LA Giltinis

The LA Giltinis were a Major League Rugby team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. The team was announced in 2020 and entered the league in the 2021 season as an expansion franchise. Owned by Adam Gilchrist and Loyals Rugby, the team was named for a yet-to-be-released drink, itself a portmanteau of "Gilchrist" and "martini".^[1] The Giltinis were based in El Segundo, California, and played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Darren Coleman was their first head coach.^[2]

LA Giltinis

Founded	May 28, 2020
Disbanded	2022
Ground(s)	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (Capacity: 77,500)
CEO	Adam Gilchrist
Coach(es)	Stephen Hoiles
Captain(s)	Dave Dennis
League(s)	Major League Rugby
2022	2nd (Western Conference)
Official website
giltinis.com
Current season

The club won the MLR Shield in their inaugural season, but were disqualified from the playoffs in 2022. The Giltinis and the Austin Gilgronis—another MLR team owned by Gilchrist—were removed from the league in October 2022.

History

A potential Los Angeles expansion bid for MLR, led by LA Coast Rugby and Adam Gilchrist, was announced in 2018 with plans for the team to enter the league in 2019.^[3] The team's bid was later replaced by a new proposal from Loyals Rugby, who were announced as the winners of the expansion team in 2020.^[1][2] The team, named for a cocktail like the Austin Gilgronis, began play in 2021.^[1] In its first season, the Giltinis posted a 12–4 record, hosted, and defeated Rugby ATL in the MLR final, winning the shield.^[4]

During the 2022 season, MLR announced that the Giltinis and the Gilgronis—both owned by Gilchrist—were disqualified from the playoffs due to a violation of league rules, allegedly including salary cap issues.^[5] Gilchrist filed suit against the league in June 2022; the two teams were expelled from the league in October following a failed attempt to sell both teams.^[6]

Stadium

The Giltinis played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, a multi-use stadium in Exposition Park, Los Angeles.^[7]

Sponsorship

Season	Kit manufacturer	Shirt sponsor
2021–2022	Paladin Sports	None

Roster

For player movements before and during the 2022 season, see List of 2021–22 Major League Rugby transfers § LA Giltinis.

The LA Giltinis squad for the 2022 Major League Rugby season was:^[8]

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

Player Position Union Lindsey Stevens Hooker Canada Joe Taufeteʻe Hooker United States Andrew Tuala Hooker Samoa Charlie Abel Prop Australia Fred Apulu Prop Samoa Marco Fepulea'i Prop Samoa Leslie Leuluaʻialiʻi-Makin Prop Australia Djustice Sears-Duru Prop Canada Nathan Den Hoedt Lock Australia Dave Dennis (c) Lock Australia Sam Peri Lock United States Corey Thomas Lock Canada Luke White Lock United States Adam Ashe Back row Scotland Zach Bonte Back row United States Cyrille Cama Back row United States Angus Cottrell Back row Australia Hanco Germishuys Back row United States Langilangi Haupeakui Back row United States Christian Poidevin* Back row Australia

Player Position Union Harrison Goddard Scrum-half Australia Cristian Rodriguez Scrum-half United States Tas Smith Scrum-half United States Orene Ai'i Fly-half New Zealand Luke Carty Fly-half United States Matt Giteau Fly-half Australia Luke Burton Centre Australia Will Chambers Centre Australia Ben LeSage Centre Canada Bill Meakes Centre Australia Adam Channel Wing United States Brooklyn Hardaker Wing Australia Ryan James Wing United States Kahanu Koi Wing United States D'Montae Noble Wing United States John Ryberg Wing United States D. T. H. van der Merwe Wing Canada Tom Mitchell Fullback England Jordan Trainor Fullback New Zealand

• Senior 15s internationally capped players are listed in bold.
• * denotes players qualified to play for the United States on dual nationality or residency grounds.
• MLR teams are allowed to field up to ten overseas players per match.

Head coaches

• Darren Coleman (2021)
• Stephen Hoiles (2021–2022)

Assistant coaches

• Orene Ai’i (Backs, 2021–2022)
• Adam Ashley-Cooper (Backs, 2022)^[9]
• Dave Dennis (Forwards, 2022)^[10]

Captains

• Dave Dennis (2021–2022)

Records

LA Giltinis won the Major League Rugby Championship Shield in their inaugural season (2021).

Season standings

Year	Pos	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	+/−	BP	Pts	Playoff results
2021	1st	16	12	0	4	545	305	+240	11	63	Won West Conference Final (Utah Warriors) 17–13 Won Major League Rugby final (Rugby ATL) 31-17
2022	2nd	16	11	0	5	468	340	+128	11	57	Disqualified [11]

Honors

• Major League Rugby
  • Champions: 2021
  • Playoff appearances: 2021

References

1. Pengelly, Martin (June 1, 2020). "Major League Rugby announces LA Giltinis, second team named for a drink". The Guardian. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
2. "Major League Rugby Officially Welcomes the LA Giltinis" (Press release). Major League Rugby. May 28, 2020. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
3. Carroll, Rory (July 11, 2018). "Los Angeles to get professional rugby team in 2019". Reuters. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
4. Evans, Luca (August 1, 2021). "Giltinis win Major League Rugby championship in debut season". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
5. Pengelly, Martin (June 7, 2022). "Major League Rugby in crisis as LA and Austin disqualified from playoffs". The Guardian. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
6. Pengelly, Martin (October 26, 2022). "LA and Austin out of MLR as US rugby faces further uncertainty". The Guardian. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
7. "Meet The Giltinis: LA's New Rugby Team to Open Play At Coliseum March 20". CBS Los Angeles. February 27, 2021. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
8. "LA Giltinis". Americas Rugby News. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
9. "MLR Champion Adam Ashley-Cooper Swoops into Coaching Role".
10. "Giltinis unveil new look Rugby and Commercial departments for 2022".
11. "Major League Rugby in crisis as LA and Austin disqualified from playoffs". The Guardian. June 7, 2022. Retrieved July 8, 2022.

External links

• Official website