Sacramento Express

The Sacramento Express were a professional American rugby union team that played in the short lived PRO Rugby competition. They were based in Sacramento, California, and played their home games at Bonney Field.

Sacramento Express

Full name	Sacramento Express
Union	USA Rugby
Founded	2016
Disbanded	2017
Location	Sacramento, California, U.S.
Ground(s)	Bonney Field (Capacity: 11,440)
Coach(es)	Luke Gross
League(s)	PRO Rugby
1st kit 2nd kit

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]

On December 20, 2016 all PRO Rugby players received notice their contracts will be terminated in 30 days if progress is not made towards resolving disputes between the league and USA Rugby.[7]

Venue

Sacramento
Bonney Field
Capacity: 11,442

Current players and staff

Roster

The squad for the 2016 PRO Rugby season:[8]

Sacramento roster
Props Toke Kefu Olive Kilifi Valdemar Lee-Lo James Reddey Eric Fry Estephan Tuamasaga Hookers Ray Barkwill Josh Inong Lagakali Tavake Cam Falcon Locks Rich Knight Robert Meeson Sione Sina Matt Doubek	Loose Forwards Langilangi Haupeakui Sione Latu John Quill (c) Kyle Sumsion Ryan Koewler Scrum-halves Joshua Holland Jope Motokana Chris Saint Ronald Dwyer Fly-halves Harry Bennett Alex Hodgkinson	Centers Mirco Bergamasco Nemia Qoro Alipate Takiveikata Cody Jerabek Wingers Rashad Harbor Shane Moore Jojo Tikoisuva Fatai Vailala Fullbacks Garrett Brewer Ryan Thompson
(c) Denotes team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped.

Coaching staff

Position	Name
Head coach	Luke Gross
Assistant coach	Kevin Battle
Assistant coach	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	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. Down Goes PRO
8. "PRO Rugby Preview – Sacramento". Americas Rugby News. Americas Rugby News. April 16, 2016. Retrieved April 16, 2016.