LA Giltinis

Last updated
LA Giltinis
LA Giltinis logo.png
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
2022 2nd (Western Conference)
Official website
giltinis.com
Rugby football current event.svg Current season

The LA Giltinis were a Major League Rugby team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. The team was announced in 2020 and entered the league in the 2021 season as an expansion franchise. Owned by Adam Gilchrist and Loyals Rugby, the team was named for a yet-to-be-released drink, itself 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]

Contents

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. [3] The team's bid was later replaced by a new proposal from Loyals Rugby, who were announced as the winners of the expansion team in 2020. [1] [2] The team, named for a cocktail like the Austin Gilgronis, began play in 2021. [1] In its first season, the Giltinis posted a 12–4 record, hosted, and defeated 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

SeasonKit manufacturerShirt sponsor
2021–2022 Paladin Sports None

Roster

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.

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

Head coaches

Assistant coaches

Captains

Records

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

Season standings

YearPosPldWDLFA+/−BPPts  Playoff results
2021 1st161204545305+2401163Won West Conference Final (Utah Warriors) 17–13
Won Major League Rugby final (Rugby ATL) 31-17
2022 2nd161105468340+1281157Disqualified [11]

Honors

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Pengelly, Martin (June 1, 2020). "Major League Rugby announces LA Giltinis, second team named for a drink". The Guardian . Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  2. 1 2 "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.


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