What will Allen Clarke do? With a bye this weekend, the Seawolves coach has some time to figure out how to meet, and beat, the Utah Warriors on June 9 at Starfire Stadium. He could depend on his injury-thinned ranks to put together a winning team. Or, he could go in search of new signings to fill the gaps left by players out with season-ending injuries.
With Olive Kilifi hurt in the 26-24 win over Old Glory DC, that makes six players done for the season.
Tevita Kuridrani should be back in time for the playoffs (weekends of July 20-21 and July 27-28 with the championship on August 4 in San Diego). Joe Taufete’e and Sam Matenga should be back before the end of the regular season. Those returning should help Clarke weather the storm with the players presently in the locker room.
But if Clarke could add another player like Monate Akuei Gai, more power to him. Akuei was quick around the field in the DC game, a fearless tackler. With Akuei, the Seattle Seawolves may have the only player in Major League Rugby who was born in South Sudan. (South Sudan separated from Sudan in 2011, and those two countries constitute the most ignored humanitarian crisis in a world full of humanitarian crises).
Akuei’s family left South Sudan as refugees, landing in Kenya. Akuei played rugby in Kenya and followed it to the United States and now, the Seawolves.
