The first ever professional rugby competition in North America is open for business, and it begins on Sunday at Infinity Park in Denver, Colorado. Even absent top players like Kyle Baillie, Timana Tahu, and Dom Waldouck, this match still features 16 full internationals and a plethora of exciting talent.

Denver feature three Eagles in their tight five, with World Cup hooker Zach Fenoglio, prop Ben Tarr, and ARC lock Brodie Orth all known to USA rugby fans. A fourth, prop Nick Wallace, is on the bench, while Junior All-American Christian Wiessing partners Orth in the second row. New Glendale flanker Peter Dahl makes it five USA caps in the pack, and former Springbok Pedrie Wannenburg captains the side from no8.

A powerhouse midfield combo of Mike Garrity and Chad London will await the distribution of halfbacks Niku Kruger and Ata Malifa. All have played test rugby. Will Magie captained the 2012 national u20s from flyhalf but will start his PRO career at fullback. Among the reserves, look for former Houston Texans signing Zac Pauga to make his mark as an impact sub.

Ohio will be led out by one time All Black Jamie Mackintosh, who has just arrived in country this week after a spell with Montpellier in France. Eagles Elite Squad member Angus MacLellan is the other bookend, with Peter Malcolm reverting to his old position of hooker after being selected as a flanker for the All-Americans. New signing Ryan McTiernan, another All-American, adds much needed size at lock, and Italy ‘A’ flanker Filippo Ferrarini features in a very mobile back row that also contains Chile u20 and Lindenwood star Sebastián Kalm.

International trio Shaun Davies, JP Eloff, and Roland Suniula will direct traffic in the backline, and will look to feed steady possession to an enormous outside back trio. Alex Elkins, signed as a linebacker by the Detroit Lions in 2013, will prowl on one wing with former SMU Mustangs defensive tackle Aaron ‘Spike’ Davis lurking on the other. At 225lbs, Eagles 7s cap Ahmad Harajly is incredibly the smallest of the trio.

The Ohio bench also looks potent, with ARC front rowers Cam Falcon and Demecus Beach included along with former ACT Premier Division flanker Chad Joseph. With six forward reserves there are only two backs, but they’re good ones. Veteran scrumhalf Robbie Shaw has won a dozen caps for the Eagles and Davenport graduate Mason Baum is another imposing outside back.

As of the time of writing, broadcast information is still to be confirmed.

DENVER

1 Luke White 2 Zach Fenoglio 3 Ben Tarr 4 Brodie Orth 5 Christian Wiessing 6 Logan Collins 7 Peter Dahl 8 Pedrie Wannenburg (capt.) 9 Niku Kruger 10 Ata Malifa 11 Michael Al-Jiboori 12 Mike Garrity 13 Chad London 14 Martin Knoetze 15 Will Magie

16 Nick Wallace 17 Jake Turnbull 18 Soane Leger 19 Gannon Moore 20 Zac Pauga 21 Bobby Impson 22 Max de Achaval 23 Dustin Croy

OHIO

1 Jamie Mackintosh (capt.) 2 Peter Malcolm 3 Angus MacLellan 4 Pierce Dargan 5 Ryan McTiernan 6 Filippo Ferrarini 7 Matt Hughston 8 Sebastián Kalm 9 Shaun Davies 10 JP Eloff 11 Alex Elkins 12 Taylor Howden 13 Roland Suniula 14 Spike Davis 15 Ahmad Harajly

16 Cameron Falcon 17 Demecus Beach 18 Anthony Parry 19 Dominic Pezzutti 20 Chad Joseph 21 Chris Schade 22 Robbie Shaw 23 Mason Baum

Date: Sunday, April 17

Venue: Infinity Park, Glendale

Kickoff: 14:00 local (13:00 PDT, 16:00 EDT)

Referee: Derek Summers

Assistants: Leah Berard & Marc Nelson

Broadcasts: t.b.c.

Tickets: TicketsWest