MLR 2026 – California Legion vs Seattle Seawolves

Two teams looking to get back on track will collide in California on Sunday evening. Los Angeles is the next port of call for the Legion, who fell well short against the Hounds in Chicago last weekend. At the same time a battered and bruised Seawolves side crashed to defeat against Anthem in Charlotte.

STARTING LINEUP CHANGES

	IN	OUT
2	Ale Lopeti	Joe Taufete’e
4	Jurie van Vuuren	Keni Nasoqeqe
8	Ben Houston	Christian Poidevin
11	Oscar Treacy	Ryan James
13	Cassh Maluia	Cole Semu
15	Steffan Crimp	Rory van Vugt

	IN	OUT
11	JP Smith	Michael Hand
12	Calvin Liulamaga	Dorian Jones
15	Duncan Matthews	Mark Bennett

MLR DEBUTS

	PLAYER	PREVIOUS CLUB
11	Oscar Treacy	Central Washington Wildcats

NOTES

Injured / unavailable – (Legion) Christian Poidevin, Ronan Murphy; (Seawolves) Sean McNulty, Mason Pedersen, Dorian Jones, Dan Kriel, Mark Bennett, Lauina Futi, Rufus McLean
the Seawolves are already hurting with almost an entire backline currently sidelined, while tighthead prop Mason Pedersen is serving the second game of a three-match suspension
Canadian international Callum Botchar is in line for his Seawolves debut… the hard-hitting lock signed on in the offseason after two seasons with NOLA Gold
Calvin Liulamaga has been handed a first pro start after making his MLR debut off the bench in Chicago… the Collegiate All-American will line up opposite a former Central Washington teammate… Oscar Treacy will make his MLR debut for California… the Australia-born winger is tipped for Eagles honors having qualified for the USA on residency
the Legion also have one player suspended as loose forward Ronan Murphy serves the first of his three-game ban… first choice flanker Christian Poidevin is injured
ex-NOLA hooker Ale Lopeti makes his California club debut… Jurie van Vuuren returns from injury to make his first appearance of the season… the former Junior Springbok was a starter for LA last year

PREDICTION

Picture-perfect conditions are on the forecast which probably isn’t ideal for Seattle. The Seawolves backline is down four starters and a slower game might have favored their beefy forward pack. While the Legion have been a mixed bag thus far, they’ll be intent on making the most of their remaining home games with early indications suggesting a very tight race for postseason spots. California are favorites at home in Los Angeles.

TEAMS

CALIFORNIA LEGION
1 Ma’ake Muti, 2 Ale Lopeti, 3 Tonga Kofe, 4 Keni Nasoqeqe, 5 Jason Damm (capt.), 6 Lance Williams, 7 Ed Timpson, 8 Ben Houston, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 10 Coby Miln, 11 Oscar Treacy, 12 Billy Meakes, 13 Cassh Maluia, 14 Joe Mano, 15 Steffan Crimp

Replacements: 16 Joe Taufete’e, 17 Declan Leaney, 18 Justus Tavai, 19 Keni Nasoqeqe, 20 Chase Jones, 21 Cole Semu, 22 Tas Smith, 23 Ryan James

SEATTLE SEAWOLVES
1 Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 2 Dewald Kotze, 3 Ignacio Péculo, 4 Rhyno Herbst, 5 Harison Mataele, 6 Marno Redelinghuys, 7 Paddy Ryan, 8 Riekert Hattingh (capt.), 9 André Warner, 10 Davy Coetzer, 11 JP Smith, 12 Calvin Liulamaga, 13 Divan Rossouw, 14 Nolan Tuamoheloa, 15 Duncan Matthews

Replacements: 16 Liki Chan-Tung, 17 Dewald Donald, 18 LaRome White, 19 Callum Botchar, 20 Kalisi Moli, 21 Tia’i Vavao, 22 Michael Hand, 23 Nick Boyer

MATCH INFO

Date: Sunday, April 19
Venue: Wallis Annenberg Stadium, Los Angeles
Kickoff: 17:00 local (20:00 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: sunny, 73°F (23°C), wind SW 9-14 mph (15-22 km/h)
Broadcasts: ESPN+ (USA), Premier Sports (International), Kong 6 (Local), GameTV (YouTube)