressed the media for the first time during a press conference with club CEO Kimball Kjar and general manager Brandon Sparks, Wednesday, July 20, 2022 in Herriman, Utah.

New Utah Warriors head coach Greg Cooper sat down with KSL.com to talk about coming to Utah from his previous job in Japan; why the eyes of international rugby are cast on the United States; and where to find a good New Zealand meat pie in Salt Lake City.

Utah Warriors' scrum half Danny Christensen and team captain Bailey Wilson speak to the media after a 33-5 win over the Dallas Jackals, Saturday, June 4, 2022 to cap a 5-11 campaign in 2022.  The five wins is the second-highest win total in the Warriors' five-year franchise history, and Christensen became the third player all-time to score a hat trick in a Utah uniform. He joins Sama Malolo in 2021 and Mika Kruse from earlier this year.  The five points allowed is also tied for the fewest given up in Warriors franchise history. 

St. George native and former University of Utah All-American rugby standout Chad Gough speaks to the media about his pending retirement after the Warriors' 39-32 loss to the LA Giltinis in the home finale of the 2022 Major League Rugby season, Saturday, May 29, 2022 at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, Utah.

Utah flanker Lance Williams speaks to the media after the Warriors' 39-32 loss to the LA Giltinis in the home finale of the 2022 Major League Rugby season, Saturday, May 29, 2022 at Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman, Utah.

Utah (4-10) saved its best for last on Saturday, dominating possession and momentum for almost the entirety of the second half, leaving Austin (10-4) uncharacteristically frustrated and punchless. The eight points yielded was the second-fewest in team history, and considering it came against a team like Austin had players and coaches beaming at the conclusion. For forward Chad Gough, the key was simple, “Hitting them low and hitting them hard was the key to this defensive performance,” he said while crediting defensive assistant coach Robbie Abel.

Teasing great and consistent play became a thing of the past on Saturday for the Utah Warriors, as they steamrolled the league-leading Austin Gilgronis 22-8. Inspired effort led to stifling defensive pressure, holding the Gilgronis a full 68 minutes without a try and scoreless for the game’s final 50 minutes. The game also featured the return of standouts Paul Lasike and Niall Saunders, boosting the overall effort considerably. “We really put out a performance we can be proud of out there,” said Warriors fullback Caleb Makene. “Things that weren’t coming together sort of came together and I’m pretty stoked for the boys and the performance overall.”

It's been six long, hard, grinding matches since Utah Warriors tasted victory in the 2022 Major League Rugby regular season.  After a 44-26 win over east contender Rugby ATL, the slump is no more.  Here's what flanker Lance Williams and forwards coach Robbie Abel had to say after the win at Zions Bank Stadium on Mother's Day weekend. 

Old Glory DC scored 12 points in the final 20 minutes to overturn a 21-10 deficit and rally for their first win of the season, 22-21 over Utah Warriors, Friday, April 15, 2022 at Segra Field in Leesburg, Virginia. With the loss, the Warriors drop to 2-7 and host Seattle next Saturday, April 23 at Zions Bank Stadium.  Utah assistant coach Shaun Davies addressed the media after the defeat, the club's fourth-straight. #ForTheNation x #RiseOfRugby