Glendale Merlins

Glendale Merlins is a rugby club based in the Glendale suburb of Denver, Colorado. The teams plays at Infinity Park.

Glendale Merlins
Full nameGlendale Merlins
Nickname(s)Merlins
LocationGlendale, Denver, CO
Ground(s)Infinity Park (Capacity: 5,000)
PresidentScott Smith
Coach(es)Luke Gross & Kittery Wagner
Captain(s)Zach Fenoglio & Sarah Chobot
League(s)Pacific Rugby Premiership & Women's Premier League
2015 (women)Champions
1st kit
2nd kit
Official website
www.glendalemerlins.com

The women's squad advanced from USA Rugby's Division I into the Women's Premier League in 2012. They placed 3rd in 2013, won back-to-back national championships in 2014 and 2015, and placed 2nd in 2016, 2017, and 2018.

The men's squad won the 2011 Division I Championship. The men's squad were 2014 Runners-up in the inaugural season of the Pacific Rugby Premiership losing to the San Francisco Golden Gate RFC 39-38 on the last play. They then were 2015 Pacific Rugby Premiership Champions, defeating the San Francisco Golden Gate 25-11. They repeated the feat in 2016, winning the Pacific Rugby Premiership title 44-20 again against the San Francisco Golden Gate with all Championship matches being played at their home field at Infinity Park.

In 2017, the club changed their mascot from the Raptor to the Merlin, with all teams in the club transitioning to the new brand by the inaugural season of Major League Rugby.

Squad

Five of Glendale's women's players - props Jamie Burke, Sarah Chobot, Sarah Wilson, hooker Kittery Wagner, and flyhalf Hannah Stolba - represented the U.S. team for the 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup.

Two of Glendale's men's players — hooker Zach Fenoglio and scrum half Niku Kruger — were named to the U.S. team for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

Additionally, Iniki Fa'amusili played for the US U-20 national team that won the 2012 IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy held in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Three of Glendale's men's players represented the US national team at the 2011 Rugby World Cup: James Paterson, Nese Malifa, and Nic Johnson.

Men's Playing Squad

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
Ami Lavakeiaho Hooker United States
James DelBozque Hooker United States
Moses Saole Prop United States
Fehoko Faniaka Prop United States
Marcus Thomas Prop United States
Stephen Karas Prop United States
Scott Smith Prop United States
Christopher Schoelch Lock United States
Nathaniel Shipley Lock United States
Joshua Gihring Lock United States
Alex Fitch Flanker United States
Justin Oles Flanker United States
Joseph Kamara Flanker United States
Devin Vaughter Number 8 United States
Player Position Union
Vita Makasini Scrum-half United States
Trevor Wilder Scrum-half United States
Colin Gregory Fly-half United States
Siale Maka Centre United States
Campbell Johnstone Centre United States
Clint Cook Centre United States
Zach Rademacher Wing United States
Alexander Wormer Wing United States
Ryan Chavkin Wing United States
Samuel Enari Fullback United States
Alexander McKenzie Fullback United States

Notable former players

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
Jamie Burke Prop United States
Nic Johnson Number 8 United States
Nese Malifa Fly-half United States
Ata Malifa Fly-half United States

See also

References
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