Glendale Merlins

Glendale Merlins is an amateur rugby club based in the municipality of Glendale in Colorado, United States. The club was founded in 2006 and first played in 2007 under the name Glendale Raptors.[1][2]

Glendale Merlins
Founded2006[1]
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
1st kit
2nd kit

In 2017, a Glendale Raptors team was accepted into the professional Major League Rugby competition and the amateur Glendale teams changed their mascot from the Raptor to the Merlin, transitioning to the new brand before the inaugural season of Major League Rugby in 2018. The Glendale teams play at Infinity Park.

History

The men's squad won the 2011 Division I Championship. They 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. The team won the Pacific Rugby Premiership in 2015, defeating San Francisco Golden Gate by 25-11. They repeated the feat in 2016, winning the Pacific Rugby Premiership title by 44-20 against San Francisco Golden Gate at their home field, Infinity Park.

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

Players

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'amausili 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 squad

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

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

Women's Squad
PlayerPosition
Amandine ChatelierFlanker
Carmen FarmerBack row
Charley ThompsonFlanker, Lock
Joanna KitlinskiFlanker, Hooker
Joanna McElroyLock
Maya LearnedLock, Prop
Rachel EhreckeFlanker
Samantha LutherLock, Prop, Back row
Carly WatersScrum-half
Danielle OrdwayWing, Center
Gabriella CantornaCenter, Fly-half
Hannah TennantFly-half
Jeanna BeardWing, Lock, Hooker
Juliann TordonatoCenter
Justine WypychFullback, Wing
Kaitlyn BroughtonWing, Fullback
Kelsie O’BrienScrum-half
Leann LamFly-half, Scrum-half
Madison SlaughtFullback
McKenzie HawkinsCenter
Nichole WanamakerFullback, Wing
Rachel Ryan
Paige Stathapoulos
Jenny Kronish
Deanna Nash
Allison Schrenker
Caitlyn Weigel

Notable former players

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

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

See also

References
  1. "Raptors History". americanraptors.com. Archived from the original on 29 November 2022.
  2. "Major League Rugby, featuring Colorado team, signs TV deal with CBS". Denver Business Journal. 2017-10-10. Archived from the original on 2018-02-05.
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