Austin Gilgronis

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.[1]

Austin Gilgronis
Full nameAustin Gilgronis
FoundedAustin Elite (2017–2019)
Austin Herd (2019-2020)
Austin Gilgronis (2020–Present)
LocationAustin, Texas
Ground(s)Bold Stadium (Capacity: 5,000)
Coach(es)Brent Semmons
Top scorerTimothée Guillimin (113)
Most triesHanco Germishuys (6)
League(s)Major League Rugby
20199th place (regular season)
1st kit
2nd kit
Official website
austinherd.com

History
Historical Austin Elite logo 2017–2019.

On 19 September 2019 after extensive polling at the end of the 2019 campaign, the team opted to re-name 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, the team came under new ownership and were renamed the Gilgronis.

Home field

The team currently plays at the Circuit of the Americas, having previously played at Dell Diamond and the Round Rock Multipurpose Complex in Round Rock, Texas.[3]

Broadcasts

2019 home games were shown on Facebook Watch which is Facebook’s video-on-demand service. Lincoln Rose and Kit McConnico were the on-air talent.

Sponsorship
Season Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
2018–2019 XBlades None
2020–present Paladin Sports

As the Austin Herd the 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 is a bull-like character named Dozer.[4]

The team's current name, Gilgronis, is the name of a cocktail created by the owners.[5] The home kit is orange, and the away kit is white. The current logo is the club's initials, followed by an "'s".

Players and personnel

Current squad
For player movements before and during the 2020 season, see List of 2019–20 Major League Rugby transfers § Austin Elite.

The following players have been reported for Austin for the 2020 season:[6][7]

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
Tiaan Erasmus Hooker South Africa
Chris Schade Hooker United States
Wilton Rebolo Hooker Brazil
Juan Echeverría Prop Uruguay
Jamie Mackintosh Prop New Zealand
Phillip Hanson Prop United States
Skyler Adams Prop United States
Mason Pedersen Prop United States
LaRome White Prop United States
Brendan Rams Prop South Africa
Potu Leavasa Jr Lock Samoa
Maikeli Naromaitoga Lock Fiji
Rikus Zwart Lock South Africa
Erik Jacobson Lock United States
Luca Tani Lock United States
Stewart Morris Flanker United States
Dominic Akina Flanker United States
JP Novak Flanker United States
Moe Abdelmonem Flanker Canada
Michael de Waal* Flanker South Africa
Lino Saunitoga Number 8 Fiji
Maclean Jones Number 8 Australia
Sebastián Kalm* Number 8 Chile
Player Position Union
Colby Stevens Scrum-half United States
Marcelo Torrealba Scrum-half Chile
Pele Cowley Scrum-half Samoa
Alex Rees Fly-half United States
Zinzan Elan-Puttick Fly-half United States
Will Magie Fly-half United States
Kurt Morath Fly-half Tonga
Roland Suniula Centre United States
Adam Ashley-Cooper Centre Australia
Sione Fangaiuiha Centre United States
Gabriel Farley Centre United States
Frank Halai Centre New Zealand
Peni Tagive Wing United States
Corey Jones Wing United States
Reece Czarnecki Wing United States
Rodrick Waters Wing United States
Alex Faison-Donahoe Fullback United States
Rodrigo Silva Fullback Uruguay
  • Senior 15s and senior 7s internationally capped players in bold
  • Players qualified to play for United States on dual nationality or residency grounds*
  • MLR teams are allowed to field up to ten overseas players per match

Coaching staff
NameNationalityPosition
Todd CleverDirector of Rugby
Brent SemmonsHead Coach
Andrew SuniulaAssistant Coach
Tane JericevichAssistant Coach
Joel ByrneStrength and Conditioning Coach
Austin BeckerTeam Manager

Head coaches

  • Alain Hyardet (2018–2019) [8]

Captains

Records

Season standings
Year Pos Pld W D L F A +/− BP Pts Playoffs
Austin Elite
2018 5th 8305224238−14618 Did not qualify
2019 9th 160016263482−21955 Did not qualify
Austin Gilgronis
2020

2018 season
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
March 25San Diego Legion°HomeLost, 24–32
March 31New Orleans Gold°AwayLost, 17–48
April 7New Orleans Gold°HomeLost, 10–38
April 21Glendale RaptorsAwayLost, 26–41
April 28Houston SaberCatsAwayLost, 38–50
May 3New Orleans GoldHomeWon, 30–17
May 11Utah WarriorsAwayLost, 22–41
May 25San Diego LegionHomeWon, 31–5
June 1Utah WarriorsHomeWon, 41–33
June 8Seattle SeawolvesHomeLost, 19–20
June 17San Diego LegionAwayLost, 10–24

° = Exhibition games

2019 season

Exhibition
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
January 11Houston SaberCatsAwayWon, 14–10
January 19Dallas RedsAwayPostponed

Regular season
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
January 26Houston SaberCatsHomeLost, 20–21
February 1Utah WarriorsHomeLost, 9–17
February 8Toronto ArrowsHomeLost, 19–23
February 17Glendale RaptorsHomeLost, 13–24
February 23San Diego LegionHomeLost, 17–45
March 9Glendale RaptorsAwayLost, 19–38
March 16Seattle SeawolvesHomeLost, 17–29
March 23New Orleans GoldAwayLost, 31–35
March 30Rugby United New YorkHomeLost, 11–19
April 7San Diego LegionAwayLost, 15–45
April 27Utah WarriorsAwayLost, 19–35
May 4New Orleans GoldHomeLost, 14–26
May 9Toronto ArrowsAwayLost, 13–24
May 19Rugby United New YorkAwayLost, 7–27
May 25Houston SaberCatsAwayLost, 15–36
June 2Seattle SeawolvesAwayLost, 26–38

2020 season

On March 12, 2020, MLR announced the season would go on hiatus immediately for 30 days due to fears surrounding the 2019–2020 coronavirus pandemic.[9]

Regular season
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
February 9Toronto ArrowsHomeLost, 10–38
February 15Rugby United New YorkAwayLost, 31–49
February 22Utah WarriorsHomeDraw, 20–20
February 29Old Glory DCHomeLost, 19–28
March 7Houston SaberCatsAwayWon, 24–20
March 15San Diego LegionHomePostponed
March 21Colorado RaptorsAwayPostponed
March 28Rugby ATLHomePostponed
April 4Seattle SeawolvesHomePostponed
April 18Utah WarriorsAway
April 26Houston SaberCatsHome
May 3San Diego LegionAway
May 9New England Free JacksAway
May 17Colorado RaptorsHome
May 23New Orleans GoldAway
May 31Seattle SeawolvesAway

References
  1. "Austin Elite, new U.S. pro rugby league lure major TV contract". Austin American-Statesman. 2017-11-07. Archived from the original on 2017-11-09. Retrieved 2017-11-09.
  2. “Austin changes name to Herd” 19/9/2019
  3. "Austin Elite rugby franchise plans to play home games in Round Rock". Austin Statesman. 2018-04-13. Retrieved 2018-04-22.
  4. Lyttle, Kevin (2018-05-04). "Austin Elite home opener both a success and a work in progress". Austin American-Statesman. Archived from the original on 2018-05-05. Retrieved 2018-05-04.
  5. Dart, Tom (2020-02-10). "Austin Gilgronis: why would a US rugby club name itself after a cocktail?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-05-29.
  6. "2018 Major League Rugby – Austin Elite". Americas Rugby News. 2018. Retrieved 2018-12-22.
  7. "MLR Off-Season Update – December 13, 2018". Americas Rugby News. 2018. Retrieved 2018-12-22.
  8. "Alain Hyardet appointed as Head Coach". Austin Elite Rugby. 2017-09-12. Archived from the original on 2017-11-07. Retrieved 2017-11-09.
  9. Anonymous, "MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY SUSPENDS 2020 SEASON FOR 30 DAYS," www.majorleague.rugby, March 12, 2020 Retrieved March 14, 2020


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