Denver Stampede Explained

Teamname:Denver Stampede
Fullname:Denver Stampede
Union:USA Rugby
Location:Denver, Colorado, U.S.
Founded:2016
Disbanded:2017
Ground:CIBER Field
Capacity:1,915
Captain:Pedrie Wannenburg
Coach:Sean O'Leary
League:PRO Rugby
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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.

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]

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

  • Dustin Croy
  • Maximo de Achaval
(c) Denotes team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped.

Current coaches

Position Name
Head coach
Assistant coach Peter Borlase
Assistant coach David Williams[9]
Technical advisor André Snyman
General manager Kieran Browner[10]

Season summaries

Season-by-season results
Season Played width=55 Won !Drawn width=55 Lost !Points
for
Points
Against
Points
Diff
Bonus
Points
Points Position Details
12 10 0 2 403 273 +130 8 48 1 / 5

Head coaches

See also

Notes and References

  1. http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2015/11/18/professional-rugby-team-planned-for-denver.html "Professional rugby team planned for Denver"
  2. http://www.thisisamericanrugby.com/2016/02/denver-lands-final-pro-rugby-team.html "Denver Lands Final PRO Rugby Team"
  3. http://www.sarugbymag.co.za/blog/details/Pedrie-set-for-American-stint "Pedrie set for American stint"
  4. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/apr/18/pro-rugby-sacramento-san-francisco-denver-ohio "Sacramento and Denver win as PRO Rugby opens in snow and sunshine"
  5. http://www.thisisamericanrugby.com/2016/06/pro-rugby-unveils-team-names.html "PRO Rugby Unveils Team Names"
  6. Web site: Down Goes PRO . 2016-12-20 . 2019-06-20 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190620032921/https://www.rugbytoday.com/elite/down-goes-pro . dead .
  7. http://www.americasrugbynews.com/2016/05/24/pro-rugby-leaves-aol-infinity-park/ "PRO Rugby leaves AOL and Infinity Park"
  8. Web site: PRO Rugby Preview – Denver . Americas Rugby News . April 13, 2016 . April 13, 2016.
  9. http://www.americasrugbynews.com/2016/03/09/david-williams-named-denver-assistant-coach/ "David Williams Named as Denver Assistant Coach"
  10. http://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/15189005/us-professional-rugby-lift-olympic-stars "U.S. professional rugby to lift off without Olympic stars"