Professional rugby union team from New York City
Rugby team
Rugby New York (formerly known as Rugby United New York), is a professional rugby union team based in New York City that is a member of Major League Rugby (MLR). The team played an exhibition season in spring 2018 and joined MLR for its second full season in 2019.[1] [2] The team was founded by James Kennedy.[3]
In 2022, the team changed the name to Rugby New York.
History [ ]
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 Mystic River Rugby Club of Boston.[1] The team played its home matches at Gaelic Park in The Bronx .[4] The team played its first 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 Mystic River on March 24 before a sold-out crowd at Gaelic Park.[6] New York defeated Mystic River by a score of 50–0.[6]
Ahead of the 2019 season, RUNY announced that they had retained Mike Tolkin as the team's head coach,[7] signed Kees Lensing as the team's forwards coach,[8] and named James English as general manager.[9]
On November 7, 2018, RUNY announced that MCU Park in Brooklyn would be their home field for their first full season.[10]
Broadcasts [ ]
2019 and 2020 home games were shown on SportsNet New York (SNY). Matt McCarthy, John Broker and Steve Lewis were the on air talent.
The 2021 season matches was broadcast on MSG Networks , ending their contract with SNY.
[ ]
During the inaugural season, RUNY signed a partnership deal with Magners Irish Cider ,[11] the official drink partner and Bawnmore Irish Beef Jerky[12] as the official snack partner for the 2019 season. They also partnered up with EVF Performance,[13] the team's official gym and Motion PT Group, named the official physical therapy partner for the team.[14]
For the 2021 season, RUNY partnered with , a sports drink hydration company.[15] They also partnered with Mainfreight as their shirt sponsor for the next two seasons.[16]
Season
Kit manufacturer
Shirt sponsor
2018
Murphy Kennedy Group
2019
XBlades
2020
None
2021
Mainfreight
2022
Roster [ ]
The Rugby New York squad for the 2022 Major League Rugby season is:[17]
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
Dylan Fawsitt
Hooker
United States
Kaleb Geiger
Hooker
United States
Nic Mayhew
Prop
New Zealand
Wilton Rebolo
Prop
Brazil
Zak Taulafo
Prop
Samoa
Kalolo Tuiloma
Prop
Samoa
Chance Wenglewski
Prop
United States
Nate Brakeley (C )
Lock
United States
Nick Civetta
Lock
United States
Max Dacey
Lock
United States
Charlie Hewitt
Lock
United States
Will Tucker
Lock
New Zealand
Joe Basser
Back row
United States
Benjamín Bonasso
Back row
United States
Victor Evans
Back row
United States
Jonathan Grzeszczyk
Back row
United States
Pago Haini
Back row
United States
Brendon O'Connor
Back row
New Zealand
Kara Pryor
Back row
New Zealand
Player
Position
Union
Connor Buckley
Scrum-half
United States
Andy Ellis
Scrum-half
New Zealand
Conor McManus
Scrum-half
United States
Fly-half
New Zealand
Sam Windsor
Fly-half
Australia
Jason Emery
Centre
New Zealand
Faʻasui Fuatai
Centre
New Zealand
Quinn Ngawati
Centre
Canada
Ishmail Shabazz
Centre
United States
Apenisa Cakaubalavu
Wing
Fiji
Andrew Coe
Wing
Canada
Ed Fidow
Wing
Samoa
Cuyler McCorkindale
Wing
United States
Troy Lockyear*
Fullback
England
John Powers
Fullback
United States
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 [ ]
Mike Tolkin (2018–2019)
(2020)
Marty Veale (2021–present)
Captains [ ]
Records [ ]
Season standings [ ]
Year
Pos
Pld
W
D
L
F
A
+/−
BP
Pts
Playoffs
2019
4th
16
11
0
5
411
320
+91
10
54
Lost semi-final 22–24 against San Diego Legion
2020
5th
5
3
0
2
136
131
+5
3
15
Season cut short due to Coronavirus Pandemic
2021
2nd
16
10
0
6
448
419
+29
13
53
Lost Eastern Conference Final 9-10 against Rugby ATL
Total
3 seasons
37
24
0
13
995
870
+125
26
122
Playoff Totals
2 Appearances
2
0
0
2
31
34
-3
NA
NA
0 championships
Honors [ ]
Head to Head [ ]
The following table details the past performance of Rugby United New York against different opponents in Major League Rugby, between their inaugural season of 2019 up until the current 2021 season (Updated after MLR 2021 season 24 July). Table includes all regular season and play-off matches (semi-finals and finals).
Major League Rugby
Opposition
Span
Played
Won
Drawn
Lost
Win%
PF
PA
+/-
Home Wins
Away Wins
Notes
San Diego Legion
2019–21
5
2
0
3
40%
122
129
-7
0
2
NOLA Gold
2019–21
4
2
0
2
50%
111
132
-21
1
1
Seattle Seawolves
2019–21
3
1
0
2
33%
75
92
-17
0
1
Houston SaberCats
2019–21
4
4
0
0
100%
141
50
+91
2
2
Utah Warriors
2019–21
3
2
0
1
66%
99
72
+28
1
1
Toronto Arrows
2019–21
4
2
0
2
50%
87
120
-33
1
1
Austin Gilgronis
2019–20
4
3
0
1
75%
104
65
+39
2
1
New England Free Jacks
2020-21
3
1
0
2
33%
49
75
-26
1
0
Rugby ATL
2020–21
4
3
0
1
100%
89
70
+19
1
2
Old Glory DC
2021
2
2
0
0
100%
84
44
+40
1
1
LA Giltinis
2021
1
1
0
0
100%
18
16
+2
1
0
Glendale Raptors
2019–20
2
1
0
1
50%
47
39
+8
1
0
–
2019–
39
24
0
15
61.53%
1026
904
+122
12
12
2018 season [ ]
All games in the 2018 season were exhibition games and did not count in the league standings.
Date
Opponent
Home/Away
Venue
Location
Result
March 17
Ontario Arrows
Home
Mazzella Field
New Rochelle, New York
Won, 36–19[18]
March 24
Mystic River Rugby Club
Home
Gaelic Park
Riverdale, Bronx, New York
Won, 50–0[19]
March 31
Mystic River Rugby Club
Away
Mignone Field
Allston, Massachusetts
Won, 42–24[20]
April 14
Ontario Arrows
Away
York Lions Stadium
Toronto, Ontario
Game cancelled due to weather
2019 season [ ]
Exhibitions [ ]
Regular season [ ]
Date
Opponent
Home/Away
Location
Result
January 27
San Diego Legion
Away
Torero Stadium
Won, 25-23
February 16
New Orleans Gold
Away
Archbishop Shaw
Won, 27–24
February 24
Seattle Seawolves
Away
Starfire Stadium
Lost, 21-33
March 2
Houston SaberCats
Away
Constellation Field
Won, 35-8
March 9
Utah Warriors
Away
Zions Bank Stadium
Won, 47-21
March 15
Toronto Arrows
Home
MCU Park
Won, 24–21
March 24
Glendale Raptors
Home
MCU Park
Won, 31-19
March 30
Austin Elite
Away
Toyota Field
Won, 19-11
April 14
San Diego Legion
Home
MCU Park
Lost, 19–29
April 20
Utah Warriors
Home
MCU Park
Won, 24–22
April 26
Glendale Raptors
Away
Infinity Park
Lost, 16–20
May 5
Houston SaberCats
Home
MCU Park
Won, 21–0
May 12
Seattle Seawolves
Home
MCU Park
Lost, 31–38
May 19
Austin Elite
Home
MCU Park
Won, 27-7
May 26
New Orleans Gold
Home
MCU Park
Won, 24–22
June 2
Toronto Arrows
Away
Lamport Stadium
Lost, 20-22
Post season [ ]
Date
Opponent
Home/Away
Result
June 9
San Diego Legion
Away
Lost, 22-24
2020 season [ ]
Exhibition [ ]
Date
Opponent
Home/Away
Location
Result
January 25
Toronto Arrows
Neutral
Orchard Park
scrimmage no score recorded
February 1
Home
Wagner College Football Stadium
Won 77-5
Regular 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 .[21] It was cancelled the following week[22]
Date
Opponent
Home/Away
Location
Result
February 8
New England Free Jacks
Away
Sam Boyd Stadium
Lost 14-34
February 15
Austin Gilgronis
Home
Sam Boyd Stadium
Won 49-31
February 23
Rugby ATL
Away
Lupo Family Field @ Life University
Won 22-19
March 1
Houston SaberCats
Away
Aveva Stadium
Won 31-23
March 8
San Diego Legion
Away
Torero Stadium
Lost 20-24
March 14
Seattle Seawolves
Home
MCU Park
Cancelled
March 22
Toronto Arrows
Home
MCU Park
Cancelled
March 29
Old Glory DC
Away
Cardinal Stadium @ Catholic University
Cancelled
April 10
Rugby ATL
Home
MCU Park
Cancelled
April 18
NOLA Gold
Away
The Gold Mine
Cancelled
April 25
Colorado Raptors
Home
MCU Park
Cancelled
May 1
New England Free Jacks
Home
MCU Park
Cancelled
May 9
Old Glory DC
Home
MCU Park
Cancelled
May 16
Utah Warriors
Away
Zions Bank Stadium
Cancelled
May 22
Toronto Arrows
Away
Lamport Stadium
Cancelled
May 30
NOLA Gold
Home
MCU Park
Cancelled
2021 season [ ]
Regular season [ ]
Date
Opponent
Home/Away
Result
March 20
San Diego Legion
Away
Won, 36–29
March 27
New Orleans Gold
Away
Lost, 28–51
April 11
Rugby ATL
Away
Won, 27–17
April 18
Old Glory DC
Home
Won, 38–34
April 25
Toronto Arrows
Home
Lost, 12–53
May 2
Seattle Seawolves
Away
Won, 23–21
May 8
LA Giltinis
Home
Won, 18–16
May 15
Austin Gilgronis
Away
Lost, 9–16
May 23
New England Free Jacks
Home
Won, 29–19
May 30
Old Glory DC
Away
Won, 46–10
June 13
Rugby ATL
Home
Won, 31–24
June 19
Utah Warriors
Home
Lost, 28–29
June 27
Toronto Arrows
Away
Won, 31–24
July 3
New England Free Jacks
Away
Lost, 6–22
July 10
Houston SaberCats
Home
Won, 54–19
July 17
New Orleans Gold
Home
Lost, 32–35
Post season [ ]
Date
Opponent
Home/Away
Result
July 24
Rugby ATL
Away
Lost, 9-10
2022 season [ ]
Regular season [ ]
Date
Opponent
Home/Away
Result
February 12
Houston SaberCats
Away
Won, 10-7
February 19
Rugby ATL
Away
February 26
Dallas Jackals
Away
March 6
New England Free Jacks
Home
March 13
San Diego Legion
Home
March 19
New Orleans Gold
Away
March 27
Toronto Arrows
Home
April 3
Old Glory DC
Home
April 10
LA Giltinis
Away
April 24
New England Free Jacks
Home
May 1
New Orleans Gold
Home
May 8
Toronto Arrows
Away
May 15
Seattle Seawolves
Home
May 22
Rugby ATL
Home
May 29
Old Glory DC
Away
June 3
New England Free Jacks
Away
References [ ]
^ a b c "MLR announces New York team for 2019" . www.usmlr.com . Major League Rugby . Retrieved February 27, 2018 .
^ 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 .
^ Melanson, Jack (March 30, 2018). "Packed house welcomes pro rugby to Gaelic Park" . Riverdale Press . Retrieved April 18, 2018 .
^ Mitchell, Alex (March 19, 2018). "New York's first professional rugby team is coming to the Bronx" . Bronx Times-Reporter . Retrieved April 16, 2018 .
^ a b "New York win historic first match over Ontario" . Americas Rugby News . March 17, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2018 .
^ a b "New York blank Boston on historic night in the Bronx" . Americas Rugby News . March 25, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2018 .
^ "Tolkin confirmed as New York MLR coach" . Americas Rugby News . August 7, 2018. Retrieved October 15, 2018 .
^ "Rugby United New York Signs Forwards Coach Kees Lensing" . www.rugbyunitedny.com . Retrieved 2018-10-26 .
^ "Rugby United New York Announces James English as GM" . www.rugbyunitedny.com . Retrieved 2018-10-26 .
^ Rugby United NY (2018-11-07), Rugby United New York's Stadium Announcement , retrieved 2018-11-08
^ "Magners Becomes Official Hard Cider of Rugby United New York" .
^ "Bawnmore Becomes Official Snack Partner of Rugby United New York" .
^ "Evf Performance Becomes Official Gym Partner of Rugby United New York" .
^ "MOTION PT Group Partners with Rugby United New York" .
^ https://drinksword.com/blogs/news/sword-performance-is-a-proud-sponsor-of-rugby-united-new-york
^ "Our Partners" .
^ "Rugby New York" . Americas Rugby News . Retrieved 12 December 2021 .
^ "Rugby United New York defeat Ontario Arrows 36-19 in first MLR match" . djcoilrugby . 2018-03-18. Retrieved 2018-05-01 .
^ "Rugby United New York hosts Boston Mystic River March 24" . djcoilrugby . 2018-03-23. Retrieved 2018-05-01 .
^ "Boston Mystic River hosts Rugby United New York in a rematch at Harvard" . djcoilrugby . 2018-03-31. Retrieved 2018-05-01 .
^ Anonymous, "MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY SUSPENDS 2020 SEASON FOR 30 DAYS," www.majorleague.rugby, March 12, 2020 Retrieved March 14, 2020
^ "Major League Rugby cancels remainder of 2020 campaign" . Yahoo! Sports . AFP. March 19, 2020. Retrieved March 19, 2020 .
External links [ ]
Founded 2018
Based in New York City, New York
Coach(es) Players Personnel
James Kennedy
John Layfield
Stadiums Seasons Final appearances Other
Major League Rugby
Teams
Eastern Conference Western Conference Former teams
By year
See also
Sport teams based in the New York metropolitan area
Australian rules football Baseball Basketball Esports Football Hockey Lacrosse Rugby league Rugby union Soccer Roller derby Team tennis College athletics
Ultimate Gaelic games
New York GAA : Gaelic football
Hurling
Main article: Sports in the New York metropolitan area