Sacramento Express

Sacramento Express
Full name Sacramento Express
Union USA Rugby
Founded 2016
Location Sacramento, California, U.S.
Ground(s) Bonney Field (Capacity: 11,440)
Coach(es) Luke Gross
League(s) PRO Rugby
1st kit
2nd kit

The Sacramento Express are a professional American rugby union team that play in the newly formed PRO Rugby competition. They are based in Sacramento, California, and play their home games at Bonney Field.

History

In early November 2015, PRO Rugby launched its Facebook page and scheduled an announcement for November 9, 2015.[1] On November 9, 2015, PRO Rugby made an official announcement outlining its plans and a framework for the competition. USA Rugby affirmed that it sanctioned and supported the PRO Rugby competition.[2] PRO Rugby announced its first team, Sacramento, on November 18, 2015.[3]

In February 2016, Luke Gross was announced as the head coach of the new Sacramento PRO Rugby team.[4]

The league reportedly had begun extending contract offers to select players by mid-February. In early March, the league made its first official announcement regarding player signings when it announced that Italian international Mirco Bergamasco would be joining the Sacramento team.[5] Sacramento and other teams started convening their players in mid-March 2016 to begin training.[6]

Venue

Sacramento
Bonney Field
Capacity: 11,442

Current players and staff

Current roster

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

The squad for the 2016 PRO Rugby season:[7]

Sacramento roster

Props

Hookers

Locks

  • United States Rich Knight
  • United States Robert Meeson
  • United States Sione Sina
  • United States Matt Doubek

Loose Forwards

Scrum-halves

  • United States Joshua Holland
  • United States Jope Motokana
  • United States Chris Saint
  • Samoa Ronald Dwyer

Fly-halves

  • Australia Harry Bennett
  • England Alex Hodgkinson

Centers

Wingers

  • United States Rashad Harbor
  • United States Ryan Koewler
  • United States Shane Moore
  • United States Joeli Tikoisuva
  • United States Fatai Vailala

Fullbacks

  • United States Garrett Brewer
  • United States Ryan Thompson
(c) Denotes team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped.

Current coaching staff

Position Name
Head coach United States Luke Gross
Assistant coach United States Kevin Battle
Assistant coach New Zealand Fred Waititi
Head Athletic Trainer Taylor Masten

Season summaries

C=Champions, R=Runners-up, W=Wooden Spoons
Competition Games
Played 		Games
Won 		Games
Drawn 		Games
Lost 		Ladder
Position 		C R W Coach Details
2016 PRO Rugby season
 4 1 0 3 4 / 5
Luke Gross
2016 Sacramento Express season

Leading players

Seasons Captain Most tries Most points
2016 John Quill Olive Kilifi (3) Mirco Bergamasco (77)

Coaches

Coach Tenure Matches Won Drawn Lost Winning Percentage
Luke Gross 2016–present 4 1 0 3 25.00%

References

  1. ↑ "Pro Rugby Announcement Coming Next Week", Goff Rugby Report, November 4, 2015.
  2. ↑ "PRO Rugby Launches First Professional League in North America", USA Rugby, November 9, 2015.
  3. ↑ "It's official: Sacramento will get team in nation's first pro rugby league", Sacramento Business Journal, November 18, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Gross Picked To Lead Sacramento PRO Side", This Is American Rugby, February 4, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Bergamasco To Sacramento", This Is American Rugby, March 9, 2016.
  6. ↑ "US professional rugby a step closer as five teams begin training for kick-off", Guardian, Martin Pengelly, March 14, 2016.
  7. ↑ "PRO Rugby Preview – Sacramento". Americas Rugby News. Americas Rugby News. April 16, 2016. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
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