Rugby New York

Last updated
Rugby New York
Rugby New York logo.png
Nickname(s)Ironworkers
Roosters (former)
Founded2018;6 years ago (2018)
Disbanded2023;1 year ago (2023)
Location New York City, New York
Ground(s)Mount Vernon Memorial Field, Mount Vernon, New York (Capacity: 3,900)
ChairmanGuy Bolton
Top scorer Dylan Fawsitt (125)
Most tries Dylan Fawsitt (25)
League(s) Major League Rugby
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1st kit
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2nd kit
Official website
rugbynewyork.com

Rugby New York, originally known as Rugby United New York and officially nicknamed the Ironworkers, was a professional rugby union team based in New York City that was 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]

Contents

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

In December 2023, MLR announced that Rugby New York had withdrawn from the league and had folded, following a failed attempt to sell the team. [5] [6]

History

Rugby United New York was founded in 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. [7] The team played its first match on March 17, 2018, at Mazzella Field in New Rochelle, New York. [8] New York defeated the Ontario Arrows by a score of 36–19. [8] RUNY played its first match in New York City against Mystic River on March 24 before a sold-out crowd at Gaelic Park. [9] New York defeated Mystic River by a score of 50–0. [9]

Ahead of the 2019 season, RUNY announced that they had retained Mike Tolkin as the team's head coach, [10] signed Kees Lensing as the team's forwards coach, [11] and named James English as general manager. [12] Tiffany Faʻaeʻe was signed as Assistant Coach.

On November 7, 2018, RUNY announced that MCU Park in Brooklyn would be their home field for their first full season. [13]

On April 12, 2021, the club announced that they would begin the season at Cochrane Stadium in Jersey City, NJ. The club would end up splitting their home fields between Cochrane Stadium and Belson Stadium in Queens, NY. [14]

In January 2023, Rugby New York announced that Memorial Field in Mount Vernon, NY would be their home field. [15]

On December 6, 2023, it was announced that the Iron Workers would not compete in the 2024 MLR season. [16]

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, [17] the official drink partner and Bawnmore Irish Beef Jerky [18] as the official snack partner for the 2019 season. They also partnered up with EVF Performance, [19] the team's official gym and Motion PT Group, named the official physical therapy partner for the team. [20]

For the 2021 season, RUNY partnered with Sword Performance, a sports drink hydration company. [21] They also partnered with Mainfreight as their shirt sponsor for the next two seasons. [22]

SeasonKit manufacturerShirt 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

Head coaches

Captains

Records

Season standings

SeasonConferenceRegular seasonPostseason
PosPldWDLFA+/−BPPtsPldWLFA+/−Result
2019 -4th161105411320+9110541012224-2Lost Semifinal (San Diego Legion) 22–24
2020 [lower-alpha 1] Eastern4th5302136131+5315------Cancelled
2021 Eastern2nd161006448419+291353101910-1Lost East Conference Final (Rugby ATL) 9-10
2022 Eastern3rd161105433408+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
2023 -4th16808442373+6910431013723-4Lost East Eliminator (Old Glory DC) 37-33
Totals69430261,8701,651+21937178633148117+314 postseason appearances

Honors

Major League Rugby
Playoff AppearancesConference ChampionshipsMajor League Rugby Championships
2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 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
OppositionSpanPlayedWonDrawnLostWin%PFPAPDHome WinsAway WinsNotes
San Diego Legion 2019–22630350148152-412
NOLA Gold 2019–22640266.67177179-222
Seattle Seawolves 2019–22530260135129+621
Houston SaberCats 2019–22550010015157+9423
Utah Warriors 2019–21320166.679972+2811
Toronto Arrows 2019–22630350138151-1312
Austin Gilgronis 2019–2043017510465+3921
New England Free Jacks 2020-22730442.86149172-2312
Rugby ATL 2020–22750271.43154158-423
Old Glory DC 2021-224400100178124+5422
LA Giltinis 2021-222101501859-4110
Dallas Jackals 20221100100415+3601
Glendale Raptors 2019–202101504739+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 17 Ontario Arrows Home Mazzella Field New Rochelle, New York Won, 36–19 [23]
March 24 Mystic River Rugby Club Home Gaelic Park Riverdale, Bronx, New York Won, 50–0 [24]
March 31Mystic River Rugby ClubAwayMignone Field Allston, Massachusetts Won, 42–24 [25]
April 14Ontario ArrowsAway York Lions Stadium Toronto, Ontario Game cancelled due to weather

2019 season

Exhibitions

DateOpponentHome/AwayLocationResult
December 1, 2018 New England Free Jacks Away Union Point Sports Complex Won, 38–35
December 15, 2018 Capital Selects Home Mazzella Field Won, 100–0
January 12, 2019 Toronto Arrows Neutral Buffalo Bills FieldhouseCancelled

Regular season

DateOpponentHome/AwayLocationResult
January 27 San Diego Legion Away Torero Stadium Won, 25-23
February 16 New Orleans Gold Away Archbishop Shaw Won, 27–24
February 24 Seattle Seawolves Away Starfire Stadium Lost, 21-33
March 2 Houston SaberCats Away Constellation Field Won, 35-8
March 9 Utah Warriors Away Zions Bank Stadium Won, 47-21
March 15 Toronto Arrows Home MCU Park Won, 24–21
March 24 Glendale Raptors HomeMCU ParkWon, 31-19
March 30 Austin Elite Away Toyota Field Won, 19-11
April 14San Diego LegionHomeMCU ParkLost, 19–29
April 20Utah WarriorsHomeMCU ParkWon, 24–22
April 26Glendale RaptorsAway Infinity Park Lost, 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 ArrowsAway Lamport Stadium Lost, 20-22

Post season

DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
June 9 San Diego Legion AwayLost, 22-24

2020 season

Exhibition

DateOpponentHome/AwayLocationResult
January 25 Toronto Arrows NeutralOrchard Parkscrimmage no score recorded
February 1 New York Barbarians HomeWagner 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. [26] It was cancelled the following week [27]

DateOpponentHome/AwayLocationResult
February 8 New England Free Jacks Away Sam Boyd Stadium Lost 14-34
February 15 Austin Gilgronis HomeSam Boyd StadiumWon 49-31
February 23 Rugby ATL AwayLupo Family Field @ Life University Won 22-19
March 1 Houston SaberCats Away Aveva Stadium Won 31-23
March 8 San Diego Legion Away Torero Stadium Lost 20-24
March 14 Seattle Seawolves Home MCU Park Cancelled
March 22 Toronto Arrows HomeMCU ParkCancelled
March 29 Old Glory DC Away Cardinal Stadium @ Catholic University Cancelled
April 10Rugby ATLHomeMCU ParkCancelled
April 18 NOLA Gold AwayThe Gold MineCancelled
April 25 Colorado Raptors Home MCU Park Cancelled
May 1New England Free JacksHomeMCU ParkCancelled
May 9Old Glory DCHomeMCU ParkCancelled
May 16 Utah Warriors Away Zions Bank Stadium Cancelled
May 22Toronto ArrowsAway Lamport Stadium Cancelled
May 30NOLA GoldHomeMCU ParkCancelled

2021 season

Regular season

DateOpponentHome/AwayLocationResult
March 20 San Diego Legion AwayJames Regional Sports ParkWon, 36–29
March 27 New Orleans Gold Away The Gold Mine Lost, 28–51
April 11 Rugby ATL Away Lupo Family Field Won, 27–17
April 18 Old Glory DC Home Cochrane Stadium Won, 38–34
April 25 Toronto Arrows HomeCochrane StadiumLost, 12–53
May 2 Seattle Seawolves Away Starfire Stadium Won, 23–21
May 8 LA Giltinis HomeCochrane StadiumWon, 18–16
May 15 Austin Gilgronis Away Bold Stadium Lost, 9–16
May 23 New England Free Jacks HomeCochrane StadiumWon, 29–19
May 30Old Glory DCAway Segra Field Won, 46–10
June 13Rugby ATLHome Belson Stadium Won, 31–24
June 19 Utah Warriors HomeCochrane StadiumLost, 28–29
June 27Toronto ArrowsAwayLupo Family FieldWon, 31–24
July 3New England Free JacksAway Union Point Sports Complex Lost, 6–22
July 10 Houston SaberCats HomeBelson StadiumWon, 54–19
July 17New Orleans GoldHomeBelson StadiumLost, 32–35

Post-season

DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
July 24 Rugby ATL AwayLupo Family FieldLost, 9-10

2022 season

Regular season

DateOpponentHome/AwayLocationResult
February 12 Houston SaberCats Away Aveva Stadium Won, 10-7
February 19 Rugby ATL Away Silverbacks Park Won, 36-31
February 26 Dallas Jackals Away Choctaw Stadium Won, 41-5
March 6 New England Free Jacks Home John F. Kennedy Stadium Lost, 29-38
March 13 San Diego Legion HomeJohn F. Kennedy StadiumWon, 26-23
March 19 New Orleans Gold Away The Gold Mine Won, 30-19
March 27 Toronto Arrows HomeJohn F. Kennedy StadiumLost, 10-14
April 3 Old Glory DC HomeJohn F. Kennedy StadiumWon, 35-31
April 10 LA Giltinis Away Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Lost, 43-0
April 24New England Free JacksHomeJohn F. Kennedy StadiumLost, 26-29
May 1New Orleans GoldHomeJohn F. Kennedy StadiumWon, 36-28
May 8Toronto ArrowsAway York Lions Stadium Won, 41-17
May 15 Seattle Seawolves HomeJohn F. Kennedy StadiumWon, 30-22
May 22Rugby ATLHomeJohn F. Kennedy StadiumLost, 3-38
May 29Old Glory DCAwaySegra FieldWon, 59-49
June 3New England Free JacksAway Veterans Memorial Stadium Won, 21-14

Post-season

RoundDateOpponentHome/AwayLocationResult
East EliminatorJune 11 Rugby ATL AwaySilverbacks ParkWon, 26-19
East Conference FinalsJune 19 New England Free Jacks AwayVeterans Memorial StadiumWon, 24-19
MLR Championship June 25 Seattle Seawolves Home Red Bull Arena Won, 30-15

2023 season

Regular season

DateOpponentHome/AwayLocationResult
February 18 Seattle Seawolves Away Starfire Sports Complex Lost, 11-25
February 26 Toronto Arrows HomeMemorial FieldWon, 39-3
March 5 Old Glory DC HomeMemorial FieldWon, 34-8
March 12 NOLA Gold Away Gold Mine on Airline Lost, 31-5
March 19 New England Free Jacks HomeMemorial FieldLost, 33-18
April 2 Rugby ATL HomeMemorial FieldWon, 31-20
April 8Toronto ArrowsAway York Lions Stadium Won, 29-27
April 16Old Glory DCAway Segra Field Lost, 42-31
April 23 Houston SaberCats HomeMemorial FieldLost, 34-27
April 30New England Free JacksAway Veterans Memorial Stadium Lost, 8-0
May 7NOLA GoldHomeMemorial FieldWon, 54-19
May 14 Chicago Hounds Away SeatGeek Stadium Won, 21-20
May 28 San Diego Legion Away Snapdragon Stadium Lost, 36-13
June 4 Dallas Jackals HomeMemorial FieldWon, 43-14
June 10Rugby ATLAway Silverbacks Park Won, 39-24
June 18 Utah Warriors HomeMemorial FieldLost, 43-33

Post-season

RoundDateOpponentHome/AwayLocationResult
East EliminatorJune 25Old Glory DCHomeMemorial FieldLost, 37-33

Notes

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

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "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. ↑ "A Statement from Nic Benson, CEO of Major League Rugby". Major League Rugby. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
  6. ↑ "Former champions New York out of 2024 MLR season". www.americasrugbynews.com. Americas Rugby News. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  7. ↑ Mitchell, Alex (March 19, 2018). "New York's first professional rugby team is coming to the Bronx". Bronx Times-Reporter . Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  8. 1 2 "New York win historic first match over Ontario". Americas Rugby News. March 17, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  9. 1 2 "New York blank Boston on historic night in the Bronx". Americas Rugby News. March 25, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Tolkin confirmed as New York MLR coach". Americas Rugby News. August 7, 2018. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Rugby United New York Signs Forwards Coach Kees Lensing". www.rugbyunitedny.com. Retrieved 2018-10-26.
  12. ↑ "Rugby United New York Announces James English as GM". www.rugbyunitedny.com. Retrieved 2018-10-26.
  13. ↑ Rugby United NY (2018-11-07), Rugby United New York's Stadium Announcement , retrieved 2018-11-08
  14. ↑ "New York's first home games at New Jersey's Cochrane Stadium". americasrugbynews.com. April 12, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
  15. ↑ "2023 Home Stadium Announced". January 2023. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
  16. ↑ "Toronto Arrows, Canada's lone entry in Major League Rugby, not playing in 2024". www.sportsnet.ca. 27 November 2023. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  17. ↑ "Magners Becomes Official Hard Cider of Rugby United New York".
  18. ↑ "Bawnmore Becomes Official Snack Partner of Rugby United New York".
  19. ↑ "Evf Performance Becomes Official Gym Partner of Rugby United New York".
  20. ↑ "MOTION PT Group Partners with Rugby United New York".
  21. ↑ "Sword Performance is a proud sponsor of Rugby United New York".
  22. ↑ "Our Partners".
  23. ↑ "Rugby United New York defeat Ontario Arrows 36-19 in first MLR match". djcoilrugby. 2018-03-18. Retrieved 2018-05-01.
  24. ↑ "Rugby United New York hosts Boston Mystic River March 24". djcoilrugby. 2018-03-23. Retrieved 2018-05-01.
  25. ↑ "Boston Mystic River hosts Rugby United New York in a rematch at Harvard". djcoilrugby. 2018-03-31. Retrieved 2018-05-01.
  26. ↑ Anonymous, "MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY SUSPENDS 2020 SEASON FOR 30 DAYS," www.majorleague.rugby, March 12, 2020 Retrieved March 14, 2020
  27. ↑ "Major League Rugby cancels remainder of 2020 campaign". Yahoo! Sports. AFP. March 19, 2020. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
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