Denver Stampede

The Denver Stampede were an American rugby union team that played in the short lived PRO Rugby competition. The Stampede was one of the five teams that began play in PRO Rugby's 2016 inaugural season. The team played its home matches at the University of Denver's CIBER Field. The team was led by head coach Sean O'Leary and captain Pedrie Wannenburg.

Denver Stampede
Full nameDenver Stampede
UnionUSA Rugby
Founded2016
Disbanded2017
LocationDenver, Colorado, U.S.
Ground(s)CIBER Field (Capacity: 1,915)
Coach(es)Sean O'Leary
Captain(s)Pedrie Wannenburg
League(s)PRO Rugby
1st kit
2nd kit

History

Reports began circulating as early as November 2015 that Denver would host a PRO Rugby team when the competition's inaugural season kicked off in April 2016.[1] PRO Rugby officially announced on February 26, 2016 that Denver would be the competition's fifth team.[2] Denver's first officially announced player signing was South African international Pedrie Wannenburg.[3]

Denver hosted Ohio in the first ever PRO Rugby match on April 17, 2016, winning 16–13 at Infinity Park on a late penalty kick from flyhalf Will Magie.[4] PRO Rugby revealed the team's nickname — the Denver Stampede — on June 6, 2016, a reference to Colorado's western theme; this name beat two other final candidates: the Peak (also a mountain western theme) and the Vipers.[5]

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.[6]

The Stampede played at Infinity Park until May 2016.

Stadia

Denver began its inaugural 2016 season playing at Infinity Park. Denver moved to CIBER Field, however, during the 2016 season; this move allowed PRO Rugby to live steam all matches on prorugby.org, and had superior financial considerations.[7]

Current players and staff

Current roster
For player movements before and during the 2016 season, see 2016 PRO Rugby season § Denver.

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

Denver roster

Props

Hookers

Locks

Loose Forwards

Scrum-halves

Fly-halves

Centers

Wingers

Fullbacks

(c) Denotes team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped.

Current coaches
PositionName
Head coach Sean O'Leary
Assistant coach Peter Borlase
Assistant coach David Williams[9]
Technical advisor André Snyman
General managerKieran Browner[10]

Season summaries
Season-by-season results
SeasonPlayedWonDrawnLostPoints
for		Points
Against		Points
Diff		Bonus
Points		PointsPositionDetails
2016121002403273+1308481 / 52016 Denver Stampede season

Leading players
SeasonCaptainMost triesMost points
2016Pedrie WannenburgZach Fenoglio (6)Will Magie (88)

Head coaches
CoachTenureMatchesWonDrawnLostWinning
Percentage
Sean O'Leary2016–present12100083.3%
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See also

References
  1. "Professional rugby team planned for Denver", Denver Business Journal, Monica Mendoza, November 18, 2015.
  2. "Denver Lands Final PRO Rugby Team", This Is American Rugby, February 26, 2016.
  3. "Pedrie set for American stint", SA Rugby Mag, March 6, 2016.
  4. "Sacramento and Denver win as PRO Rugby opens in snow and sunshine", Guardian, April 18, 2016.
  5. "PRO Rugby Unveils Team Names", This Is American Rugby, June 6, 2016.
  6. Down Goes PRO
  7. "PRO Rugby leaves AOL and Infinity Park", Americas Rugby News, May 24, 2016.
  8. "PRO Rugby Preview – Denver". Americas Rugby News. April 13, 2016. Retrieved April 13, 2016.
  9. "David Williams Named as Denver Assistant Coach", Americas Rugby News, March 9, 2016.
  10. "U.S. professional rugby to lift off without Olympic stars", ESPN, April 15, 2016.
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