Denver Stampede

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Denver Stampede
Full nameDenver Stampede
UnionUSA Rugby
Founded2016
Disbanded2017
LocationDenver, Colorado, U.S.
Ground(s)CIBER Field (Capacity: 1,915)
Coach(es)Sean O'Leary
Captain(s)Pedrie Wannenburg
League(s)PRO Rugby
1st kit
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.

History[edit]

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.

Stadia[edit]

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[edit]

Current roster[edit]

For player movements before and during the 2016 season, see 2016 PRO Rugby season § Denver.

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

Denver roster

Props

Hookers

Locks

Loose forwards

Scrum-halves

Fly-halves

Centers

Wingers

Fullbacks

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

Current coaches[edit]

Position Name
Head coach Ireland Sean O'Leary
Assistant coach New Zealand Peter Borlase
Assistant coach United States David Williams[9]
Technical advisor South Africa André Snyman
General manager Kieran Browner[10]

Season summaries[edit]

Season-by-season results
Season Played Won Drawn Lost Points
for		 Points
Against		 Points
Diff		 Bonus
Points		 Points Position Details
2016 12 10 0 2 403 273 +130 8 48 1 / 5 2016 Denver Stampede season

Leading players[edit]

Season Captain Most tries Most points
2016 Pedrie Wannenburg Zach Fenoglio (6) Will Magie (88)

Head coaches[edit]

Coach Tenure Matches Won Drawn Lost Winning
Percentage
Sean O'Leary 2016 12 10 0 2 83.3%

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  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.
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