PRO drops Rush, holds USAR talks

PRO Rugby has axed one of its established teams – the San Francisco Rush. Rumors had been circulating for several months that all was not well in San Francisco with league owner Doug Schoninger publicly admitting that the team was looking for a new venue. Playing at Boxer Stadium, San Francisco had the lowest attendance numbers of the league. Despite this, assurances were made that the team would continue but Schoninger has now taken the extraordinary step of cutting the team entirely.

An email was sent to players and coaches on Thursday stating that the contracts of all players and personnel have been terminated effective immediately. The main reason given was the failure to find a suitable venue in time for the 2017 season, with the preferred option of Kezar Stadium made unavailable by the city’s Parks and Recreations department. Also cited were problems with training facilities, low attendance, poor club relations, and virtually non-existent local media support.

Players have been advised that individual moves to the Sacramento Express are still an option should they wish to stay in PRO. An immediate to return to California Cup clubs looks likely for several in the short term with Life West, SFGG, and Olympic all options in the Bay Area.

With only a few short months until the new season is due to kick off and fans eagerly awaiting confirmation of new franchises there have been no such announcements, and the uncertainty has only expanded with the news of the Rush’s demise. It’s unclear whether another franchise will take its place and with seemingly no replacement hired for departed Director of Rugby Stephen Lewis, it’s equally unclear who will take over the management of day-to-day rugby operations for 2017.

The bad news doesn’t end there.

Earlier in the week it was revealed that talks of Schoninger acquiring a majority stake in South Africa’s Southern Kings franchise had stalled. The proposed idea was a partnership between PRO Rugby and the cash-strapped Eastern Province union that would have seen the South African team possibly participating in the American competition. Evidently USA Rugby was not in favor of such a deal and talks between CEO Dan Payne and Schoninger were held on Thursday to discuss the situation, among other things.

The details of the meeting will be revealed in the coming days with speculation growing that the two parties – PRO and USAR – have arrived at a tipping point. If the relationship between the two erodes further it could severely damage the short-term survival prospects of PRO Rugby.

2016 SAN FRANCISCO RUSH (current club in brackets)

FORWARDS: Codi Jones, Patrick Latu, Saimone Laulaupea’alu (SFGG), Niko Lolohea, Holo Mo’ungaloa (Life West), Fancy Namulau’ulu, Maka Tameilau, Neil Barrett (SFGG), Tom Coolican, Jay Finau (Life West), Alex Bowman (Olympic), Brendan Daly (SFGG), Nick Grass (SFGG), Jérémy Lenaerts, Siaosi Mahoni, Sam Finau, Bill Fukofuka (Southland Stags), Alec Gletzer (USA 7s), Isaac Helu (SFGG), Siupeli Sakalia (Life West), David Tameilau (Narbonne), Naibuka Tawake (Life West)

BACKS: Devereaux Ferris, Michael Reid, Volney Rouse (SFGG), Orene Ai’i (retired), Nick Blevins, Junior Helu (Life West), Charles Mateo, Mils Muliaina, Martini Talapusi, Jake Anderson (Olympic), Michael Haley (Olympic), Pila Huihui (SFGG), Pila Iongi (Life West), Jack O’Hara