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
Nickname(s)AG's
FoundedAustin Elite (2017–2019)
Austin Herd (2019–2020)
Austin Gilgronis (2020–present)
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

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 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 purchased the rename and renamed it the Gilgronis. The name received some negative reactions from fans.[3]

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.[4]

Broadcasts

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

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

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 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.[5]

The team's current name, Gilgronis, is the name of a cocktail created by the owners.[6] The home kit is orange, and the away kit is white. The current logo is the club's initials.

Players and personnel

Current squad
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 is:[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
Robbie Coetzee Hooker South Africa
Mason Koch Hooker United States
Hugh Roach Hooker Australia
Mason Pedersen Prop United States
Fakaʻosi Pifeleti Prop United States
Jeffrey Steele Prop United States
Payton Telea-Ilalio Prop United States
Jake Turnbull Prop United States
Namatahi Waa Prop New Zealand
LaRome White Prop United States
Sebastian de Chaves Lock South Africa
Cam Dodson* Lock England
Christian Ostberg Lock United States
Isaac Ross Lock New Zealand
Luke Beauchamp Back row Australia
Kyle Breytenbach Back row United States
Michael de Waal* Back row South Africa
Maclean Jones Back row Australia
Lachlan McCaffrey Back row Australia
Casey McDermott Vai Back row New Zealand
Ronan Murphy Back row United States
Player Position Union
Pele Cowley Scrum-half Samoa
Ryan Louwrens Scrum-half South Africa
Sidney Shoop Scrum-half United States
Will Magie Fly-half United States
Mack Mason Fly-half Australia
Dominic Akina Centre United States
Bryce Campbell (c) Centre United States
Chris Mattina Centre United States
Mark O'Keeffe* Centre Ireland
Cole Davis Wing Canada
Julián Domínguez Wing Argentina
Conner Mooneyham Wing United States
Caleb Strum Wing United States
Marcel Brache Fullback United States
Zinzan Elan-Puttick* Fullback 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

  • Alain Hyardet (2018–2019) [8]
  • Brent Semmons (2020)
  • Sam Harris (2021–present)

Assistant coaches

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 11th 5113104155-617Season cut short due to Coronavirus Pandemic
2021 7th 15907389317+81147Did not qualify

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] It was cancelled the following week[10]

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 LegionHomeCancelled
March 21Colorado RaptorsAwayCancelled
March 28Rugby ATLHomeCancelled
April 4Seattle SeawolvesHomeCancelled
April 18Utah WarriorsAwayCancelled
April 26Houston SaberCatsHomeCancelled
May 3San Diego LegionAwayCancelled
May 9New England Free JacksAwayCancelled
May 17Colorado RaptorsHomeCancelled
May 23New Orleans GoldAwayCancelled
May 31Seattle SeawolvesAwayCancelled

2021 season

Regular season
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
March 20Utah WarriorsHomeLost, 28–30
March 28San Diego LegionHomeLost, 11–14
April 3Houston SaberCatsHomeWon, 26–0
April 10New Orleans GoldAwayWon, 18–15
April 17Rugby ATLHomeWon, 17-15
April 25Seattle SeawolvesHomeWon, 42-15
May 8New England Free JacksAwayLost, 18-22
May 15Rugby United New YorkHomeWon, 16-9
May 19LA GiltinisHomeLost, 3-17
May 29Utah WarriorsAwayLost, 24-45
June 5Houston SaberCatsAwayWon, 28-9
June 12Toronto ArrowsHomeWon, 47-21
June 20Seattle SeawolvesAwayWon, 36-31
June 26San Diego LegionAwayWon, 33-14
July 10LA GiltinisAwayLost, 17-31
July 17Old Glory DCAwayLost, 25-29

2022 season

Regular season
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
February 5Dallas JackalsHomeWon, 43-7
February 12Old Glory DCHomeWon, 57-12
February 19Utah WarriorsHomeWon, 24-10
February 26Seattle SeawolvesAwayWon, 25-18
March 5LA GiltinisHomeWon, 22-9
March 12Rugby ATLAwayLost, 14-29
March 19New England Free JacksHomeLost, 17-25
April 3Houston SaberCatsHomeWon, 43-5
April 10San Diego LegionAwayWon, 35-21
April 16Dallas JackalsAwayWon, 55-3
April 23New Orleans GoldAwayWon, 32-10
May 1Seattle SeawolvesHomeWon, 17-6
May 8LA GiltinisAway
May 21Utah WarriorsAway
May 28San Diego LegionHome
June 3Houston SaberCatsAway

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. Vinicombe, Tom (29 January 2020). "The Austin MLR team have rebranded and fans can't get over the absurd new name". RugbyPass. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  4. "Austin Elite rugby franchise plans to play home games in Round Rock". Austin Statesman. 2018-04-13. Retrieved 2018-04-22.
  5. 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 2018-05-04. Retrieved 2018-05-04.
  6. 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.
  7. "Austin Gilgronis". Americas Rugby News. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  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
  10. "Major League Rugby cancels remainder of 2020 campaign". Yahoo! Sports. AFP. March 19, 2020. Retrieved March 19, 2020.


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