Glendale Merlins is an amateur rugby club based in the municipality of Glendale in Colorado, United States. The club was founded in 2006 and first played in 2007 under the name Glendale Raptors.[1][2]

Glendale Merlins
Founded2006[1]
LocationGlendale, Denver, CO
Ground(s)Infinity Park (Capacity: 5,000)
PresidentScott Smith
Coach(es)Luke Gross & Kittery Wagner
Captain(s)Zach Fenoglio & Sarah Chobot
League(s)Pacific Rugby Premiership & Women's Premier League
1st kit
2nd kit

In 2017, a Glendale Raptors team was accepted into the professional Major League Rugby competition and the amateur Glendale teams changed their mascot from the Raptor to the Merlin, transitioning to the new brand before the inaugural season of Major League Rugby in 2018. The Glendale teams play at Infinity Park.

History

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The men's squad won the 2011 Division I Championship. They were 2014 runners-up in the inaugural season of the Pacific Rugby Premiership losing to the San Francisco Golden Gate RFC 39-38 on the last play. The team won the Pacific Rugby Premiership in 2015, defeating San Francisco Golden Gate by 25-11. They repeated the feat in 2016, winning the Pacific Rugby Premiership title by 44-20 against San Francisco Golden Gate at their home field, Infinity Park.

The women's squad advanced from USA Rugby's Division I into the Women's Premier League in 2012. They placed third in 2013, won back-to-back national championships in 2014 and 2015, and placed second in 2016, 2017, and 2018.

Players

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Five of Glendale's women's players - props Jamie Burke, Sarah Chobot, Sarah Wilson, hooker Kittery Wagner, and flyhalf Hannah Stolba - represented the U.S. team for the 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup.

Two of Glendale's men's players — hooker Zach Fenoglio and scrum half Niku Kruger — were named to the U.S. team for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

Additionally, Iniki Fa'amausili played for the US U-20 national team that won the 2012 IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy held in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Three of Glendale's men's players represented the US national team at the 2011 Rugby World Cup: James Paterson, Nese Malifa, and Nic Johnson.

Men's squad

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Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union
Ami Lavakeiaho Hooker   United States
James DelBozque Hooker   United States
Moses Saole Prop   United States
Fehoko Faniaka Prop   United States
Marcus Thomas Prop   United States
Stephen Karas Prop   United States
Scott Smith Prop   United States
Christopher Schoelch Lock   United States
Nathaniel Shipley Lock   United States
Joshua Gihring Lock   United States
Alex Fitch Flanker   United States
Justin Oles Flanker   United States
Joseph Kamara Flanker   United States
Devin Vaughter Number 8   United States
Player Position Union
Vita Makasini Scrum-half   United States
Trevor Wilder Scrum-half   United States
Colin Gregory Fly-half   United States
Siale Maka Centre   United States
Campbell Johnstone Centre   United States
Clint Cook Centre   United States
Zach Rademacher Wing   United States
Alexander Wormer Wing   United States
Ryan Chavkin Wing   United States
Samuel Enari Fullback   United States
Alexander McKenzie Fullback   United States

Women's Squad

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Player Position
Amandine Chatelier Flanker
Carmen Farmer Back row
Charley Thompson Flanker, Lock
Joanna Kitlinski Flanker, Hooker
Joanna McElroy Lock
Maya Learned Lock, Prop
Rachel Ehrecke Flanker
Samantha Luther Lock, Prop, Back row
Carly Waters Scrum-half
Danielle Ordway Wing, Center
Gabriella Cantorna Center, Fly-half
Hannah Tennant Fly-half
Jeanna Beard Wing, Lock, Hooker
Juliann Tordonato Center
Justine Wypych Fullback, Wing
Kaitlyn Broughton Wing, Fullback
Kelsie O’Brien Scrum-half
Leann Lam Fly-half, Scrum-half
Madison Slaught Fullback
McKenzie Hawkins Center
Nichole Wanamaker Fullback, Wing
Rachel Ryan
Paige Stathapoulos
Jenny Kronish
Deanna Nash
Allison Schrenker
Caitlyn Weigel

Notable former players

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Note: Flags indicate national union under World Rugby eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-World Rugby nationality.

Player Position Union
Jamie Burke Prop   United States
Nic Johnson Number 8   United States
Nese Malifa Fly-half   United States
Ata Malifa Fly-half   United States

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Raptors History". americanraptors.com. Archived from the original on 29 November 2022.
  2. ^ "Major League Rugby, featuring Colorado team, signs TV deal with CBS". Denver Business Journal. 2017-10-10. Archived from the original on 2018-02-05.
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