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{{Short description|Professional rugby union team from Austin, Texas}}
{{Short description|Professional rugby union team from Austin, Texas}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Infobox rugby team
{{Infobox rugby team
|teamname = Austin Gilgronis
|teamname = Austin Gilgronis
Line 8: Line 9:
|location = [[Austin, Texas]]
|location = [[Austin, Texas]]
|countryflag = United States
|countryflag = United States
|founded = Austin Elite (2017–2019)<br />Austin Herd (2019–2020)<br />'''Austin Gilgronis (2020–present)'''
|founded = Austin Elite (2017–2019)<br />Austin Herd (2019–2020)<br />'''Austin Gilgronis (2020–2022)'''
| disbanded = 2022
|ground = [[Circuit of the Americas#Bold Stadium|Bold Stadium]]
|ground = [[Circuit of the Americas#Bold Stadium|Bold Stadium]]
|capacity = 5,036
|capacity = 5,036
Line 43: Line 45:
|Overall Record=3-24 (0.111)|title1=Home Kit|pattern_sh1=_thinorangesides
|Overall Record=3-24 (0.111)|title1=Home Kit|pattern_sh1=_thinorangesides
| current = 2022 Austin Gilgronis season}}
| current = 2022 Austin Gilgronis season}}
The '''Austin Gilgronis''' is a professional [[rugby union]] team based in [[Austin, Texas]], United States. The team was founded in 2017 as the '''Austin Elite''', and competes in [[Major League Rugby]].<ref name=statesman-nov-2017/>
The '''Austin Gilgronis''' were a professional [[rugby union]] team based in [[Austin, Texas]], United States. The team was founded in 2017 as the '''Austin Elite''', and competed in [[Major League Rugby]].<ref name=statesman-nov-2017/>


==History==
==History==
[[File:Austin Elite Rugby logo 2017.png|thumb|upright=0.63|Historical Austin Elite logo 2017–2019.]]
[[File:Austin Elite Rugby logo 2017.png|thumb|upright=0.63|Historical Austin Elite logo 2017–2019.]]


On 19 September 2019 after extensive polling at the end of the 2019 campaign, the team opted to rename itself the Herd. The logo remained the same although the orange color action was removed indicating a shift away from using orange for the upcoming season.<ref>[http://www.americasrugbynews.com/2019/09/19/austin-change-team-name-to-herd/] “Austin changes name to Herd” 19/9/2019</ref> Prior to the 2020 season, Adam Gilchrist and Loyals LLC purchased the team and renamed it the Gilgronis, a reference to a yet-to-be-produced cocktail based on the [[Negroni]]. The name received some negative reactions from fans.<ref>{{cite web |last=Vinicombe |first=Tom |title=The Austin MLR team have rebranded and fans can't get over the absurd new name |url=https://www.rugbypass.com/news/the-austin-mlr-team-have-rebranded-and-fans-cant-get-over-the-absurd-new-name/ |publisher=RugbyPass |date=29 January 2020 |accessdate=13 February 2020}}</ref> Under Gilchrist's ownership, the team's record improved and the team clinched a playoff berth in its [[2022 Austin Gilgronis season|2022 season]] before being disqualified from the postseason by the MLR for unspecified reasons.<ref name="disqualified">{{cite news |last1=Judd |first1=Brandon |title=This pro sports league just disqualified a team right before the playoffs |url=https://www.deseret.com/sports/2022/6/3/23153852/austin-gilgronis-disqualified-from-the-playoffs-right-before-the-postseason-major-league-rugby |access-date=4 June 2022 |work=[[Deseret News]] |date=3 June 2022}}</ref>
On September 19, 2019, after extensive polling at the end of the 2019 campaign, the team opted to rename itself the Herd. The logo remained the same although the orange color action was removed indicating a shift away from using orange for the upcoming season.<ref>[http://www.americasrugbynews.com/2019/09/19/austin-change-team-name-to-herd/] “Austin changes name to Herd” September 19, 2019</ref> Prior to the [[2020 Austin Gilgronis season|2020 season]], Adam Gilchrist and Loyals LLC purchased the team and renamed it the Gilgronis, a reference to a yet-to-be-produced cocktail based on the [[Negroni]], although the eponymous cocktail appears to just be a negroni with a different name. The name was met with significant backlash from fans.<ref>{{cite web |last=Vinicombe |first=Tom |title=The Austin MLR team have rebranded and fans can't get over the absurd new name |url=https://www.rugbypass.com/news/the-austin-mlr-team-have-rebranded-and-fans-cant-get-over-the-absurd-new-name/ |publisher=RugbyPass |date=January 29, 2020 |accessdate=February 13, 2020}}</ref> Under Gilchrist's ownership, the team's record improved and the team clinched a playoff berth in its [[2022 Austin Gilgronis season|2022 season]] before being disqualified from the postseason by MLR for "violating league rules".<ref name="disqualified">{{cite news |last1=Judd |first1=Brandon |title=This pro sports league just disqualified a team right before the playoffs |url=https://www.deseret.com/sports/2022/6/3/23153852/austin-gilgronis-disqualified-from-the-playoffs-right-before-the-postseason-major-league-rugby |access-date=June 4, 2022 |work=[[Deseret News]] |date=June 3, 2022}}</ref> In October 2022, MLR announced that the Gilgronis and the [[LA Giltinis]] (both owned by Adam Gilchrist) had been expelled from the league for unspecified reasons.<ref>{{cite news |last=Pengelly |first=Martin |date=October 26, 2022 |title=LA and Austin out of MLR as US rugby faces further uncertainty |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/oct/25/la-giltinis-austin-gilgronis-mlr-us-rugby-chicago |work=The Guardian |accessdate=October 28, 2022}}</ref> It appears Gilchrist could no longer financially sustain ownership and that the teams have since folded.


==Home field==
==Home field==
The team currently plays at the [[Circuit of the Americas]] in [[Bold Stadium]], having previously played at [[Dell Diamond]] and the [[Round Rock Multipurpose Complex]] in [[Round Rock, Texas]].<ref name=statesman-apr-2018/>
The team most recently played at the [[Circuit of the Americas]] in [[Bold Stadium]], having previously played at [[Dell Diamond]] and the [[Round Rock Multipurpose Complex]] in [[Round Rock, Texas]].<ref name=statesman-apr-2018/>


==Broadcasts==
==Broadcasts==
Line 76: Line 78:
==Colors and logo==
==Colors and logo==


The Austin Gilgronis jersey is black, orange, and white. The mascot is a gray fox character named Austin Gray. Gray foxes inhabit central Texas, and Austin Gray's initials are AG; matching that of the team.
The Austin Gilgronis jersey was black, orange, and white. The mascot was a gray fox character named Austin Gray. Gray foxes inhabit central Texas, and Austin Gray's initials were AG; matching that of the team.


The Austin Herd jersey was sky blue, black and white. The initial team logo features the stylized head of a [[Texas Longhorn]] bull with a Lone Star on its forehead. The mascot was a bull-like character named Dozer.<ref name=statesman-mascot/>
The Austin Herd jersey was sky blue, black and white. The initial team logo features the stylized head of a [[Texas Longhorn]] bull with a Lone Star on its forehead. The mascot was a bull-like character named Dozer.<ref name=statesman-mascot/>


The team's current name, Gilgronis, is the name of a [[cocktail]] created by the owners.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Dart|first=Tom|date=2020-02-10|title=Austin Gilgronis: why would a US rugby club name itself after a cocktail?|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/feb/10/austin-gilgronis-why-would-a-us-rugby-club-name-itself-after-a-cocktail|access-date=2020-05-29|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> The home kit is orange, and the away kit is white. The current logo is the club's initials.
The team's final name, Gilgronis, was supposedly the name of a [[cocktail]] created by the owners, but that cocktail doesn't seem to exist and the name was more likely an amalgamation of the owners name (Gilchrist) and the popular pre-existing cocktail called the negroni.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Dart|first=Tom|date=February 10, 2020|title=Austin Gilgronis: why would a US rugby club name itself after a cocktail?|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/feb/10/austin-gilgronis-why-would-a-us-rugby-club-name-itself-after-a-cocktail|access-date=May 29, 2020|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> The home kit was orange, and the away kit was white. The last logo was just the club's initials.


==Players and personnel==
==Players and personnel==
===Current squad===
===Final squad===
{{for|player movements before and during the [[2022 Major League Rugby season|2022 season]]|List of 2021–22 Major League Rugby transfers#Austin Gilgronis}}
{{for|player movements before and during the [[2022 Major League Rugby season|2022 season]]|List of 2021–22 Major League Rugby transfers#Austin Gilgronis}}


The Austin Gilgronis squad for the [[2022 Major League Rugby season]] is:<ref name="Austin Gilgronis">{{cite web | url=https://www.americasrugbynews.com/competitions/2022-major-league-rugby/mlr-2022-austin-gilgronis/ | title=Austin Gilgronis | work=Americas Rugby News | access-date=6 December 2021}}</ref>
The Austin Gilgronis squad for the [[2022 Major League Rugby season]] was:<ref name="Austin Gilgronis">{{cite web | url=https://www.americasrugbynews.com/competitions/2022-major-league-rugby/mlr-2022-austin-gilgronis/ | title=Austin Gilgronis | work=Americas Rugby News | access-date=December 6, 2021}}</ref>


{{Rugby squad start}}
{{Rugby squad start}}
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{{rugby squad player | nat=NZL | pos=PR | name=[[Namatahi Waa]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=NZL | pos=PR | name=[[Namatahi Waa]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | pos=PR | name=LaRome White}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | pos=PR | name=LaRome White}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | pos=PR | name=Jeff Steele}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=NZL | pos=PR | name=Mika Felix}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=RSA | pos=LK | name=[[Sebastian de Chaves]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=RSA | pos=LK | name=[[Sebastian de Chaves]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=LK | name=[[Cam Dodson]]*}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=LK | name=[[Cam Dodson]]*}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | pos=LK | name=[[Christian Ostberg]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | pos=LK | name=[[Christian Ostberg]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=NZL | pos=LK | name='''[[Isaac Ross]]'''}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=NZL | pos=LK | name='''[[Isaac Ross]]'''}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | pos=LK | name=Khalid Cannon}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=AUS | pos=BR | name=[[Luke Beauchamp]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=AUS | pos=BR | name=[[Luke Beauchamp]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | pos=BR | name=Kyle Breytenbach}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | pos=BR | name=Kyle Breytenbach}}
Line 122: Line 127:
{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | pos=WG | name=Conner Mooneyham}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | pos=WG | name=Conner Mooneyham}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | pos=WG | name=Caleb Strum}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | pos=WG | name=Caleb Strum}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | pos=WG | name=Mende Carlton}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=CAN | pos=WG | name=Nick Taylor}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | pos=FB | name='''[[Marcel Brache]]'''}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=USA | pos=FB | name='''[[Marcel Brache]]'''}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=RSA | pos=FB | name=Zinzan Elan-Puttick*}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=RSA | pos=FB | name=Zinzan Elan-Puttick*}}
Line 133: Line 140:


===Head coaches===
===Head coaches===
*{{flagicon|FRA}} Alain Hyardet (2018–2019){{hsp}}<ref name=coach-2018>{{cite web |date=2017-09-12 |title=Alain Hyardet appointed as Head Coach |url=https://www.austineliterugby.com/single-post/2017/09/12/ALAIN-HYARDET-APPOINTED-AS-HEAD-COACH |publisher=Austin Elite Rugby |access-date=2017-11-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107025157/https://www.austineliterugby.com/single-post/2017/09/12/ALAIN-HYARDET-APPOINTED-AS-HEAD-COACH |archive-date=2017-11-07 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Alain Hyardet]] (2018–2019){{hsp}}<ref name=coach-2018>{{cite web |date=September 12, 2017 |title=Alain Hyardet appointed as Head Coach |url=https://www.austineliterugby.com/single-post/2017/09/12/ALAIN-HYARDET-APPOINTED-AS-HEAD-COACH |publisher=Austin Elite Rugby |access-date=November 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107025157/https://www.austineliterugby.com/single-post/2017/09/12/ALAIN-HYARDET-APPOINTED-AS-HEAD-COACH |archive-date=November 7, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*{{flagicon|NZ}} [[Brent Semmons (rugby)|Brent Semmons]] (2020)
*{{flagicon|NZ}} [[Brent Semmons (rugby)|Brent Semmons]] (2020)
*{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Sam Harris (rugby)|Sam Harris]] (2021–present)
*{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Sam Harris (rugby)|Sam Harris]] (2021–2022)


===Assistant coaches===
===Assistant coaches===
* {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Mark Gerrard]] (2020–present)
* {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Mark Gerrard]] (2021–2022)


===Captains===
===Captains===
Line 144: Line 151:
*[[Ben Mitchell (rugby union)|Ben Mitchell]] (2019)
*[[Ben Mitchell (rugby union)|Ben Mitchell]] (2019)
*Zinzan Elan-Puttick (2020)
*Zinzan Elan-Puttick (2020)
*[[Bryce Campbell (rugby union)|Bryce Campbell]] (2021–present)
*[[Bryce Campbell (rugby union)|Bryce Campbell]] (2021–2022)
{{col-float-end}}
{{col-float-end}}


==Records==
==Records==
===Season standings===
===Season standings===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size: 95%"
⚫
|-
! rowspan="2"|Season
! rowspan="2"|Conference
! colspan="10"|Regular season
! colspan="8"|Postseason
|-{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|- border=1 cellpadding=5 cellspacing=0
|- border=1 cellpadding=5 cellspacing=0
⚫
! style="width:20px;"|Year
! style="width:20px;"|Pos
! style="width:20px;"|Pos
! style="width:20px;"|Pld
! style="width:20px;"|Pld
Line 162: Line 174:
! style="width:20px;"|BP
! style="width:20px;"|BP
! style="width:20px;"|Pts
! style="width:20px;"|Pts
! style="width:30em; text-align:left;"| Playoff results
! style="width:20px;"|Pld
⚫
! style="width:20px;"|W
! style="width:20px;"|L
! style="width:20px;"|F
! style="width:20px;"|A
! style="width:25px;"|+/−
! style="width:20em; text-align:centre;"| Result
|-
|-
|[[2018 Austin Elite season|2018]]
|[[2018 Austin Elite season|2018]]
| -
⚫
|'''5th'''
| 8 || 3 || 0 || 5 || 224 || 238 || −14 || 6 || '''18'''
|'''5th'''|| 8 || 3 || 0 || 5 || 224 || 238 || −14 || 6 || '''18'''|| – || – || – || – || – || – ||Did not qualify
|–
|-
|-
|[[2019 Austin Elite season|2019]]
|[[2019 Austin Elite season|2019]]
| -
⚫
|'''9th'''
| 16 || 0 || 0 || 16 || 263 || 482 || −219 || 5 || '''5'''
|'''9th'''|| 16 || 0 || 0 || 16 || 263 || 482 || −219 || 5 || '''5'''|| – || – || – || – || – || – ||Did not qualify
|–
|-
|-
|[[2020 Austin Gilgronis season|2020]]
|[[2020 Austin Gilgronis season|2020]]{{efn|name=COVID|2020 regular season shortened and playoffs cancelled due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].}}
| Western
|'''11th'''
⚫
|'''5th'''
| 5 || 1 || 1 || 3 || 104 || 155 || -6 || 1 || '''7''' || Season cut short due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]
| 5 || 1 || 1 || 3 || 104 || 155 || -51 || 1 || '''7''' || – || – || – || – || – || – || Cancelled
|-
|-
|[[2021 Austin Gilgronis season|2021]]
|[[2021 Austin Gilgronis season|2021]]
| Western
|'''7th'''
⚫
|'''3rd'''
| 15 || 9 || 0 || 7 || 389 || 317 || +8 || 11 || '''47''' || –
| 16 || 9 || 0 || 7 || 389 || 317 || +72 || 11 || '''47''' || – || – || – || – || – || – ||Did not qualify
|-
|-
|[[2022 Austin Gilgronis season|2022]]
|[[2022 Austin Gilgronis season|2022]]
| Western
|'''1st'''
|'''1st'''
| 16 || 12 || 0 || 4 || 475 || 229 || +246 || 9 || '''58''' || Disqualified <ref name=dtg>{{Cite web|date=June 7, 2022|title=Major League Rugby in crisis as LA and Austin disqualified from playoffs|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/jun/07/major-league-rugby-crisis-la-giltinis-austin-gilgronis-disqualified|access-date=July 8, 2022|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref>
| 16 || 12 || 0 || 4 || 475 || 229 || +246 || 9 || '''58''' || – || – || – || – || – || – ||Disqualified <ref name=dtg>{{Cite web|date=June 7, 2022|title=Major League Rugby in crisis as LA and Austin disqualified from playoffs|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/jun/07/major-league-rugby-crisis-la-giltinis-austin-gilgronis-disqualified|access-date=July 8, 2022|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref>
|- align="center"
⚫
|-
! colspan="3"|Totals !! 57 !! 25 !! 1 !! 35 !! 1,455 !! 1,421 !! +34 !! 32 !! 135 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 postseason appearances


|}
|}
Line 191: Line 211:
===Honors===
===Honors===
-->
-->

==Notes==
{{notelist}}


==References==
==References==
Line 196: Line 219:


<ref name=statesman-nov-2017>{{cite news
<ref name=statesman-nov-2017>{{cite news
|date=2017-11-07
|date=November 7, 2017
|title=Austin Elite, new U.S. pro rugby league lure major TV contract
|title=Austin Elite, new U.S. pro rugby league lure major TV contract
|work=Austin American-Statesman
|work=Austin American-Statesman
|access-date=2017-11-09
|access-date=November 9, 2017
|url=http://www.mystatesman.com/sports/austin-elite-new-pro-rugby-league-lure-major-contract/l1g9ldRld8ewHAqvz5jzvN/
|url=http://www.mystatesman.com/sports/austin-elite-new-pro-rugby-league-lure-major-contract/l1g9ldRld8ewHAqvz5jzvN/
|url-status=live
|url-status=live
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109003026/http://www.mystatesman.com/sports/austin-elite-new-pro-rugby-league-lure-major-contract/l1g9ldRld8ewHAqvz5jzvN/
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109003026/http://www.mystatesman.com/sports/austin-elite-new-pro-rugby-league-lure-major-contract/l1g9ldRld8ewHAqvz5jzvN/
|archive-date=2017-11-09
|archive-date=November 9, 2017
}}</ref>
}}</ref>


<ref name=statesman-apr-2018>{{cite news
<ref name=statesman-apr-2018>{{cite news
|date=2018-04-13
|date=April 13, 2018
|title=Austin Elite rugby franchise plans to play home games in Round Rock
|title=Austin Elite rugby franchise plans to play home games in Round Rock
|work=Austin Statesman
|work=Austin Statesman
|access-date=2018-04-22
|access-date=April 22, 2018
|url=https://www.statesman.com/sports/austin-elite-rugby-franchise-plans-play-home-games-round-rock/YXyQ5DMNCjlrtrLmoiApnM/
|url=https://www.statesman.com/sports/austin-elite-rugby-franchise-plans-play-home-games-round-rock/YXyQ5DMNCjlrtrLmoiApnM/
}}</ref>
}}</ref>


<ref name=statesman-mascot>{{cite news
<ref name=statesman-mascot>{{cite news
|date=2018-05-04
|date=May 4, 2018
|title=Austin Elite home opener both a success and a work in progress
|title=Austin Elite home opener both a success and a work in progress
|first= Kevin |last=Lyttle
|first= Kevin |last=Lyttle
|work=Austin American-Statesman
|work=Austin American-Statesman
|url=https://www.mystatesman.com/sports/pro-sports/austin-elite-home-opener-both-success-and-work-progress/Y6ifZtLY6IkvdXiy3M65ZP/
|url=https://www.mystatesman.com/sports/pro-sports/austin-elite-home-opener-both-success-and-work-progress/Y6ifZtLY6IkvdXiy3M65ZP/
|access-date=2018-05-04
|access-date=May 4, 2018
|url-status=live
|url-status=live
|archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/query?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mystatesman.com%2Fsports%2Fpro-sports%2Faustin-elite-home-opener-both-success-and-work-progress%2FY6ifZtLY6IkvdXiy3M65ZP%2F&date=2018-05-04
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180505135456/https://www.mystatesman.com/sports/pro-sports/austin-elite-home-opener-both-success-and-work-progress/Y6ifZtLY6IkvdXiy3M65ZP/
|archive-date=2018-05-04
|archive-date=May 5, 2018
}}</ref>
}}</ref>
}}
}}


==External links==
==External links==
*{{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518111457/http://austineliterugby.com/|title=Former Austin Elite official website|date=2019-05-18}}
*{{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518111457/http://austineliterugby.com/|title=Former Austin Elite official website|date=May 18, 2019}}
*{{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128203725/http://austinherd.com/|title=Former Austin Herd official website|date=2020-01-28}}
*{{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128203725/http://austinherd.com/|title=Former Austin Herd official website|date=January 28, 2020}}


{{Austin Gilgronis}}
{{Austin Gilgronis}}
{{Austin Gilgronis squad}}
{{Major League Rugby}}
{{Major League Rugby}}
{{Texas sports}}
{{Texas sports}}
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[[Category:Rugby union in Texas]]
[[Category:Rugby union in Texas]]
[[Category:Rugby union teams in Texas]]
[[Category:Rugby union teams in Texas]]
[[Category:Defunct rugby union teams]]

[[Category:Rugby clubs disestablished in 2022]]

{{Texas-sport-team-stub}}
{{US-rugbyunion-team-stub}}

Latest revision as of 17:46, 14 May 2024

Austin Gilgronis
Full nameAustin Gilgronis
Nickname(s)AG's
FoundedAustin Elite (2017–2019)
Austin Herd (2019–2020)
Austin Gilgronis (2020–2022)
Disbanded2022
LocationAustin, Texas
Ground(s)Bold Stadium (Capacity: 5,036)
Coach(es)Sam Harris
Captain(s)Bryce Campbell
Top scorerMack Mason (118)
Most triesHugh Roach (8)
League(s)Major League Rugby
20221st (Western Conference)
1st kit
2nd kit
Official website
www.gilgronis.com
Current season

The Austin Gilgronis were a professional rugby union team based in Austin, Texas, United States. The team was founded in 2017 as the Austin Elite, and competed in Major League Rugby.[1]

History

[edit]
Historical Austin Elite logo 2017–2019.

On September 19, 2019, after extensive polling at the end of the 2019 campaign, the team opted to rename itself the Herd. The logo remained the same although the orange color action was removed indicating a shift away from using orange for the upcoming season.[2] Prior to the 2020 season, Adam Gilchrist and Loyals LLC purchased the team and renamed it the Gilgronis, a reference to a yet-to-be-produced cocktail based on the Negroni, although the eponymous cocktail appears to just be a negroni with a different name. The name was met with significant backlash from fans.[3] Under Gilchrist's ownership, the team's record improved and the team clinched a playoff berth in its 2022 season before being disqualified from the postseason by MLR for "violating league rules".[4] In October 2022, MLR announced that the Gilgronis and the LA Giltinis (both owned by Adam Gilchrist) had been expelled from the league for unspecified reasons.[5] It appears Gilchrist could no longer financially sustain ownership and that the teams have since folded.

Home field

[edit]

The team most recently played at the Circuit of the Americas in Bold Stadium, having previously played at Dell Diamond and the Round Rock Multipurpose Complex in Round Rock, Texas.[6]

Broadcasts

[edit]

2021 home games were shown on KBVO. Lincoln Rose and Kit McConnico were the on-air talent.

Sponsorship

[edit]
Season Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
2018–2019 XBlades None
2020–2021 Paladin Sports
2022 Ascension Seton
[edit]

The Austin Gilgronis jersey was black, orange, and white. The mascot was a gray fox character named Austin Gray. Gray foxes inhabit central Texas, and Austin Gray's initials were AG; matching that of the team.

The Austin Herd jersey was sky blue, black and white. The initial team logo features the stylized head of a Texas Longhorn bull with a Lone Star on its forehead. The mascot was a bull-like character named Dozer.[7]

The team's final name, Gilgronis, was supposedly the name of a cocktail created by the owners, but that cocktail doesn't seem to exist and the name was more likely an amalgamation of the owners name (Gilchrist) and the popular pre-existing cocktail called the negroni.[8] The home kit was orange, and the away kit was white. The last logo was just the club's initials.

Players and personnel

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Final squad

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For player movements before and during the 2022 season, see List of 2021–22 Major League Rugby transfers § Austin Gilgronis.

The Austin Gilgronis squad for the 2022 Major League Rugby season was:[9]

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union
Robbie Coetzee Hooker South Africa South Africa
Mason Koch Hooker United States United States
Hugh Roach Hooker Australia Australia
Mason Pedersen Prop United States United States
Fakaʻosi Pifeleti Prop United States United States
Payton Telea-Ilalio Prop United States United States
Jake Turnbull Prop United States United States
Namatahi Waa Prop New Zealand New Zealand
LaRome White Prop United States United States
Jeff Steele Prop United States United States
Mika Felix Prop New Zealand New Zealand
Sebastian de Chaves Lock South Africa South Africa
Cam Dodson* Lock England England
Christian Ostberg Lock United States United States
Isaac Ross Lock New Zealand New Zealand
Khalid Cannon Lock United States United States
Luke Beauchamp Back row Australia Australia
Kyle Breytenbach Back row United States United States
Michael de Waal* Back row South Africa South Africa
Maclean Jones Back row Australia Australia
Lachlan McCaffrey Back row Australia Australia
Casey McDermott Vai Back row New Zealand New Zealand
Ronan Murphy Back row United States United States
Player Position Union
Pele Cowley Scrum-half Samoa Samoa
Ryan Louwrens Scrum-half South Africa South Africa
Sidney Shoop Scrum-half United States United States
Will Magie Fly-half United States United States
Mack Mason Fly-half Australia Australia
Dominic Akina Centre United States United States
Bryce Campbell (c) Centre United States United States
Chris Mattina Centre United States United States
Mark O'Keeffe* Centre Ireland Ireland
Julián Domínguez Wing Argentina Argentina
Conner Mooneyham Wing United States United States
Caleb Strum Wing United States United States
Mende Carlton Wing United States United States
Nick Taylor Wing Canada Canada
Marcel Brache Fullback United States United States
Zinzan Elan-Puttick* Fullback South Africa South Africa
  • Senior 15s internationally capped players are listed in bold.
  • * denotes players qualified to play for the United States on dual nationality or residency grounds.
  • MLR teams are allowed to field up to ten overseas players per match.

Head coaches

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Assistant coaches

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Captains

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Records

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Season standings

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Season Conference Regular season Postseason
Pos Pld W D L F A +/− BP Pts Pld W L F A +/− Result
2018 - 5th 8 3 0 5 224 238 −14 6 18 – – – – – – Did not qualify
2019 - 9th 16 0 0 16 263 482 −219 5 5 – – – – – – Did not qualify
2020[a] Western 5th 5 1 1 3 104 155 -51 1 7 – – – – – – Cancelled
2021 Western 3rd 16 9 0 7 389 317 +72 11 47 – – – – – – Did not qualify
2022 Western 1st 16 12 0 4 475 229 +246 9 58 – – – – – – Disqualified [11]
Totals 57 25 1 35 1,455 1,421 +34 32 135 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 postseason appearances

Notes

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  1. ^ 2020 regular season shortened and playoffs cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

References

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  1. ^ "Austin Elite, new U.S. pro rugby league lure major TV contract". Austin American-Statesman. November 7, 2017. Archived from the original on November 9, 2017. Retrieved November 9, 2017.
  2. ^ [1] “Austin changes name to Herd” September 19, 2019
  3. ^ Vinicombe, Tom (January 29, 2020). "The Austin MLR team have rebranded and fans can't get over the absurd new name". RugbyPass. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  4. ^ Judd, Brandon (June 3, 2022). "This pro sports league just disqualified a team right before the playoffs". Deseret News. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  5. ^ Pengelly, Martin (October 26, 2022). "LA and Austin out of MLR as US rugby faces further uncertainty". The Guardian. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  6. ^ "Austin Elite rugby franchise plans to play home games in Round Rock". Austin Statesman. April 13, 2018. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
  7. ^ Lyttle, Kevin (May 4, 2018). "Austin Elite home opener both a success and a work in progress". Austin American-Statesman. Archived from the original on May 5, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  8. ^ Dart, Tom (February 10, 2020). "Austin Gilgronis: why would a US rugby club name itself after a cocktail?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  9. ^ "Austin Gilgronis". Americas Rugby News. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  10. ^ "Alain Hyardet appointed as Head Coach". Austin Elite Rugby. September 12, 2017. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved November 9, 2017.
  11. ^ "Major League Rugby in crisis as LA and Austin disqualified from playoffs". The Guardian. June 7, 2022. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
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