LA Giltinis

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
LA Giltinis
FoundedMay 28, 2020
Disbanded2022
Ground(s)Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (Capacity: 77,500)
CEOAdam Gilchrist
Coach(es)Stephen Hoiles
Captain(s)Dave Dennis
League(s)Major League Rugby
20222nd (Western Conference)
Official website
giltinis.com
Current season

The LA Giltinis were a

portmanteau of "Gilchrist" and "martini".[1] The Giltinis were based in El Segundo, California, and played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Darren Coleman was their first head coach.[2]

The club won the MLR Shield in their inaugural season, but were disqualified from the playoffs in 2022. The Giltinis and the Austin Gilgronis—another MLR team owned by Gilchrist—were removed from the league in October 2022.

History

A potential Los Angeles expansion bid for MLR, led by LA Coast Rugby and Adam Gilchrist, was announced in 2018 with plans for the team to enter the league in 2019.

Rugby ATL in the MLR final, winning the shield.[4]

During the 2022 season, MLR announced that the Giltinis and the Gilgronis—both owned by Gilchrist—were disqualified from the playoffs due to a violation of league rules, allegedly including salary cap issues.[5] Gilchrist filed suit against the league in June 2022; the two teams were expelled from the league in October following a failed attempt to sell both teams.[6]

Stadium

The Giltinis played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, a multi-use stadium in Exposition Park, Los Angeles.[7]

Sponsorship

Season Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
2021–2022 Paladin Sports None

Roster

For player movements before and during the 2022 season, see List of 2021–22 Major League Rugby transfers § LA Giltinis.

The LA Giltinis squad for the 2022 Major League Rugby season was:[8]

Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union
Lindsey Stevens
Hooker
 Canada Canada
Joe Taufeteʻe
Hooker
 United States United States
Andrew Tuala
Hooker
 Samoa Samoa
Charlie Abel
Prop
 Australia Australia
Fred Apulu
Prop
 Samoa Samoa
Marco Fepulea'i
Prop
 Samoa Samoa
Leslie Leuluaʻialiʻi-Makin
Prop
 Australia Australia
Djustice Sears-Duru
Prop
 Canada Canada
Nathan Den Hoedt
Lock
 Australia Australia
Dave Dennis (c)
Lock
 Australia Australia
Sam Peri
Lock
 United States United States
Corey Thomas
Lock
 Canada Canada
Luke White
Lock
 United States United States
Adam Ashe
Back row
 Scotland Scotland
Zach Bonte
Back row
 United States United States
Cyrille Cama
Back row
 United States United States
Angus Cottrell
Back row
 Australia Australia
Hanco Germishuys
Back row
 United States United States
Langilangi Haupeakui
Back row
 United States United States
Christian Poidevin*
Back row
 Australia Australia
Player Position Union
Harrison Goddard
Scrum-half
 Australia Australia
Cristian Rodriguez
Scrum-half
 United States United States
Tas Smith
Scrum-half
 United States United States
Orene Ai'i
Fly-half
 New Zealand New Zealand
Luke Carty
Fly-half
 United States United States
Matt Giteau
Fly-half
 Australia Australia
Luke Burton
Centre
 Australia Australia
Will Chambers
Centre
 Australia Australia
Ben LeSage
Centre
 Canada Canada
Bill Meakes
Centre
 Australia Australia
Adam Channel
Wing
 United States United States
Brooklyn Hardaker
Wing
 Australia Australia
Ryan James
Wing
 United States United States
Kahanu Koi
Wing
 United States United States
D'Montae Noble
Wing
 United States United States
John Ryberg
Wing
 United States United States
D. T. H. van der Merwe
Wing
 Canada Canada
Tom Mitchell
Fullback
 England England
Jordan Trainor
Fullback
 New Zealand New Zealand
  • 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

Assistant coaches

Captains

Records

LA Giltinis won the Major League Rugby Championship Shield in their inaugural season (2021).

Season standings

Year Pos Pld W D L F A +/− BP Pts   Playoff results
2021 1st 16 12 0 4 545 305 +240 11 63 Won West Conference Final (
Rugby ATL
) 31-17
2022 2nd 16 11 0 5 468 340 +128 11 57 Disqualified [11]

Honors

References

  1. ^ a b c Pengelly, Martin (June 1, 2020). "Major League Rugby announces LA Giltinis, second team named for a drink". The Guardian. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Major League Rugby Officially Welcomes the LA Giltinis" (Press release). Major League Rugby. May 28, 2020. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  3. ^ Carroll, Rory (July 11, 2018). "Los Angeles to get professional rugby team in 2019". Reuters. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  4. ^ Evans, Luca (August 1, 2021). "Giltinis win Major League Rugby championship in debut season". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  5. ^ Pengelly, Martin (June 7, 2022). "Major League Rugby in crisis as LA and Austin disqualified from playoffs". The Guardian. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  6. ^ Pengelly, Martin (October 26, 2022). "LA and Austin out of MLR as US rugby faces further uncertainty". The Guardian. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  7. ^ "Meet The Giltinis: LA's New Rugby Team to Open Play At Coliseum March 20". CBS Los Angeles. February 27, 2021. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  8. ^ "LA Giltinis". Americas Rugby News. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  9. ^ "MLR Champion Adam Ashley-Cooper Swoops into Coaching Role".
  10. ^ "Giltinis unveil new look Rugby and Commercial departments for 2022".
  11. ^ "Major League Rugby in crisis as LA and Austin disqualified from playoffs". The Guardian. June 7, 2022. Retrieved July 8, 2022.

External links


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