Utah Warriors Change Venue for First Home Game

SANDY, Utah--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Utah Warriors, the first professional rugby team in Utah, today announced a change in the playing venue to McCarthy Field in Salt Lake City for their first home game of the 2011 Rugby Super League season against the Dallas Harlequins.

“We want the fans and those who have never seen rugby before to get as close to the action as possible. McCarthy Field is a great place for us to play our first home game.”

“We are excited to be able to play in an intimate setting like McCarthy Field for this match,” said Utah Warrior’s principal Sean Whalen. “We want the fans and those who have never seen rugby before to get as close to the action as possible. McCarthy Field is a great place for us to play our first home game.”

The Utah Warriors were on Channel Four’s Good Things Utah last week, where they announced their Win a Date with a Warrior competition, a drawing for an exciting date with halfback Ben Nicholls, to be drawn at half-time at the first home game against the Dallas Harlequins on Saturday, March 19 at 7:00 p.m.

The inaugural roster consists of 36 players and features US national rugby experience in Jason Pye, Mike Palefau, and well known talent in Matt Byrd & Ryan Chapman. Additionally, Blake Burdette, head coach for the University of Utah, is playing for the Warriors. Blake is a former USA Eagle, and has played rugby around the world, including the US team in the 2007 world cup. The former president of the Utah Rugby Union and Highland Rugby alum, Jon Law, is head coach for the Warriors.

The team is 2-0 in their pre-season matches, and won their first season match last Saturday in Denver 38-21. Rugby continues to gain momentum in Utah, with strong rugby programs at the University of Utah and BYU, as well as local high schools, including Highland High School.

Tickets for home games can be purchased for $5 each and are available the day of the game. All ticket sales proceeds will go to Siofillisi Funaki (Sofi), who suffered a devastating season-ending injury last Saturday playing Denver.

About the Utah Warriors

The Utah Warriors are an expansion rugby team that competes in the Rugby Super League. Sean Whalen, CEO of Property 23, assembled the team in 2010 and handles team operations.