 | |
| Full name | Miami Sharks Rugby Club |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2023 |
| Location | Miami, Florida |
| Ground(s) | Chase Stadium (Capacity: 5,000) |
| Chairman | Ronaldo Strazzolini Alejandro Macfarlane Marcos Galperin |
| Coach(es) | José Pellicena |
| Captain(s) | Tomás Cubelli |
| League(s) | Major League Rugby |
| Official website | |
| www | |
The Miami Sharks are a professional rugby union team in Major League Rugby (MLR) based in Miami, Florida. The team was founded in 2023 and will begin play during the 2024 season.
On February 8, 2023, Major League Rugby announced that the Miami Sharks would be joining the league in 2024. [1] Owned by Argentine businessmen Ronaldo “Kony” Strazzolini, Alejandro Macfarlane, and Mercado Libre chairman Marcos Galperin, [2] the team appointed former Toronto Arrows executive Mark Winokur as CEO, Mariano Marco as COO and former Argentina U20 manager José Pellicena as head coach. [3] [4] Pellicena has also previously served as an assistant with the Argentina national team under Mario Ledesma and former Super Rugby side Jaguares under Raúl Pérez. [5]
On April 26, 2023 the Sharks announced the signing of Argentine international scrum-half Tomás Cubelli, the first player's signing of the team. [6] The same day, the team held a launch party in Miami with a few Argentine company directors and personalities like tennis player Juan Martín del Potro, model Claudia Albertario and former Argentina international player Juan Martín Hernández who's one of the franchise's ambassadors. [7]
In July 2023 the Miami Sharks parted ways with CEO Mark Winokur and hired Mariano Filippini for the position. Filippini previously played as a flanker for Club San Andrés and more recently was an executive for Univision and HSBC Bank Argentina. [8]
On September 15, 2023 the Sharks announced that a partnership with Inter Miami CF would allow them to play home games at the AutoNation Sports Field. The stadium capacity would be expanded to include up to 5,000 spectators. [9]
The Sharks' crest displays a blue and white shark with pink strokes alongside a rugby ball and the term "Miami Sharks". The team main colors are neon-styled pink and blue that paid homage to the hit 1980s TV series Miami Vice which has become a symbol of Miami and identified with the city. [10] [11] Miami Vice relied on a pastel color pallet, reminiscent of the Miami Heat "Vice" special uniforms, that became very popular and inspired the team colours. [11]
After the team's founding, the Sharks quickly unveiled three playing kits. One of the jerseys is mainly white with hints of electric blue and bright pink while the others display pink-to-black and blue-to-pink gradations. [12] [13]
Established by Bonaerenses, the team has a strong Argentine connection and ties with Latin America. Two of the three owners played rugby union in Argentina: Macfarlane for Belgrano Athletic Club like Pellicena, and Galperin for Club San Andrés. [7] The latter stated: “We are excited to create a rugby experience in South Florida that will wake the Latin passion in the community and generate a sense of belonging.” Choices of coaching staff and executives reflect the club's Argentine identity. [2]
The original ownership pool was led by three Argentine businessmen and company directors: financial services firm Magna Capital president Ronaldo “Kony” Strazzolini, natural gas distribution company Camuzzi Gas main shareholder Alejandro Macfarlane and e-commerce company Mercado Libre funder and CEO Marcos Galperin, the wealthiest man in Argentina with an estimated net worth of $5 billion. Alongside the three founding owners, other investors like Santiago Ocampo, Martín Migoya, Edgardo Defortuna and Gabriel Martino own shares. [14]
The Miami Sharks squad for the 2024 Major League Rugby season is: [15]
Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.
José “Cochi” Pellicena (2023-Present)The Sharks have signed sponsorship deals with investment advisory company BlackToro and Argentine financial services company VALO. [17] [18]
Carlos James Spencer is a former New Zealand rugby union player and previously the head coach of the Eastern Province Kings and the Munakata Sanix Blues. He is currently an assistant coach for the New Orleans Gold of Major League Rugby (MLR).
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The Utah Warriors are a professional rugby union team that competes in Major League Rugby, the top-level rugby union competition in the United States and Canada that played its first season in 2018. The team is based in Salt Lake City, Utah, and was founded in 2010 as Utah Warriors and re-refounded in 2017 by Rugby Utah Ventures.
Joaquín Tuculet is an Argentine rugby union player who currently plays for the Toronto Arrows of Major League Rugby (MLR). He also played for the national Argentina team The Pumas and the country's Super Rugby team, the Jaguares.
Kirby Myhill is a Welsh rugby union rugby player, who plays at hooker for the Miami Sharks in the MLR. Myhill begin his career with the Scarlets academy, and represented the team for six seasons before joining Cardiff Rugby. He is also a Wales and Wales Under-20 international.
Tomás Maria Cubelli is an Argentine professional rugby union player who plays as a scrum-half for Major League Rugby club Miami Sharks and the Argentina national team.
Robert Evans is a Welsh international rugby union player. He plays at prop for the Miami Sharks of Major League Rugby (MLR). He previously play for the Dragons.
Dan Pryor is a New Zealand rugby union player who currently plays as a loose forward for the Miami Sharks in Major League Rugby (MLR). He previously played for San Diego Legion, for Northland in the ITM Cup, for the Highlanders, Blues and Sunwolves in Super Rugby, and for the Munakata Sanix Blues in the Japanese Top League.
Nick Grigg is a rugby union player, who currently plays as a midfield back for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition and the Miami Sharks in Major League Rugby.
Major League Rugby is a professional rugby union competition for clubs in North America. In the 2023 season it was contested by twelve teams: eleven from the United States and one from Canada. While operating outside of the governance and oversight of the national governing body, the league is officially sanctioned by USA Rugby—a member union of Rugby Americas North (RAN)—and is consequently part of World Rugby. The league was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.
Toronto Arrows R.F.C. was a rugby union club based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, that played in Major League Rugby. The Arrows team was an independent off-shoot of the Ontario Blues provincial programme and was funded by a group of private investors and supporters. They are currently on hiatus following the 2023 season.
Joaquín Díaz Bonilla is an Argentine rugby union player. His position is fly-half and plays for Old Glory DC of Major League Rugby (MLR) in the U.S. He was part of the national Argentina team, The Pumas.
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Old Glory DC RFC is a professional rugby union team based in the Washington, D.C., area that is a member of Major League Rugby (MLR). Old Glory was founded in 2018, played some exhibition games in 2019, and began regular-season MLR play in 2020.
Ben Mitchell is an English-born Irish professional rugby union player who is currently a lock. As of 2023, he is with the United States team Seattle Seawolves in Major League Rugby (MLR).
Sean McNulty is a professional rugby union player who currently plays as a hooker for the Miami Sharks of Major League Rugby (MLR).
Benjamín Bonasso is an Argentine-American rugby union player, currently playing for the Miami Sharks in Major League Rugby (MLR) and the United States national team. His preferred position is flanker.
Jordan Chait is a South African rugby union player and vice captain for the Tel Aviv Heat in the Rugby Europe Super Cup. He also plays for the Seattle Seawolves in Major League Rugby (MLR) in the U.S. His regular position is fly-half.
Reinaldo Piussi is an Uruguayan rugby union player, currently playing for the Miami Sharks in Major League Rugby (MLR). His preferred position is prop.
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