Rugby United New York

Rugby United New York
Founded 2018
Location Riverdale, Bronx, New York City, New York
Ground(s) Gaelic Park (Capacity: 2,000)
Chairman James Kennedy
Coach(es) Mike Tolkin
Captain(s) Dylan Fawsitt
League(s) Major League Rugby
Official website
www.rugbyunitedny.com

Rugby United New York, known as RUNY, is a professional rugby union team that is currently an associate member of Major League Rugby (MLR) based in New York City. The team played an exhibition season in the spring of 2018, and will join MLR for its second full season in 2019.[1][2] RUNY is officially the 8th member of the MLR joining Austin Elite Rugby, the Glendale Raptors, Houston Sabercats, New Orleans Gold, San Diego Legion, Seattle Seawolves, and Utah Warriors. The team was founded by James Kennedy and is co-owned by former professional wrestler John Layfield.[3]

Inaugural exhibition season

In its 2018 exhibition season, RUNY was led by former USA men's national team coach Mike Tolkin, and assistant coaches Bruce McLane (former coach of New York Athletic Club RFC), Andrew Britt, and Vili Vakasisikakala.[1] The team's 2018 spring season consisted of matches against the Ontario Arrows and the Mystics of Boston.[1] The team played its home matches at Gaelic Park in The Bronx.[4] The team played its first ever match on March 17, 2018 at Mazzella Field in New Rochelle, New York.[5] New York defeated the Ontario Arrows by a score of 36–19.[5] RUNY played its first match in New York City against the Boston Mystics on March 24, 2018 before a sold-out crowd at Gaelic Park.[6] New York defeated Boston by a score of 50–0.[6]

Roster

Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.

Player Position Union
Mike Brown Hooker United States United States
Dylan Fawsitt Hooker United States United States
Kirkland Hamilton Prop United States United States
Callum Mackintosh Prop Scotland Scotland
Brian McKellar Prop United States United States
Anthony Parry Prop United States United States
Chris Sullivan Prop United States United States
Nate Brakeley Lock United States United States
David Gannon Lock Ireland Ireland
David Shotton* Lock England England
Gavan D'Amore-Morrison Flanker United States United States
James Denise Flanker United States United States
Robert McMahon Flanker United States United States
Alex Schwarz Flanker United States United States
Nick Wooley Flanker Australia Australia
Ross Deacon Number 8 United States United States
Michael Tagliaferro Number 8 United States United States
Player Position Union
Mike Petri Scrum-half United States United States
Marcus Walsh* Scrum-half Ireland Ireland
Harry Bennett* Fly-half Australia Australia
James Bird Fly-half United States United States
Cathal Marsh Fly-half Ireland Ireland
Jake Feury Centre United States United States
Jack Fitzpatrick Centre Canada Canada
Seamus Kelly Centre United States United States
Chris Vakasisikakala* Centre Fiji Fiji
Kyle Granby Wing United States United States
Mike St. Claire Wing United States United States
Greg Voigt Wing United States United States
Connor Wallace-Sims Wing United States United States
Ben Foden Fullback England England
Luke Hume Fullback United States United States

[7][8][9]

  • Senior 15's internationally capped players in bold
  • Players qualified to play for United States on dual nationality or residency grounds*

2018 Season

DateOpponentHome/AwayLocationResultScore
3/17Ontario Arrows °HomeMazzella Field, New Rochelle, NYW36-19
3/24Boston Mystics °HomeGaelic Park, Riverdale, Bronx, NYW50-0
3/31Boston Mystics °AwayMignone Field, Allston, MAW42-24
4/14Ontario Arrows ° ’AwayYork Alumni Stadium, Toronto, ONPPD

° = Exhibition Games ’ = Canceled due to Weather

References

  1. 1 2 3 "MLR announces New York team for 2019". www.usmlr.com. Major League Rugby. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  2. ↑ Pengelly, Martin (March 26, 2018). "Firefighters and cops face off as New York's pro rugby team debuts". The Guardian. New York, NY. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  3. ↑ Melanson, Jack (March 30, 2018). "Packed house welcomes pro rugby to Gaelic Park". Riverdale Press. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  4. ↑ Mitchell, Alex (March 19, 2018). "New York's first professional rugby team is coming to the Bronx". Bronx Times-Reporter. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  5. 1 2 "New York win historic first match over Ontario". Americas Rugby News. March 17, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  6. 1 2 "New York blank Boston on historic night in the Bronx". Americas Rugby News. March 25, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Rugby United New York defeat Ontario Arrows 36-19 in first MLR match". djcoilrugby. 2018-03-18. Retrieved 2018-05-01.
  8. ↑ "Rugby United New York hosts Boston Mystic River March 24". djcoilrugby. 2018-03-23. Retrieved 2018-05-01.
  9. ↑ "Boston Mystic River hosts Rugby United New York in a rematch at Harvard". djcoilrugby. 2018-03-31. Retrieved 2018-05-01.
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