The Seattle Seawolves are an American professional rugby union team based in the Seattle metropolitan area that competes in Major League Rugby (MLR). The team was founded in 2017. The Seawolves won two MLR championships in 2018 and 2019, and lost in the 2022 final and 2024 final. They play home matches at the 4,000-seat main stadium at Starfire Sports in Tukwila, a suburb south of Seattle.

History

The team was founded in 2017 by an investor group led by Adrian Balfour and Shane Skinner. The Seawolves won the inaugural MLR Grand Final in 2018, and defended the title in the 2019 Major League Rugby Championship. In the final on June 16, 2019, the Seattle Seawolves defeated San Diego Legion 26–23 at Torero Stadium on the campus of the University of San Diego.

The Seawolves hired Kees Lensing as their head coach for the 2020 season and started with a 1–4 record. The season was cancelled in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic and did not resume.

Stadium

A Seawolves game at Starfire Sports in 2022

The Seattle Seawolves play at the main stadium at Starfire Sports, which has a seating capacity of 4,000, in the suburb of Tukwila. The team offered 1,800 season tickets for their inaugural season, which sold out prior to the first match. In 2024, Seawolves team president Tom Barden stated that the team was "in discussions" to move to the redeveloped Memorial Stadium on the Seattle Center campus. The stadium is planned to be rebuilt with a capacity of 6,500 to 8,000 seats.

Broadcasting

The local broadcasts for the Seawolves were carried by Root Sports Northwest, a regional AT&T SportsNet affiliate, from 2019 to 2021. Dan Power and Kevin Swiryn were the on-air talent for the first season.[citation needed] As of the 2024 season, national broadcasts were shown on Fox, FS1, and FS2; regional broadcasts were available on Root Sports and Fox 13+.

Kit history

Home 2018–19Away 2018Away 2022–23Home 2023–23

Kit sponsorship

SeasonKit manufacturerShirt sponsorOther Shirt sponsor(s)
2018–2019XBladesNoneNone
2020Paladin SportsKrusteazNone
2021–2022WaFd BankNone
2023Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Tukwila
2024Kappa
2025Macron

Players and personnel

Current squad

The Seattle Seawolves squad for the 2026 Major League Rugby season is:

2026 Seattle Seawolves squad
Props South Africa national rugby union team Dewald Donald * United States national rugby union team Ezekiel Lindenmuth Uruguay national rugby union team Ignacio Péculo United States national rugby union team Mason Pedersen Hong Kong national rugby union team Charlie Walsh * United States national rugby union team LaRome White Hookers United States national rugby union team Lika Chan-Tung Canada national rugby union team Dewald Kotze United States national rugby union team Sean McNulty Locks South Africa national rugby union team Rhyno Herbst * Tonga national rugby union team Harison MataeleBack row Canada national rugby union team Callum Botchar United States national rugby union team Riekert Hattingh (c) United States national rugby union team Kalisi Moli United States national rugby union team Marno Redelinghuys United States national rugby union team Paddy Ryan United States national rugby union team Tiai Vavao Scrum-halves United States national rugby union team Nick Boyer United States national rugby union team JP Smith South Africa national rugby union team André Warner Fly-halves South Africa national rugby union team Davy Coetzer * Wales national rugby union team Dorian JonesCentres Scotland national rugby union team Mark Bennett South Africa national rugby union team Dan Kriel * United States national rugby union team Calvin Liulamaga Wings Italy national rugby union team Matthias Douglas * United States national rugby union team Lauina Futi United States national rugby union team Michael Hand United States national rugby union team Rufus McLean United States national rugby union team Nolan Tuamoheloa Fullbacks South Africa national rugby union team Duncan Matthews * Namibia national rugby union team Divan Rossouw
(c) denotes the team captain. Bold denotes internationally capped players. * denotes players qualified to play for United States on residency or dual nationality.Source:

Head coaches

Captains

Records

Season standings

SeasonConferenceRegular seasonPostseason
PosPldWDLFA+/−BPPtsPldWLFA+/−Result
2018—2nd8602232188+445292206143+18Won Semifinal (San Diego Legion) 38–24 Won Major League Rugby final (Glendale Raptors) 23-19
2019—2nd161114498407+9112582205640+16Won Semifinal (Toronto Arrows) 30–17 Won Major League Rugby final (San Diego Legion) 26-23
2020Western4th5104138162-2448------Cancelled
2021Western5th164012343461-1181026------Did not qualify
2022Western4th16907435354+7364632110476+28Won West Conference Eliminator (San Diego Legion) 43–19 Won West Conference Final (Houston SaberCats) 46–27 Lost Major League Rugby final (Rugby New York) 15-30
2023Western2nd161204509348+16111591116936+33Won West Conference Eliminator (Houston SaberCats) 37–26 Lost West Conference Final (San Diego Legion) 32-10
2024Western2nd161105498373+12513573216973-4Won West Conference Eliminator (San Diego Legion) 30–28 Won West Conference Final (Dallas Jackals) 28-25 Lost Major League Rugby final (New England Free Jacks) 11-20
2025Western4th16817460422+3815491012123-2Lost West Conference Semifinal (Utah Warriors)
Totals109622453,1132,528+585763321394380291+896 postseason appearances

Notes

Honors

2018 season

Regular season

DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
April 22San Diego LegionHomeWon, 39–23
April 28Glendale RaptorsHomeLost, 15–19
May 12New Orleans GoldAwayWon, 31–29
May 20Utah WarriorsHomeWon, 41–32
May 27New Orleans GoldHomeWon, 55–26
June 2Houston SaberCatsAwayWon, 20–7
June 8Austin EliteAwayWon, 20–19
June 16Glendale RaptorsAwayLost, 11–33

Postseason

DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
June 30San Diego LegionHomeWon, 38-24
June 16Glendale RaptorsNeutralWon, 23–19

2019 season

Exhibition

DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
December 22 (2018)Crimson TideAwayWon, 48–7
January 5SFGGAwayWon, 45–0
January 17Seattle SaracensHomeWon, 74–3

Regular season

DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
January 27Glendale RaptorsHomeWon, 20-18
February 2San Diego LegionAwayLost, 13-17
February 10New Orleans GoldAwayLost, 31-41
February 17Toronto ArrowsHomeWon, 35–30
February 24Rugby United New YorkHomeWon, 33-21
March 10Houston SaberCatsHomeWon, 27-14
March 16Austin EliteAwayWon, 29-17
March 31San Diego LegionHomeLost, 22-28
April 5Utah WarriorsAwayWon, 48-36
April 13Houston SaberCatsAwayWon, 52–10
April 21New Orleans GoldHomeWon, 25–24
April 28Toronto ArrowsAwayLost, 7-29
May 11Rugby United New YorkAwayWon, 38-31
May 18Glendale RaptorsAwayWon, 53-36
May 26Utah WarriorsHomeDraw, 27-27
June 2Austin EliteHomeWon, 38–26

Postseason

DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
June 9Toronto ArrowsHomeWon, 30-17
June 16San Diego LegionAwayWon, 26–23

2020 season

On March 12, 2020, MLR announced the season would go on hiatus immediately for 30 days due to fears surrounding the 2019–2020 coronavirus pandemic. It was cancelled the following week

Regular season

DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
February 9San Diego LegionAwayLost, 24–33
February 16Old Glory DCAwayLost, 22–28
February 22Toronto ArrowsHomeLost, 17–39
February 29New England Free JacksHomeWon, 44–29
March 7Utah WarriorsHomeLost, 31–33
March 15Rugby United New YorkAwayCancelled
March 21Houston SaberCatsHomeCancelled
March 29Colorado RaptorsHomeCancelled
April 4Austin GilgronisAwayCancelled
April 12San Diego LegionHomeCancelled
April 25Utah WarriorsAwayCancelled
May 2Houston SabreCatsAwayCancelled
May 10Rugby ATLAwayCancelled
May 17New Orleans GoldHomeCancelled
May 24Colorado RaptorsAwayCancelled
May 31Austin GilgronisHomeCancelled

2021 season

Regular season

DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
March 20Houston SaberCatsAwayLost, 24–30
March 28LA GiltinisAwayLost, 26–57
April 10Utah WarriorsAwayWon, 20–15
April 17Toronto ArrowsAwayLost, 7-52
April 25Austin GilgronisAwayLost, 15-42
May 2Rugby United New YorkHomeLost, 23-21
May 9San Diego LegionHomeWon, 21-15
May 16Old Glory DCAwayLost, 18-22
May 23Rugby ATLHomeLost, 6-25
June 6Utah WarriorsHomeLost, 28-29
June 13New England Free JacksAwayLost, 21-25
June 20Austin GilgronisHomeLost, 31-36
June 27LA GiltinisHomeLost, 14-29
July 3San Diego LegionAwayLost, 21-34
July 11New Orleans GoldHomeWon, 30-6
July 15Houston SaberCatsHomeWon, 40-21

2022 season

Exhibition

DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
January 22Seattle Rugby ClubHomeWon, 76-8
January 28Hartford HarpoonersHomeWon, 50-0

Regular season

DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
February 6Toronto ArrowsHomeWon, 21-8
February 10Utah WarriorsHomeWon, 20-17
February 20San Diego LegionAwayWon, 31-28
February 26Austin GilgronisHomeLost, 25-18
March 4New Orleans GoldHomeLost, 25-24
March 12Houston SaberCatsAwayLost, 21-19
March 19Dallas JackalsAwayWon, 34-12
March 26LA GiltinisHomeLost, 12-31
April 9New England Free JacksAwayLost, 22-24
April 16San Diego LegionHomeWon, 34-32
April 23Utah WarriorsAwayWon, 20-14
May 1Austin GilgronisAwayLost, 6-17
May 8Dallas JackalsHomeWon, 74-7
May 15Rugby United NYAwayLost, 22-30
May 27Houston SaberCatsHomeWon, 43-36
June 5LA GiltinisAwayWon, 35-27

Post season

RoundDateOpponentHome/AwayResult
West EliminatorJune 12San Diego LegionHomeWon, 43–19
West Conference FinalsJune 18Houston SaberCatsAwayWon, 46–27
MLR ChampionshipJune 25Rugby United NYAwayLost, 15–30

2023 season

Exhibition

DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
February 5American RaptorsHomeWon, 47-0
February 8Seattle Rugby ClubHomeWon, 49-0

Regular season

DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
February 18New York IronworkersHomeWon, 25-11
February 24Rugby ATLHomeWon, 28-22
March 4Dallas JackalsAwayWon, 35-10
March 11Houston SabercatsHomeWon, 24-12
March 24Chicago HoundsAwayWon, 27-5
April 2New Orleans GoldAwayWon, 36-35
April 8San Diego LegionHomeLost, 20-23
April 14Utah WarriorsAwayLost, 35-41
April 22Toronto ArrowsAwayWon, 36-27
April 28Dallas JackalsHomeWon, 61-19
May 13Houston SabercatsAwayWon, 34-17
May 20Chicago HoundsHomeWon, 35-13
May 27Old Glory DCAwayWon, 41-19
June 4Utah WarriorsHomeWon, 27-20
June 11New England Free JacksHomeLost, 26-34
June 18San Diego LegionAwayLost, 19-40

Post-Season

RoundDateOpponentHome/AwayResult
West Conference PlayoffJune 24Houston SaberCatsHomeWon, 37-26
West Conference FinalJuly 2San Diego LegionAwayLost, 19–40

2024 season

Exhibition

DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
February 16Pacific PrideHomeWon, 79-7
February 21Canada SelectsHomeWon, 54-7

Regular season

DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
March 2San Diego LegionHomeWon, 25–19
March 9Miami SharksHomeWon, 29–18
March 16Utah WarriorsAwayWon, 23–13
March 23Houston SaberCatsHomeLost, 40–42
March 30Chicago HoundsAwayWon, 32–26
April 6Dallas JackalsHomeWon, 34–32
April 13RFC Los AngelesAwayWon, 36–5
April 20New England Free JacksAwayWon, 29–21
April 27Anthem Rugby CarolinaHomeWon, 29–13
May 4NOLA GoldAwayLost, 31–32
May 11Dallas JackalsAwayLost, 7–14
May 18Old Glory DCHomeWon, 26–24
May 25Utah WarriorsHomeWon, 68–29
June 1Houston SaberCatsAwayLost, 25–28
June 8RFC Los AngelesHomeWon, 29–12
June 15San Diego LegionAwayLost, 33–45

Post-Season

RoundDateOpponentHome/AwayResult
West Conference Semi-FinalJuly 21San Diego LegionHomeWon, 30-28
West Conference FinalJuly 28Dallas JackalsHomeWon, 28-25
MLR ChampionshipAugust 4New England Free JacksAwayLost, 11–20

External links