Griffins Rugby
Full nameGriffins Rugby
Founded2008
LocationAllen, Texas, United States.
Ground(s)Celebration Park
ChairmanPhil Camm
Official website
www.griffinsrugby.com

Dallas Griffins Rugby, formerly Frisco Griffins, is a rugby union team based in Allen, Texas, United States, founded in 2008 by Phil Camm and Jeff Walton.[1][2] Dallas competed in USA Rugby's first tier amateur competition, Red River Conference D1,[3] and was a member of Major League Rugby at its foundation. The organization was later sold to a new ownership group and rebranded as the Dallas Jackals in preparation for the start of Major League Rugby.[4][5]

History

The Frisco Griffins, formed in 2008, initially played out of Dr. Pink Field in Frisco, Texas,[6][7] within the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

In May 2017, Dallas was one of the original nine members of Major League Rugby at the announcement of the creation of the new competition and has remained a non-playing member.[5] The Griffins signed former Bath Rugby head coach Mike Ford the following month,[8] but elected to push back their involvement until a later date.[9] In June 2020, MLR announced that a group led by Dallas Mavericks’ GM Donnie Nelson and Neil Leibman of the Texas Ranger would be rebranding as the Dallas Jackals and representing Dallas in the league.[10]

Competitive Play and Achievements: Dallas Griffins competed in USA Rugby's first tier amateur competition, the Red River Conference D1. This participation underlined the team's commitment to playing at a high level and their ambition to be a major force in American rugby. Their involvement in this league saw them compete against some of the best amateur rugby teams in the nation, helping to raise the profile of rugby in Texas.

Major League Rugby Involvement: In May 2017, the Dallas Griffins became one of the original nine members of Major League Rugby (MLR) at the announcement of the creation of the new competition. This was a significant milestone, as MLR represented the highest level of professional rugby in the United States. The team's association with MLR, even as a non-playing member, indicated its aspirations and commitment to professional rugby.

Leadership and Coaching: The appointment of Mike Ford, former Bath Rugby head coach, in June 2017 as part of the Griffins’ coaching staff, was a testament to the team's ambition. Ford's experience at the highest levels of European rugby brought a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the team.

Rebranding and Ownership Changes: In June 2020, Major League Rugby announced that a group led by notable sports executives Donnie Nelson (Dallas Mavericks’ GM) and Neil Leibman (of the Texas Rangers) would be taking over the team. This transition marked a significant change in the team's trajectory, leading to the rebranding of the team as the Dallas Jackals in preparation for the start of Major League Rugby. This change signaled a new era, with a focus on heightened professionalism and a renewed vision for rugby in Dallas.

Previous squads

2015/16 Dallas Griffins squad for the Red River Conference Division 1[11]

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

Player Position Union
Phillip Hughes Hooker United States United States
GeVonte Mitchell Hooker United States United States
AJ Paradowski Hooker United States United States
Abel Romero Hooker United States United States
Zach Bahl Prop United States United States
Chris Gale Prop England England
Michael Hubach Prop United States United States
Eric Hall Prop United States United States
Simbarashe Musarurwa Prop Zimbabwe Zimbabwe
Brian Nelson Prop United States United States
Jon Underbrink Prop United States United States
John Wangler Prop United States United States
James Georges Lock United States United States
Kyle Harrell Lock United States United States
Alex Ott Lock United States United States
Jake Abbott Flanker England England
Logan Allen Flanker United States United States
Mitchel Curtis Flanker Canada Canada
Kyle Duarte Flanker United States United States
Nicholas Hoxie Flanker United States United States
Robin Sowden-Taylor Flanker Wales Wales
Corey Dickey Number 8 United States United States
Zach Getson Number 8 United States United States
Kevin Harrell Number 8 United States United States
Player Position Union
Nathan Sohadaseni Scrum-half United States United States
Inote Bulai Fly-half Fiji Fiji
Logan Walker Fly-half United States United States
Justin Boyd Centre United States United States
Marc De Charmoy Centre South Africa South Africa
Alex Reher Centre United States United States
Eduardo Trejo Centre United States United States
Travis Zeeman Centre United States United States
Chase Allred Wing United States United States
Alejandro Chinchilla Wing United States United States
Ben Ferrero Wing United States United States
Chris Fiaccone Wing United States United States
Mike Margraff Wing United States United States
John Jennings Wing United States United States
Chris Meyer Wing United States United States
Jace Pursley Wing United States United States
Joe Wash Wing United States United States
Travis Bailey Fullback United States United States

References

  1. ↑ "Griffins Rugby - Leadership". Archived from the original on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2015-09-15.
  2. ↑ "Allen CVB, TX".
  3. ↑ "Home". griffinsrugby.com.
  4. ↑ "Who Owns the Dallas Jackals? (All the Facts) – Rugby Dome".
  5. 1 2 "Major League Rugby Formally Launches". This Is American Rugby. 2017-05-04. Archived from the original on 2017-10-11.
  6. ↑ "Official Website of Griffins Rugby". Griffinsrugby.com. Retrieved September 10, 2013.
  7. ↑ Rugby Mag, Frisco Conquering Texas DII, Dec 14, 2012, http://www.rugbymag.com/men's-dii-clubs/6675-frisco-conquering-texas-dii.html Archived 2013-11-12 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ↑ "Ex-Bath and England coach Mike Ford joins Dallas in US Major League Rugby". The Guardian. 2017-06-15. Archived from the original on 2017-06-16. Retrieved 2017-11-06.
  9. ↑ "San Diego joins as Major League Rugby eyes rapid expansion". This Is American Rugby. 2017-09-21. Archived from the original on 2017-10-02. Retrieved 2017-11-06.
  10. ↑ "The Dallas Jackals Bring Professional Rugby to DFW".
  11. ↑ "Men's squad: Red River". Griffins Rugby. Archived from the original on 2015-10-01. Retrieved 2015-10-01.
  12. "Men's squad: Red River". Griffins Rugby. Archived from the original on 2015-10-01. Retrieved 2015-10-01.
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