Welcome back: Leuila's 15-point debut guides Utah Warriors past Chicago in season opener

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. — The Utah Warriors' 2025 season debut was postponed by a first-round bye, as well as sending the team to Chicago for Week 2 of the Major League Rugby season.

The wait was worth it Sunday afternoon.

Joe Mano scored two tries, and newly-signed flyhalf D'Angelo Leuila had a match-high 15 points as the Warriors pulled past the Hounds 45-31 at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois.

Liam Coltman, Blake Makiri, Matt Jensen and Spencer Jones also had a try for Utah (1-0, 4 points), which earned a bonus point for scoring more than four tries in the match.

The visitors had to rally in the end, but the start couldn't have been much better.

The new-look Warriors started strong, a dream start propelled by Coltman's try just two minutes and Makiri dotting down the seventh try of his career five minutes later.

Mano stretched the lead to 21-7 with his first try in the 13th minute, finding space on the overload down the left sideline before scoring in the corner for his first of the season.

"I think we spoke about it before coming out in the dressing room, making sure we started well. I think we did that," Leuila told the ESPN+ broadcast after earning "man of the match" honors. "I think we lost it a bit toward the end of the first half. But the boys did well to hold on."

Chicago (1-1, 5 points) kept pace, scoring back-to-back tries and tying the match in the 27th minute when Dylan Dawsitt scored off a maul from inside the five-meter line as both times took a 21-21 split into halftime.

Mitch Short gave the Hounds their first lead of the game three minutes into the second half, sliding over the try line in the 43rd minute before teammate Adriaan Carelse's conversion put Chicago in front 28-21.

But the Warriors stood strong, buoyed by a forward pack that stood up against Chicago's 57% of possession.

"We wanted to come here and be dominant and physical," Leuila said. "I think we did that for the full 80 minutes."

After Chicago's Charlie Abel was sent off with a straight red card, the Warriors responded with a fast break that former BYU national champion Jensen carried over the line to tie the match 28-28.

Jones forced a turnover in the 58th minute and returned the loose ball 50 meters for a try that pushed the Warriors back in front 35-28 in the 60th minute.

Leuila helped put the game away with a penalty goal, and Mano finished off the scoring with his second try of the match less than two minutes from time to give Utah its first win of the season.

"I think at the end of the day, it comes down to the other 14 men on the field to make my job easier," said Leuila, the New Zealand-born Samoan international who joined the club this offseason from Super Rugby side Moana Pasifika. "The least I could do was make those kicks and make their jobs easier."

Utah returns home next Saturday, March 1 for the club's home opener against the NOLA Gold. Kickoff from Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman is scheduled for 2 p.m. MST.

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