Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
While official announcements have gone quiet, Americas Rugby News has learned through multiple sources that San Diego will be the destination of the sixth and final franchise for PRO Rugby. Originally slated for New York, venue complications have reportedly put a stop to that location for 2016.
San Diego will become the third team based in California in the professional rugby startup headed by CEO Doug Schoninger. Officially confirmed sides will play in Sacramento and San Francisco in the northern reaches of the West Coast state. The remaining franchises are expected to be Salt Lake City, Denver, and Philadelphia, the latter now likely the only team based in the east.
While the US Eagles have played one game at Chargers Stadium, against a New Zealand XV in 1980, its 70,000 capacity makes it unsuitable. More reasonable possibilities appear to be Balboa Stadium, 3,000 capacity, and the 6,000 seat Torero Stadium, home of the University of San Diego athletics. San Francisco will play out of Boxer Stadium, capacity 3,500, while Sacramento will call Bonney Field home, with a maximum capacity of 11,442.
Americas Rugby News has also learned that further announcements with regards to coaches have been put on hold pending the conclusion of USA Rugby’s hiring process for the currently vacant Head Coach position of the Eagles senior men’s XVs side. Mike Tolkin’s contract was not renewed following the World Cup, though he has re-applied for the job.
The inaugural PRO Rugby season is slated to kick off on April 17.
