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Former NZ U20s rep named at fullback as Anthem RC eye back-to-back wins

Jordan Trainor of New Zealand during the World Rugby U20 Championship match between New Zealand and Ireland at The Academy Stadium on June 11, 2016 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images)

Former New Zealand U20s outside back Jordan Trainor has been retained in the starting side at fullback for Anthem Rugby Carolina’s second match of the 2026 Major League Rugby season, set to host the Chicago Hounds in Charlotte on Saturday.

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Trainor, who has experience in New Zealand’s NPC and with the Blues in Super Rugby, wore the No. 15 jersey on club debut for Anthem against California Legion. Anthem secured their first-ever MLR win, winning 39-26 on the road.

The former Utah Warriors flyer joins Conner Mooneyham in the outside backs, who was the first overall pick in the inaugural MLR Draft. Mooneyham starts on one wing after impressing last time out, while Julian Roberts starts on the other edge.

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Tom Pittman and Will Leonard will line up in the midfield, while off-season signing Zion Going joins experienced playmaker Luke Carty in the halves.  USA Eagle Malacchi Esdale is among those looking to make an impact off the bench.

Payton Telea-ilaio starts at loosehead prop, joining Seth Smith and Alex Maughan in the front row. Will Sherman and James Scott round out the tight five as the two locks, with Scott set to face his former side after making the move from Chicago before the 2026 season..

Johan Momsen and Tesimoni Tonga’uiha are the two flakers, while Makeen Alikhan rounds out the First XV as the No. 8. Marques Fuala’au was promising off the bench against California and continues to hold a place in the reserves.

This match at American Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte is set to get underway at 4:00 pm local time on Saturday afternoon.

Fixture
Major League Rugby
Anthem Rugby Carolina
13:00
4 Apr 26
Chicago Hounds
All Stats and Data

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Anthem Rugby Carolina to take on Chicago Hounds

1. Payton Telea-Ilalio

2. Seth Smith

3. Alex Maughan

4. Will Sherman

5. James Scott

6. Johan Momsen

7. Tesimoni Tonga’uiha

8. Makeen Alikhan

9. Zion Going

10. Luke Carty

11. Julian Roberts

12. Tom Pittman

13. Will Leonard

14. Conner Mooneyham

15. Jordan Trainor

Replacements

16. Ramiro Gurovich

17. Alessandro Heaney

18. Oliver Kane

19. Sam Golla

20. Baden Godfrey

21. Ishma-eel Safodien

22. Marques Fuala’au

23. Malachi Esdale

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J
JW 6 hours ago
New report details source of Ardie Savea's All Blacks frustrations

Yeah it’s hard to be critical of Razor but of choices in his first year of the loosies he constantly played Ardie at 8. It would seem that was always the plan and that Hoskins was surplas to requirements (7, with Dalton then Cane, as was fairly happy with but understand the calls to drop Cane for his last test, along with TJ, and 6 was shared around nicely I thought) and he didn’t have the alround game of Ardie to simply overtake him at 8 (and use Ardie elsewhere). Of course he did that exact thing next year, too late for HS. Then last year 7 was fine if though the same problem was brought about by using Ardie (always leaves a component of a back three missing) there so often stopping Dalton from getting opportunities. At 6 Parker just had one or two too many games for me but 8 was shuffled around nicely, even if I don’t know why Lakai was thought to be the key there.

Of course a lot of rotation was brought about by, you guesed it, injury, still. Now to be fair to Razor, in reality we have no idea if he had to manage Ardie this way, based on NZRs desires with his contract (we have seen them move heaven and earth to retain him), and if he benched him often whether that would have caused him to leave or not. Or even that Hoskins would have accepted a jersey unless it was with a single digit on it, and a regular pick, as he had had to work his way back to the team without a big bump in his contract (of loosing AB selection early on) of other people his standing, so he also might have still put his family and therefor more over the jersey.



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