Denver Stampede

Last updated
Denver Stampede
Full nameDenver Stampede
Union USA Rugby
Founded2016
Disbanded2017
Location Denver, Colorado, U.S.
Ground(s) CIBER Field (Capacity: 1,915)
Coach(es) Sean O'Leary
Captain(s) Pedrie Wannenburg
League(s) PRO Rugby
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1st kit
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2nd kit

The Denver Stampede were an American rugby union team that played in the short lived PRO Rugby competition. The Stampede was one of the five teams that began play in PRO Rugby's 2016 inaugural season. The team played its home matches at the University of Denver's CIBER Field. The team was led by head coach Sean O'Leary and captain Pedrie Wannenburg.

Contents

History

Reports began circulating as early as November 2015 that Denver would host a PRO Rugby team when the competition's inaugural season kicked off in April 2016. [1] PRO Rugby officially announced on February 26, 2016 that Denver would be the competition's fifth team. [2] Denver's first officially announced player signing was South African international Pedrie Wannenburg. [3]

Denver hosted Ohio in the first ever PRO Rugby match on April 17, 2016, winning 16–13 at Infinity Park on a late penalty kick from flyhalf Will Magie. [4] PRO Rugby revealed the team's nickname — the Denver Stampede — on June 6, 2016, a reference to Colorado's western theme; this name beat two other final candidates: the Peak (also a mountain western theme) and the Vipers. [5]

On December 20, 2016 all PRO Rugby players received notice their contracts will be terminated in 30 days if progress is not made towards resolving disputes between the league and USA Rugby. [6]

The Stampede played at Infinity Park until May 2016. Infinity Park 4 by 3 ver 2.jpg
The Stampede played at Infinity Park until May 2016.

Stadia

Denver began its inaugural 2016 season playing at Infinity Park. Denver moved to CIBER Field, however, during the 2016 season; this move allowed PRO Rugby to live steam all matches on prorugby.org, and had superior financial considerations. [7]

Current players and staff

Current roster

The squad for the 2016 PRO Rugby season: [8]

Denver roster

Props

Hookers

Locks

Loose forwards

Scrum-halves

Fly-halves

Centers

Wingers

Fullbacks

  • Flag of the United States.svg Dustin Croy
  • Flag of the United States.svg Maximo de Achaval
(c) Denotes team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped.

Current coaches

PositionName
Head coach IRFU flag.svg Sean O'Leary
Assistant coach Flag of New Zealand.svg Peter Borlase
Assistant coach Flag of the United States.svg David Williams [9]
Technical advisor Flag of South Africa.svg André Snyman
General managerKieran Browner [10]

Season summaries

Season-by-season results
SeasonPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints
for
Points
Against
Points
Diff
Bonus
Points
PointsPositionDetails
2016 121002403273+1308481 / 5 2016 Denver Stampede season

Leading players

SeasonCaptainMost triesMost points
2016 Pedrie Wannenburg Zach Fenoglio (6) Will Magie (88)

Head coaches

CoachTenureMatchesWonDrawnLostWinning
Percentage
Sean O'Leary 201612100283.3%

See also

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References

  1. "Professional rugby team planned for Denver", Denver Business Journal, Monica Mendoza, November 18, 2015.
  2. "Denver Lands Final PRO Rugby Team", This Is American Rugby, February 26, 2016.
  3. "Pedrie set for American stint", SA Rugby Mag, March 6, 2016.
  4. "Sacramento and Denver win as PRO Rugby opens in snow and sunshine", Guardian, April 18, 2016.
  5. "PRO Rugby Unveils Team Names", This Is American Rugby, June 6, 2016.
  6. "Down Goes PRO". Archived from the original on 2019-06-20. Retrieved 2016-12-20.
  7. "PRO Rugby leaves AOL and Infinity Park", Americas Rugby News, May 24, 2016.
  8. "PRO Rugby Preview – Denver". Americas Rugby News. April 13, 2016. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  9. "David Williams Named as Denver Assistant Coach", Americas Rugby News, March 9, 2016.
  10. "U.S. professional rugby to lift off without Olympic stars", ESPN, April 15, 2016.