Colorado Raptors

Colorado Raptors Rugby (previously Glendale Raptors R.F.C. until November 2019[2]) was a professional rugby union team based in Glendale, Colorado, an enclave of Denver.[1][3] The team was a founding member of Major League Rugby,[4] but after competing in the first three seasons announced its withdrawal from the league following the shortened 2020 competition.[5]

Colorado Raptors
Founded2007 [1]
Glendale Raptors (2007–2019)
Colorado Raptors (2019–2020)
Disbanded2020
LocationGlendale, Colorado, U.S.
Ground(s)Infinity Park
Coach(es)Peter Borlase
Captain(s)Luke White
Top scorerWill Magie (126)
Most triesJohn Ryberg (13)
20208th
1st kit
2nd kit
Official website
coloradoraptors.com
Colorado Raptors home field, Infinity Park.

Home field

The team plays at Infinity Park,[6] the first rugby-specific, municipally-owned stadium in the United States.[7]

Broadcasts

2019 home games were shown on KUSA Channel 20 in Denver an NBC affiliate. Dallen Stanford and Brian Vizard were the on air talent.

Sponsorship
Season Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
2018–2019 XBlades None
2020–present Paladin Sports

Players and personnel

Current squad
For player movements before and during the 2020 season, see List of 2019–20 Major League Rugby transfers § Glendale Raptors.

Colorado Raptors roster for the 2020 season:[8][9][10][11]

Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.

Player Position Union
Xendy Tatiboue Hooker France
Jacob Finau Hooker United States
Chad Gough Hooker United States
Marco Fepulea'i Prop Samoa
Kelepi Fifita Prop United States
Sakaria Taulafo Prop Samoa
Blake Rogers Prop United States
Luke White* Lock Australia
Brendan Daly Lock United States
Kody O'Neil Lock United States
Connor Cook Flanker United States
Aladdin Schirmer Flanker United States
Michael Curry Flanker New Zealand
Michael Stewart Number 8 New Zealand
Sam Slade Number 8 New Zealand
Player Position Union
Carlo de Nysschen Scrum-half South Africa
Sean Yacoubian Scrum-half Scotland
Nick Boyer Scrum-half United States
Tomas Quinlan Fly-half Ireland
Robbie Petzer Fly-half South Africa
Ata Malifa Centre United States
Campbell Johnstone Centre United States
Chad London Centre United States
Mika Kruse Centre United States
Digby Ioane Centre Australia
Rene Ranger Centre New Zealand
Mateo Gadsden Wing United States
Seth Halliman Wing United States
John Ryberg Wing United States
Nick Johnson Wing United States
Ryan James Fullback United States
Mason Emerson Fullback New Zealand
  • Senior 15s and senior 7s internationally capped players in bold
  • * Players qualified to play for the United States on dual nationality or residency grounds
  • Major League Rugby teams are allowed to field up to five overseas players per match

Head coaches

Captains

Records

Season standings
Year Pos Pld W D L F A +/− BP Pts   Playoffs
Glendale Raptors
2018 1st 8701249165+84634   Lost championship final 23–19 to Seattle Seawolves
2019 6th 16727456463−71143   Did not qualify
Colorado Raptors
2020 8th 520398130-3219  Season cut short due to Coronavirus Pandemic

Honors

2018 season
DateOpponentHome/AwayResult
March 10New Orleans Gold°HomeWon, 38–14
March 30Utah Warriors°AwayWon, 42–15
April 7New York Athletic Club RFC°AwayWon, 35–22
April 21Austin EliteHomeWon, 41–26
April 28Seattle SeawolvesAwayWon, 19–15
May 5Utah WarriorsAwayWon, 36–29
May 13San Diego LegionHomeWon, 31–27
June 3New Orleans GoldAwayWon, 41–10
June 8Houston SaberCatsHomeWon, 37–24
June 16Seattle SeawolvesHomeWon, 33–11
June 23San Diego LegionAwayLost, 5–23
June 30Utah Warriors°°HomeWon, 34–21
July 7Seattle Seawolves°°°NeutralLost, 19–23

° = Preseason game
°° = Playoff Semifinal
°°° = Final at Torero Stadium in San Diego, California

2019 season

Exhibition
DateOpponentHome/AwayLocationResult
August 17, 2018USA Collegiate All-AmericansHomeInfinity ParkLost, 10–55
September 16, 2018Ontario ArrowsAwayYork Lions StadiumLost, 18–40
October 6, 2018Denver BarbariansHomeInfinity ParkWon, 81–7
October 13, 2018Utah WarriorsHomeInfinity ParkPostponed
October 20, 2018Utah WarriorsAwayPostponed
October 27, 2018Rugby Americas teamHomeInfinity ParkLost, 31–50
January 13, 2019San Diego LegionAwayTorero StadiumWon, 38–31
January 19, 2019Houston SaberCatsAwayConstellation FieldWon, 36–21

Regular season
DateOpponentHome/AwayLocationResult
January 27Seattle SeawolvesAwayStarfire StadiumLost, 18–20
February 2New Orleans GoldAwayArchbishop Shaw StadiumLost, 31–40
February 17Austin EliteAwayDell DiamondWon, 24–13
February 23Utah WarriorsAwayZions Bank StadiumDraw, 26–26
March 2Toronto ArrowsHomeInfinity ParkWon, 22–0
March 9Austin EliteHomeInfinity ParkWon, 38–19
March 16San Diego LegionHomeInfinity ParkDraw, 28–28
March 24Rugby United New YorkAwayMCU ParkLost, 19–31
March 30New Orleans GoldHomeInfinity ParkWon, 34–33
April 6Houston SaberCatsHomeInfinity ParkWon, 52–44
April 20San Diego LegionAwayTorero StadiumLost, 15–46
April 26Rugby United New YorkHomeInfinity ParkWon, 20–16
May 4Utah WarriorsHomeInfinity ParkWon, 64–22
May 18Seattle SeawolvesHomeInfinity ParkLost, 36–53
May 26Toronto ArrowsAwayLamport StadiumLost, 12–40
May 29Houston SaberCatsAwayAveva StadiumLost, 17–32

2020 season

On March 12, 2020, MLR announced the season would go on hiatus immediately for 30 days due to fears surrounding the 2019–2020 coronavirus pandemic.[13] It was cancelled the following week[14]

Regular season
DateOpponentHome/AwayLocationResult
February 8Houston SaberCatsAwayAveva StadiumLost, 12–21
February 16San Diego LegionNeutralLas Vegas BallparkLost, 22-49
February 22New Orleans GoldHomeInfinity ParkLost, 20-27
February 29Utah WarriorsHomeInfinity ParkWon, 22-14
March 6Toronto ArrowsWon, 22-19
March 15Old Glory DCAwayCardinal StadiumCancelled
March 21Austin GilgronisHomeInfinity Park
March 29Seattle SeawolvesAwayStarfire Sports Complex
April 4New England Free JacksAwayUnion Point Sports Complex
April 18Houston SaberCatsHomeInfinity Park
April 25Rugby United New YorkAwayMCU Park
May 2Rugby ATLHomeInfinity Park
May 8Utah WarriorsAwayZions Bank Stadium
May 17Austin GilgronisRound Rock Multipurpose Complex
May 24Seattle SeawolvesHomeInfinity Park
May 30San Diego Legion

See also

References
  1. "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.
  2. "Glendale Raptors are now the Colorado Raptors". 9News KUSA. 2019-11-08.
  3. "City of Glendale made rugby its brand, a move that's paying off with a professional team". The Denver News. 2017-06-02. Archived from the original on 2018-02-05.
  4. "Major League Rugby nears kick-off as next attempt to make US a union power". The Guardian. UK. 2017-11-17. Archived from the original on 2017-11-19. Retrieved 2017-11-19.
  5. Petersen, Will (9 April 2020). "Colorado Raptors withdraw from Major League Rugby". 9News.
  6. "Glendale Raptors announce 2018 schedule". 9 News. 2017-12-01. Archived from the original on 2018-02-05. Retrieved 2018-02-01.
  7. "Site report" (PDF). www.rainbird.com. 2018. Retrieved 2019-09-05.
  8. "2018 Major League Rugby – Glendale Raptors". Americas Rugby News. 2018. Retrieved 2018-12-22.
  9. "MLR Off-Season Update – December 13, 2018". Americas Rugby News. 2018. Retrieved 2018-12-22.
  10. "Glendale Raptors Announce Team, Coaches, & Ticket Sales". djcoilrugby. 2018-01-29. Archived from the original on 2018-02-05. Retrieved 2018-02-05.
  11. "Glendale Raptors Major League Rugby Players". Glendale Raptors. Retrieved 2018-02-05.
  12. "Glendale Raptors Coaches and Staff". Glendale Raptors. Retrieved 2018-02-05.
  13. Anonymous, "MAJOR LEAGUE RUGBY SUSPENDS 2020 SEASON FOR 30 DAYS," www.majorleague.rugby, March 12, 2020 Retrieved March 14, 2020
  14. "Major League Rugby cancels remainder of 2020 campaign". Yahoo! Sports. AFP. March 19, 2020. Retrieved March 19, 2020.


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