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Super Rugby Americas 2023 will feature seven teams from the Americas. Six are South American franchise and the American Raptors are to be the one North American team. The Colorado-based team features a mixtures of players from the USA with a range of other countries represented on the roster.
The American Raptors will be the third Glendale, Colorado based team to compete in professional rugby. The Glendale Raptors / Colorado Raptors competed in Major League Rugby and the Denver Stampede competed in the defunct PRO Rugby.
While the USA will not compete at Rugby World Cup 2023, the American Raptors roster does nonetheless contain players who are expected to do so. They include names from Chile and Uruguay while former Pumas are also on the roster. This South American connection provides the team with a uniqueness to take to different countries on road matches.
Click here to access the complete 2023 Raptors player roster.
Click here to access the Super Rugby Americas home page.
COACHING STAFF
The American Raptors are coached by Sarah Chobot. The Head Coach is a former USA Women’s Eagle. Chobot is one of just a few women who are in charge of a professional men’s team. She began playing rugby in 2001 and was a three-time All-American for the Chippewas. Chobot first represented the USA at U23 level. She scored two tries against Canada in 2013 and the match-winning try in USA’s first of three matches against France in California later that year.
RECRUITMENT
As a new team, the American Raptors have recruited in entirety for Super Rugby Americas 2023. The process was rapid; players were announced at different times rather than in one player roster. Included are a number of players that have represented the USA at senior level who remain uncapped. Patrick Madden, Line Latu, Dom Iacovino, Ronan Murphy, Christian Ostberg, Ethan McVeigh are all instances. Ryan James has one cap for the USA. Canadian Siaki Vikilani is a second capped North American Raptor.
IMPORTS
The American Raptors have imported plates from Canada, Guinea, Fiji and Tonga. It is South America that provides the most though. Four Pumas are on the roster. Lucas González Amorosino was the hero against Scotland at Rugby World Cup 2011 while Martín Landajo started in the 2015 win over Ireland. Diego Fortuny has a cap against South Africa and Ramiro Moyano started vs France at Rugby World Cup 2019. Uruguayans Diego Magno and Juan Echeverría are on the roster as is Chilean Sebastián Otero. Five Colombians are also on the roster.
POSSIBLE STARTING XV
1 Sebastián Otero
2 Diego Fortuny
3 Juan Echeverría
4 Shawn Clark
5 Mikey Grandy
6 Tommy Clark
7 Ronan Murphy
8 Diego Magno
9 Martín Landajo
10 Lucas González Amorosino
11 Nolan Saraceni
12 Watson Filikitonga
13 Dom Iacovino
14 Ryan James
15 Ramiro Moyano
