Rugby New York

Rugby New York, formerly known as Rugby United New York and now officially nicknamed the Ironworkers, are 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]

Rugby New York
Nickname(s)Ironworkers
Roosters (former)
Founded2018 (2018)
LocationNew York City, New York
Ground(s)Mount Vernon Memorial Field, Mount Vernon, New York (Capacity: 3,900)
ChairmanGuy Bolton
Coach(es)James Semple
Captain(s)Nate Brakeley
Top scorerDylan Fawsitt (125)
Most triesDylan Fawsitt (25)
League(s)Major League Rugby
2022
  • 3rd (Eastern Conference Regular season)
  • Eastern Conference Playoff Champs
  • 2022 MLR Champions
1st kit
2nd kit
Official website
rugbynewyork.com

In 2022, its first season under the Rugby New York name, the team made its first MLR Final appearance, winning a title in front of 1,979 attendees at Red Bull Arena in nearby Harrison, New Jersey.[4]

History

Rugby United New York was founded on April 2018 by James Kennedy, owner of Murphy Kennedy Group a New York construction management company. 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.[5] The team played its first match on March 17, 2018, at Mazzella Field in New Rochelle, New York.[6] New York defeated the Ontario Arrows by a score of 36–19.[6] RUNY played its first match in New York City against Mystic River on March 24 before a sold-out crowd at Gaelic Park.[7] New York defeated Mystic River by a score of 50–0.[7]

Ahead of the 2019 season, RUNY announced that they had retained Mike Tolkin as the team's head coach,[8] signed Kees Lensing as the team's forwards coach,[9] and named James English as general manager.[10]

On November 7, 2018, RUNY announced that MCU Park in Brooklyn would be their home field for their first full season.[11]

In January 2023, Rugby New York announced that Memorial Field in Mount Vernon, NY would be their home field.[12]

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.

Sponsorship

During the inaugural season, RUNY signed a partnership deal with Magners Irish Cider,[13] the official drink partner and Bawnmore Irish Beef Jerky[14] as the official snack partner for the 2019 season. They also partnered up with EVF Performance,[15] the team's official gym and Motion PT Group, named the official physical therapy partner for the team.[16]

For the 2021 season, RUNY partnered with Sword Performance, a sports drink hydration company.[17] They also partnered with Mainfreight as their shirt sponsor for the next two seasons.[18]

Season Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
2018 Paladin Sports Murphy Kennedy Group
2019 XBlades
2020 Paladin Sports None
2021 Paladin Sports Mainfreight
2022
2023 Paladin Sports Hudson Pro Orthopedics & Sports Medicine

Roster
For player movements before and during the 2024 season, see List of 2023–24 Major League Rugby transfers § Rugby New York.

The Rugby New York squad for the 2024 Major League Rugby season is:

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

Player Position Union
Dylan Fawsitt Hooker United States United States
DaQuan Perry Hooker United States United States
Gjergji Bacuku Prop United States United States
Sam Davies Prop New Zealand New Zealand
Kaleb Geiger Prop United States United States
Doyle Hedgepeth Prop United States United States
Tevita Langi Prop New Zealand New Zealand
Nic Mayhew Prop New Zealand New Zealand
Anthony Parry Prop United States United States
Enrique Quinteros Prop Paraguay Paraguay
Chance Wenglewski Prop United States United States
Nate Brakeley (c) Lock United States United States
Hamish Dalzell Lock New Zealand New Zealand
Charlie Hewitt Lock United States United States
Bill Whiteside Lock United States United States
Monate Akuei Back row Kenya Kenya
Joe Basser Back row United States United States
Benjamín Bonasso Back row United States United States
Pago Haini Back row United States United States
Nick Lapponese Back row United States United States
Albert O'Shannessey Back row New Zealand New Zealand
Kara Pryor Back row New Zealand New Zealand
Brad Tucker Back row New Zealand New Zealand
Player Position Union
Connor Buckley Scrum-half United States United States
Conor McManus Scrum-half United States United States
Cristian Rodriguez Scrum-half United States United States
Jack Heighton Fly-half New Zealand New Zealand
Kieran Joyce Fly-half Ireland Ireland
Sam Windsor Fly-half Australia Australia
Jason Emery Centre New Zealand New Zealand
Faʻasui Fuatai Centre New Zealand New Zealand
Quinn Ngawati Centre Canada Canada
Ishmail Shabazz Centre United States United States
Teihorangi Walden Centre New Zealand New Zealand
Andrew Coe Wing Canada Canada
Ed Fidow Wing Samoa Samoa
Brooklyn Hardaker Wing Australia Australia
Troy Lockyear* Fullback England England
John Powers Fullback United States United States
  • Senior 15s and senior 7s 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
  • United States Mike Tolkin (2018–2019) 
  • Ireland Greg McWilliams (2020) 
  • New Zealand Marty Veale (2021–2022)
  • New Zealand James Semple (2022–present) 

Captains

Records

Season standings
Season Conference Regular season Postseason
Pos Pld W D L F A +/− BP Pts Pld W L F A +/− Result
2019 - 4th161105411320+9110541012224-2Lost Semifinal (San Diego Legion) 22–24
2020[lower-alpha 1] Eastern 4th5302136131+5315------Cancelled
2021 Eastern 2nd161006448419+291353101910-1Lost East Conference Final (Rugby ATL) 9-10
2022 Eastern 3rd161105433408+2511563308050+30Won East Conference Eliminator (Rugby ATL) 26–19
Won East Conference Final (New England Free Jacks) 24–16
Won Major League Rugby final (Seattle Seawolves) 30-15
Totals53350181,4281,278+1503717853211184+273 postseason appearances

Honors
Major League Rugby
Playoff Appearances Conference Championships Major League Rugby Championships
2019 , 2021 , 2022 2022 2022

Head to Head

Details of the performance of Rugby United New York against Major League Rugby opponents, between the 2019 and 2022 seasons. Table includes all regular season and play-off matches.

Major League Rugby
Opposition Span Played Won Drawn Lost Win% PF PA PD Home Wins Away Wins Notes
San Diego Legion2019–22630350148152-412
NOLA Gold2019–22640266.67177179-222
Seattle Seawolves2019–22530260135129+621
Houston SaberCats2019–22550010015157+9423
Utah Warriors2019–21320166.679972+2811
Toronto Arrows2019–22630350138151-1312
Austin Gilgronis2019–2043017510465+3921
New England Free Jacks2020-22730442.86149172-2312
Rugby ATL2020–22750271.43154158-423
Old Glory DC2021-224400100178124+5422
LA Giltinis2021-222101501859-4110
Dallas Jackals20221100100415+3601
Glendale Raptors2019–202101504739+810
Totals2019–22583802065.551,5391,362+1771820

2018 season

All games in the 2018 season were exhibition games and did not count in the league standings.

DateOpponentHome/AwayVenueLocationResult
March 17Ontario ArrowsHomeMazzella FieldNew Rochelle, New YorkWon, 36–19[19]
March 24Mystic River Rugby ClubHomeGaelic ParkRiverdale, Bronx, New YorkWon, 50–0[20]
March 31Mystic River Rugby ClubAwayMignone FieldAllston, MassachusettsWon, 42–24[21]
April 14Ontario ArrowsAwayYork Lions StadiumToronto, OntarioGame cancelled due to weather

2019 season

Exhibitions
DateOpponentHome/AwayLocationResult
December 1, 2018New England Free JacksAwayUnion Point Sports ComplexWon, 38–35
December 15, 2018Capital SelectsHomeMazzella FieldWon, 100–0
January 12, 2019Toronto ArrowsNeutralBuffalo Bills FieldhouseCancelled

Regular season
DateOpponentHome/AwayLocationResult
January 27San Diego LegionAwayTorero StadiumWon, 25-23
February 16New Orleans GoldAwayArchbishop ShawWon, 27–24
February 24Seattle SeawolvesAwayStarfire StadiumLost, 21-33
March 2Houston SaberCatsAwayConstellation FieldWon, 35-8
March 9Utah WarriorsAwayZions Bank StadiumWon, 47-21
March 15Toronto ArrowsHomeMCU ParkWon, 24–21
March 24Glendale RaptorsHomeMCU ParkWon, 31-19
March 30Austin EliteAwayToyota FieldWon, 19-11
April 14San Diego LegionHomeMCU ParkLost, 19–29
April 20Utah WarriorsHomeMCU ParkWon, 24–22
April 26Glendale RaptorsAwayInfinity ParkLost, 16–20
May 5Houston SaberCatsHomeMCU ParkWon, 21–0
May 12Seattle SeawolvesHomeMCU ParkLost, 31–38
May 19Austin EliteHomeMCU ParkWon, 27-7
May 26New Orleans GoldHomeMCU ParkWon, 24–22
June 2Toronto ArrowsAwayLamport StadiumLost, 20-22

Post season
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
June 9San Diego LegionAwayLost, 22-24

2020 season

Exhibition
DateOpponentHome/AwayLocationResult
January 25Toronto ArrowsNeutralOrchard Parkscrimmage no score recorded
February 1New York BarbariansHomeWagner College Football StadiumWon 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.[22] It was cancelled the following week[23]

DateOpponentHome/AwayLocationResult
February 8New England Free JacksAwaySam Boyd StadiumLost 14-34
February 15Austin GilgronisHomeSam Boyd StadiumWon 49-31
February 23Rugby ATLAwayLupo Family Field @ Life UniversityWon 22-19
March 1Houston SaberCatsAwayAveva StadiumWon 31-23
March 8San Diego LegionAwayTorero StadiumLost 20-24
March 14Seattle SeawolvesHomeMCU ParkCancelled
March 22Toronto ArrowsHomeMCU ParkCancelled
March 29Old Glory DCAwayCardinal Stadium @ Catholic UniversityCancelled
April 10Rugby ATLHomeMCU ParkCancelled
April 18NOLA GoldAwayThe Gold MineCancelled
April 25Colorado RaptorsHomeMCU ParkCancelled
May 1New England Free JacksHomeMCU ParkCancelled
May 9Old Glory DCHomeMCU ParkCancelled
May 16Utah WarriorsAwayZions Bank StadiumCancelled
May 22Toronto ArrowsAwayLamport StadiumCancelled
May 30NOLA GoldHomeMCU ParkCancelled

2021 season

Regular season
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
March 20San Diego LegionAwayWon, 36–29
March 27New Orleans GoldAwayLost, 28–51
April 11Rugby ATLAwayWon, 27–17
April 18Old Glory DCHomeWon, 38–34
April 25Toronto ArrowsHomeLost, 12–53
May 2Seattle SeawolvesAwayWon, 23–21
May 8LA GiltinisHomeWon, 18–16
May 15Austin GilgronisAwayLost, 9–16
May 23New England Free JacksHomeWon, 29–19
May 30Old Glory DCAwayWon, 46–10
June 13Rugby ATLHomeWon, 31–24
June 19Utah WarriorsHomeLost, 28–29
June 27Toronto ArrowsAwayWon, 31–24
July 3New England Free JacksAwayLost, 6–22
July 10Houston SaberCatsHomeWon, 54–19
July 17New Orleans GoldHomeLost, 32–35

Post season
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
July 24Rugby ATLAwayLost, 9-10

2022 season

Regular season
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
February 12Houston SaberCatsAwayWon, 10-7
February 19Rugby ATLAwayWon, 36-31
February 26Dallas JackalsAwayWon, 41-5
March 6New England Free JacksHomeLost, 29-38
March 13San Diego LegionHomeWon, 26-23
March 19New Orleans GoldAwayWon, 30-19
March 27Toronto ArrowsHomeLost, 10-14
April 3Old Glory DCHomeWon, 35-31
April 10LA GiltinisAwayLost, 43-0
April 24New England Free JacksHomeLost, 26-29
May 1New Orleans GoldHomeWon, 36-28
May 8Toronto ArrowsAwayWon, 41-17
May 15Seattle SeawolvesHomeWon, 30-22
May 22Rugby ATLHomeLost, 3-38
May 29Old Glory DCAwayWon, 59-49
June 3New England Free JacksAwayWon, 21-14

Post season
See also: 2022 Major League Rugby playoffs
RoundDateOpponentHome/AwayResult
East EliminatorJune 11Rugby ATLAwayWon, 26-19
East Conference FinalsJune 19New England Free JacksAwayWon, 24-19
MLR ChampionshipJune 25Seattle SeawolvesHomeWon, 30-15

Notes
  1. 2020 regular season shortened and playoffs cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

References
  1. "MLR announces New York team for 2019". www.usmlr.com. Major League Rugby. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  2. 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.
  3. Melanson, Jack (March 30, 2018). "Packed house welcomes pro rugby to Gaelic Park". Riverdale Press. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  4. Americas Rugby News. "New York claims first MLR title with win over Seattle". Americas Rugby News. Americas Rugby News. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  5. Mitchell, Alex (March 19, 2018). "New York's first professional rugby team is coming to the Bronx". Bronx Times-Reporter. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  6. "New York win historic first match over Ontario". Americas Rugby News. March 17, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  7. "New York blank Boston on historic night in the Bronx". Americas Rugby News. March 25, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  8. "Tolkin confirmed as New York MLR coach". Americas Rugby News. August 7, 2018. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
  9. "Rugby United New York Signs Forwards Coach Kees Lensing". www.rugbyunitedny.com. Retrieved 2018-10-26.
  10. "Rugby United New York Announces James English as GM". www.rugbyunitedny.com. Retrieved 2018-10-26.
  11. Rugby United NY (2018-11-07), Rugby United New York's Stadium Announcement, retrieved 2018-11-08
  12. "2023 Home Stadium Announced". January 2023. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
  13. "Magners Becomes Official Hard Cider of Rugby United New York".
  14. "Bawnmore Becomes Official Snack Partner of Rugby United New York".
  15. "Evf Performance Becomes Official Gym Partner of Rugby United New York".
  16. "MOTION PT Group Partners with Rugby United New York".
  17. "Sword Performance is a proud sponsor of Rugby United New York".
  18. "Our Partners".
  19. "Rugby United New York defeat Ontario Arrows 36-19 in first MLR match". djcoilrugby. 2018-03-18. Retrieved 2018-05-01.
  20. "Rugby United New York hosts Boston Mystic River March 24". djcoilrugby. 2018-03-23. Retrieved 2018-05-01.
  21. "Boston Mystic River hosts Rugby United New York in a rematch at Harvard". djcoilrugby. 2018-03-31. Retrieved 2018-05-01.
  22. Anonymous, "MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY SUSPENDS 2020 SEASON FOR 30 DAYS," www.majorleague.rugby, March 12, 2020 Retrieved March 14, 2020
  23. "Major League Rugby cancels remainder of 2020 campaign". Yahoo! Sports. AFP. March 19, 2020. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
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