American Raptors

The American Raptors are a professional rugby union team based in the municipality of Glendale in Colorado. The team plays in the transcontinental Super Rugby Americas competition. Established as the amateur Glendale Raptors in 2006, the team became a professional club upon joining Major League Rugby as a founding member in 2017,[2] but they played there only three years, competing as the Colorado Raptors in their final shortened season of 2020 before withdrawing from the league.[3]

American Raptors
Founded2006 (2006)  [1]
Glendale Raptors (2006–2019)
Colorado Raptors (2019–2020)
Colorado XOs (2020–2021)
American Raptors (2021–)
LocationGlendale, Colorado, U.S.
Ground(s)Infinity Park
Director of RugbyMark Bullock
Coach(es)Sarah Chobot
Captain(s)Mikey Grandy
League(s)Super Rugby Americas
Team kit
Official website
americanraptors.com

Following withdrawal from Major League Rugby, the team renamed themselves the Colorado XOs turning their attention to player development of players originally playing other sports, before becoming the American Raptors in 2021.[4]

History

The Glendale Raptors were founded as an amateur rugby club in 2006.[1][5] They won the national Division I Championship in 2011,[6] and were back-to-back winners of the Pacific Rugby Premiership in 2015 and 2016.

Glendale Raptors kit and logo in 2018.

In 2017, the Raptors were accepted into the professional Major League Rugby competition. The amateur Glendale teams were renamed the Glendale Merlins before the inaugural MLR season in 2018. The Raptors finished the MLR regular season in first place in 2018, but lost the Championship final to Seattle.[7] In 2019, the Raptors finished the regular season in sixth place and did not play in the finals.

The team was renamed the Colorado Raptors ahead of the 2020 season [8] but the season was shortened and eventually cancelled due to impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Withdrawal from Major League Rugby
Colorado Raptors logo (2019–20)

On April 9, 2020, the Raptors announced that they would withdraw from Major League Rugby, effective May 2, 2020,[9] the first team to do so. Their announcement explained their withdrawal by saying that "our greater responsibility lies in the development of American players who can win the World Cup for the United States."[9] Asked to explain how the Raptors withdrawing from the league would help to develop American rugby players, Glendale City Manager Linda Cassaday said that MLR had been founded with a core mission of developing American rugby players and originally had limited teams to three foreign players, although this expanded to five players before the first season began in 2018.[9] MLR had expanded from seven teams in 2018 to 12 in 2020 without having enough American players to fill out rosters and had raised the ceiling on foreign players to 10 per team.[9] The Raptors believed that both this overall number of foreign players and the higher proportion of foreign to American players no longer best served the goal of developing American players who could compete successfully in the Rugby World Cup, and therefore chose to withdraw from the league to better focus their efforts on the development of American players who could compete on an international stage.[9]

In June 2022 Raptors played in Challenge Cup of the Americas against Canadians UBC Old Boys Ravens and South Americans Peñarol Rugby and Jaguares XV.[10]

Current squad

The American Raptors squad for the 2023 Super Rugby Americas season is:[11]

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

Player Position Union
Sione Finefeuiaki Hooker United States United States
Diego Fortuny Hooker Argentina Argentina
Franco Palillo Hooker Argentina Argentina
Chris Schade Hooker United States United States
Tre Smalls Hooker United States United States
Juan Echeverría Prop Uruguay Uruguay
Adagio Lopeti Prop United States United States
Jack Manzo Prop United States United States
Aldair Marquez Prop Colombia Colombia
Ma'ake Muti* Prop Tonga Tonga
Sebastián Otero Prop Chile Chile
Lamarre Rey Prop United States United States
Leonard Sagapolutele* Prop American Samoa American Samoa
Payton Telea-Ilalio Prop United States United States
Justin Barlow Lock United States United States
Shawn Clark Lock United States United States
Max Dacey Lock United States United States
Haaken Friend Lock United States United States
Lucas Gramlick Lock United States United States
Christian Ostberg Lock United States United States
Tavius Sykora-Matthess Lock United States United States
Tommy Clark Back row United States United States
Will Crawford Back row United States United States
Mikey Grandy (c) Back row United States United States
Isikeli Kava Back row United States United States
Diego Magno Back row Uruguay Uruguay
Sosefo Mailangi Back row United States United States
Ronan Murphy Back row United States United States
DaQuan Patton Back row United States United States
Caleb Repp Back row United States United States
Mo Vainikolo Back row United States United States
Siaki Vikilani Back row Canada Canada
Player Position Union
Martín Landajo Scrum-half Argentina Argentina
Ethan McVeigh Scrum-half United States United States
Jerome Nale Scrum-half United States United States
Nolan Saraceni Scrum-half United States United States
Line Latu Fly-half United States United States
Patrick Madden Fly-half United States United States
Jeffrey Peleseuma Fly-half United States United States
Ethan Acton Centre United States United States
Watson Filikitonga* Centre Tonga Tonga
Zach Hall Centre United States United States
Dom Iacovino Centre United States United States
Cassh Maluia Centre United States United States
Seimou Smith Centre United States United States
Lucas González Amorosino Wing Argentina Argentina
Ryan James Wing United States United States
Luke Mallette Wing United States United States
Aki Pulu Wing United States United States
Arley Urrutia Wing Colombia Colombia
Daytwon Sheridan Wing United States United States
Steve Cluley Fullback United States United States
Ramiro Moyano Fullback Argentina Argentina
  • Senior 15s internationally capped players are listed in bold.
  • * denotes players qualified to play for United States on dual nationality or residency grounds.

Head coaches

Captains

Records

Season standings
Year Pos Pld W D L F A +/− BP Pts   Playoffs
Glendale Raptors
2018 1st 8701249165+84634   Lost championship final 23–19 to Seattle Seawolves
2019 6th 16727456463−71143   Did not qualify
Colorado Raptors
2020 8th 520398130-3219  Season cut short due to COVID-19 pandemic

Home field
Raptors home field, Infinity Park

The team plays at Infinity Park,[14] the first rugby-specific, municipally-owned stadium in the United States.[15]

Sponsorship
Season Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
2018–2019 XBlades None
2020 Paladin Sports

Honors

2018 season
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
March 10New Orleans Gold°HomeWon, 38–14
March 30Utah Warriors°AwayWon, 42–15
April 7New York Athletic Club RFC°AwayWon, 35–22
April 21Austin EliteHomeWon, 41–26
April 28Seattle SeawolvesAwayWon, 19–15
May 5Utah WarriorsAwayWon, 36–29
May 13San Diego LegionHomeWon, 31–27
June 3New Orleans GoldAwayWon, 41–10
June 8Houston SaberCatsHomeWon, 37–24
June 16Seattle SeawolvesHomeWon, 33–11
June 23San Diego LegionAwayLost, 5–23
June 30Utah Warriors°°HomeWon, 34–21
July 7Seattle Seawolves°°°NeutralLost, 19–23

° = Preseason game
°° = Playoff Semifinal
°°° = Final at Torero Stadium in San Diego, California

2019 season

Exhibition
DateOpponentHome/AwayLocationResult
August 17, 2018USA Collegiate All-AmericansHomeInfinity ParkLost, 10–55
September 16, 2018Ontario ArrowsAwayYork Lions StadiumLost, 18–40
October 6, 2018Denver BarbariansHomeInfinity ParkWon, 81–7
October 13, 2018Utah WarriorsHomeInfinity ParkPostponed
October 20, 2018Utah WarriorsAwayPostponed
October 27, 2018Rugby Americas teamHomeInfinity ParkLost, 31–50
January 13, 2019San Diego LegionAwayTorero StadiumWon, 38–31
January 19, 2019Houston SaberCatsAwayConstellation FieldWon, 36–21

Regular season
DateOpponentHome/AwayLocationResult
January 27Seattle SeawolvesAwayStarfire StadiumLost, 18–20
February 2New Orleans GoldAwayArchbishop Shaw StadiumLost, 31–40
February 17Austin EliteAwayDell DiamondWon, 24–13
February 23Utah WarriorsAwayZions Bank StadiumDraw, 26–26
March 2Toronto ArrowsHomeInfinity ParkWon, 22–0
March 9Austin EliteHomeInfinity ParkWon, 38–19
March 16San Diego LegionHomeInfinity ParkDraw, 28–28
March 24Rugby United New YorkAwayMCU ParkLost, 19–31
March 30New Orleans GoldHomeInfinity ParkWon, 34–33
April 6Houston SaberCatsHomeInfinity ParkWon, 52–44
April 20San Diego LegionAwayTorero StadiumLost, 15–46
April 26Rugby United New YorkHomeInfinity ParkWon, 20–16
May 4Utah WarriorsHomeInfinity ParkWon, 64–22
May 18Seattle SeawolvesHomeInfinity ParkLost, 36–53
May 26Toronto ArrowsAwayLamport StadiumLost, 12–40
May 29Houston SaberCatsAwayAveva StadiumLost, 17–32

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.[16] It was cancelled the following week[17]

Regular season
DateOpponentHome/AwayLocationResult
February 8Houston SaberCatsAwayAveva StadiumLost, 12–21
February 16San Diego LegionNeutralLas Vegas BallparkLost, 22-49
February 22New Orleans GoldHomeInfinity ParkLost, 20-27
February 29Utah WarriorsHomeInfinity ParkWon, 22-14
March 6Toronto ArrowsWon, 22-19
March 15Old Glory DCAwayCardinal StadiumCancelled
March 21Austin GilgronisHomeInfinity Park
March 29Seattle SeawolvesAwayStarfire Sports Complex
April 4New England Free JacksAwayUnion Point Sports Complex
April 18Houston SaberCatsHomeInfinity Park
April 25Rugby United New YorkAwayMCU Park
May 2Rugby ATLHomeInfinity Park
May 8Utah WarriorsAwayZions Bank Stadium
May 17Austin GilgronisRound Rock Multipurpose Complex
May 24Seattle SeawolvesHomeInfinity Park
May 30San Diego Legion

See also

References
  1. "Raptors History". americanraptors.com. 9 August 2022. Archived from the original on 29 November 2022.
  2. "Major League Rugby nears kick-off as next attempt to make US a union power". The Guardian. UK. 2017-11-17. Archived from the original on 2017-11-19. Retrieved 2017-11-19.
  3. Petersen, Will (9 April 2020). "Colorado Raptors withdraw from Major League Rugby". 9News.
  4. "Raptors History". American Raptors. 9 August 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  5. "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.
  6. "Glendale Signs Original Raptor Casey Rock". DJ Coil Rugby. 9 January 2019. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
  7. "Seawolves stun Raptors to win inaugural MLR title". Americas Rugby News. 2018-07-08. Archived from the original on 2018-07-10. Retrieved 2018-07-10.
  8. "Glendale Raptors are now the Colorado Raptors". 9News KUSA. 2019-11-08.
  9. Petersen, Will, "Updated: Colorado Raptors withdraw from Major League Rugby," 9news.com, April 10, 2020 Accessed March 27, 2021
  10. "Two SLAR teams to play North American opponents in Colorado". June 2022.
  11. "SRA 2023 - American Raptors". Americas Rugby News. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  12. "City of Glendale made rugby its brand, a move that's paying off with a professional team". The Denver News. 2017-06-02. Archived from the original on 2018-02-05.
  13. "Glendale Raptors Coaches and Staff". Glendale Raptors. Retrieved 2018-02-05.
  14. "Glendale Raptors announce 2018 schedule". 9 News. 2017-12-01. Archived from the original on 2018-02-05. Retrieved 2018-02-01.
  15. "Site report" (PDF). www.rainbird.com. 2018. Retrieved 2019-09-05.
  16. Anonymous, "MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY SUSPENDS 2020 SEASON FOR 30 DAYS," www.majorleague.rugby, March 12, 2020 Retrieved March 14, 2020
  17. "Major League Rugby cancels remainder of 2020 campaign". Yahoo! Sports. AFP. March 19, 2020. Archived from the original on March 19, 2020. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
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