Austin Huns
| File:AustinHunsLogo.jpg | ||
| Full name | Huns Rugby Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Union | USA Rugby | |
| Founded | 1972 | |
| Location | Austin, Texas | |
| Ground(s) | Huns Field at Nixon Lane | |
| President | Mitch Pryor | |
| Coach(es) | Eugene Eloff | |
| League(s) | Major Rugby Championship Major League Rugby | |
| 2017 | 1st (U.S. Division 1) | |
| ||
| Official website | ||
| www | ||
The Huns Rugby Football Club is a professional American rugby union team based in Austin, Texas. In June 2017 they became U.S. Division 1 National Champions beating New York Athletic Club 23-20 in the final match.[1]
History
The Austin Huns were formed in 1972.[2] The Austin Huns Rugby Club has competed in all 3 National USA Rugby 15s divisions and the National 7s division.
In 1993, the Huns competed in the Division II National Championships hosted in Mobile, Alabama. They lost in the semi-final to Santa Rosa Rugby Club 18-15 with Santa Rosa subsequently winning the final. In 1994, the Huns hosted the Division II National Championships in Austin, Texas (won again by Santa Rosa RFC) and in 1995 hosted both the Division I & II National Championships in Austin, Texas.
In 2016, the Huns announced that they would start moving towards professionalism. The Austin Huns are one of the teams of the Major Rugby Championship, a one-off friendly series of games to take place in the spring of 2017. The friendly games were set to include the Austin Huns, the Glendale Raptors, Rugby Utah, the Dallas Griffins, and New Orleans RFC.[3]
In February 2017, it was reported that the Huns were also planning to launch a professional league with existing clubs in 2018 after the exclusivity deal between PRO Rugby and USA Rugby expires.[4]The competition is reportedly being called "Major League Rugby" and will include the Major Rugby Championship clubs, as well as Seattle Saracens, Chicago Lions, Houston Strikers, and Kansas City Blues. In June 2017, they beat New York Athletic Club in the U.S. Division 1 final to become National Champions.
In March 2016, the Huns announced their partnership with the Paris-based Top 14 club Racing 92.[5]
Teams
In 2017 the Huns Elite side will be playing in a series of exhibition friendlies, with other clubs who are expected to play in the newly formed Major Rugby league in 2018. [6]The Austin Huns 2nd, 3rd, and 4th teams play in Division I, Division II, and Division III, respectively, within USA Rugby's club system in the Red River Conference.[7]
Elite Squad
| Player | Position |
|---|---|
 Aaron Boan |
Scrumhalf |
 Brendan Rams |
Prop/Hooker |
| Brian Welborn |
Lock |
| Corey Momsen |
Lock |
| Craig Welborn |
Lock/Flank |
| David Lemasters |
Hooker/Flank |
| Deon Minnaar |
Flank/Number 8 |
| Hanco Germishuys |
Flank |
| Joedee Reyes |
Center/Flyhalf/Fullback |
| Justin Hale |
Wing |
| Kyle Breytenbach |
Lock/Flank |
 Lomani Tongotongo |
Center |
| Martin Knoetze |
Center/Wing |
| Matt Moore |
Flank |
| Michael Reid |
Scrumhalf |
| Pierce Reed |
Wing |
| Rob Drummond |
Prop |
 Rui D'Orey |
Lock/Number 8 |
| Sani Taylor |
Center/Wing |
| Shawn Cox |
Wing |
 Tim Fitzgerald |
Prop |
 Timothee Guillimin |
Flyhalf |
| Troy Spencer |
Hooker/Prop |
| Mason Pederson |
Prop |
| Zinzan Elan-Puttick |
Fullback/Flyhalf |
| Peter Malcom |
Hooker |
| Andrew Heller |
Flyhalf/Fullback/Wing |
Elite Squad Coaching Staff
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Eugene Eloff |
Head Coach |
| Danie De Villiers |
Attack & Backline Coach |
| Pedrie Wannenburg |
Defense & Forwards Coach |
| James De Lacey |
Strength & Conditioning Coach |
| Johannes de Wet |
Technical Analyst & Skills Coach |
Notable Players
Todd Clever - Co-owner and player of Austin Huns, former captain and record holder of most caps for USA Eagles. Todd Clever played his first game with the team during the play offs in 2017.- Hanco Germishuys - Capped Eagle, former captain of Junior All-Americans.
Rui D'orey Branco - Over 25 international caps for Portugal.- Peter Malcolm - Collegiate All American from Wheeling Jesuit University.[8]
Sponsors
- USN
- Kraftig Lager
- Morgan Stanley
- Techline Tools
- Tullamore D.E.W.
References
- ^ "Austin Huns grab club's 1st U.S. rugby championship". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved 2017-06-05.
- ^ "History". Austin Huns Rugby. Retrieved 2017-06-05.
- ^ "Glendale, Huns, Utah In New Major Rugby Championship". This Is American Rugby. Retrieved 2017-06-05.
- ^ "Major League Rugby coming in 2018". America's Rugby News. Retrieved 2017-06-05.
- ^ "Austin Huns Announce Racing 92 Partnership". This is American Rugby. Retrieved 2017-06-05.
- ^ "Schedule and Results". Austin Huns. Retrieved 2017-06-05.
- ^ "RED RIVER MEN'S DIVISION I". USA Rugby. Retrieved 2017-06-05.
- ^ "Peter Malcolm". USA Rugby. Retrieved 2017-06-05.
